Anderson SB® Battery Connectors

How to attach your SB® connector

Crimping

Use a crimping tool. It compresses the contact barrel tightly around the cable wires so that all of them are pressed tightly against each other and the inside wall of the contact barrel. This requires that the stripped cable be inserted all the way into the barrel of the contact, and that the contact point is centered in the crimping tool.

We do offer a crimping tool on our website.

Soldering

If you don't have a crimping tool, the alternative is to solder all cable strands within the contact barrel. The right proportion of solder is essential if this procedure is used. Use a quality solder in wire form with a rosin flux core. The cable strands should be separately fluxed with rosin paste, and the contact should be held in a vise with the barrel end facing up. Apply heat to the outside of the barrel while the solder flows in beside the wire strands.

Why SB Battery Connectors Matter

If you've ever dealt with a loose battery terminal or a connector that arced when you least expected it, you already know why Anderson SB® connectors have become the go-to choice for high-current DC power. Originally developed by Anderson Power Products in the 1950s, the SB series uses a genderless design, meaning you flip one connector 180 degrees and it mates with an identical one. That cuts your parts list in half and makes stocking spares a lot simpler.

Each SB connector is also color-keyed and mechanically indexed. A gray housing only mates with another gray housing of the same amp rating, a blue with another blue, and so on. That's not just a cosmetic choice. It's a built-in safeguard against connecting the wrong circuits or voltages together, which matters a lot when you're working around battery banks, solar arrays, or backup power systems.

Common uses we hear about from customers include:

• Solar panel and off-grid battery bank connections
• UPS and battery backup systems
• Electric forklifts and material handling equipment
• Winch and jump-start battery leads
• EV charging and portable power stations
• Amateur radio and emergency communications setups

The SB family covers three amperage classes: SB-50, SB-175, and SB-350. The number in the name is your starting point for amperage, and each size accepts a specific range of wire gauges, so getting the size right up front saves you a return trip later.

How to Choose the Right SB Connector

Picking the right connector really comes down to three questions: how much current will run through it, what wire gauge are you using, and do you need to color-code multiple circuits?

• SB-50: Best for smaller battery and power connections, accepting 10/12 ga. up to 6 ga. wire. Common in solar, ham radio, and light-duty 12V to 80V setups.
• SB-175: A step up for larger batteries and array connections, accepting 4 ga. up to 1/0 ga. wire. Frequently used in UPS systems, inverters, and mid-size battery banks.
• SB-350: Built for heavy-duty applications like forklifts, large battery banks, and high-draw equipment, accepting 2 ga. up to 4/0 ga. wire.

Once you've settled on an amperage size, color becomes your organizational tool. Colors like yellow, orange, red, gray, blue, green, and black are commonly used to represent different voltage classes, so a lot of customers standardize on one color per circuit or battery bank. Just remember: same color and same amp size are what determine if two connectors will actually mate.

You'll also want to decide between a connector kit and a standalone housing. A kit includes the plastic housing plus the metal contacts needed for one end of a connection. If you already have housings and just need replacement contacts, or you're building custom cable assemblies, you can order those separately too. For a finished, ready-to-grip connection, handle assembly kits snap onto SB-50 and SB-175 housings for easier mating and unmating by hand.

Need help attaching your connector to a cable? We carry both crimping tools and the extraction tool you'll want on hand if you ever need to remove and reuse a contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will any SB connector mate with any other SB connector?

A: No. SB connectors only mate with another connector of the same amperage size and the same housing color. This is intentional, since the color and mechanical keying prevent you from accidentally connecting mismatched voltages or circuits. The one common exception is the SB-50 series, where black and gray housings will mate with each other.

What's included in an SB connector "kit," and how many do I need?

A: A kit includes one plastic housing and two metal contacts, which is everything needed for one end of a connection. Since you're connecting two cables together, you'll need to order two kits (four contacts total) to complete a full, mated pair.

Should I crimp or solder my SB connector contacts?

A: Both methods work well. Crimping is the faster, more consistent option if you have a crimping tool, since it compresses the contact barrel evenly around the stripped wire. Soldering is a solid alternative if you don't have a crimper on hand, but it requires rosin-core solder and careful heat application so the solder flows evenly through the strands without cold joints.

What size SB connector do I need for my UPS or solar setup?

A: Most UPS and mid-size solar or battery bank connections use SB-175, which handles 4 ga. up to 1/0 ga. wire. Smaller 12V accessory or lower-draw connections typically use SB-50, while high-draw equipment like forklifts or large battery banks call for SB-350. Check your system's amp draw and existing wire gauge to confirm the right fit.

Can I mix and match brands, like using a Dual Pro connector with an Anderson housing?

A: SB-style connectors from different manufacturers are generally built to the same dimensional standard for a given amp size and color, so cross-brand mating is common in the field. That said, we recommend matching the same brand and amp rating whenever possible for the most consistent fit and contact resistance. If you're unsure about a specific pairing, our customer service team can help confirm compatibility before you order.

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