By Ian A., Trade Connectors
Short answer: if you're wiring a campervan, caravan, or small 12V solar setup, you almost certainly need an SB50 (rated 50A continuous, 16mm² cable). If you're dealing with an HGV tail lift, a fleet power pack, or a recovery winch, you need an SB175 (rated 175A continuous, 35mm² cable). The two are not interchangeable — they're physically different sizes, so the wrong one simply won't plug in — but a lot of people buying their first cable aren't sure which one they've actually got, and it's an easy thing to get wrong once, expensively.
Here's how to tell them apart, and — because it trips people up more than the size does — why "175A" doesn't always mean what you'd assume if you're running a winch.
How to tell SB50 and SB175 apart at a glance
Both use the same grey housing and the same locking mechanism, so the giveaway is size, not colour:
- SB50 — roughly 35mm wide. The smaller of the two.
- SB175 — roughly 80mm wide. Noticeably chunkier — over twice the width.
If you're not near the connector to measure it, the application usually tells you which one you've got: leisure and solar installs are built around SB50; HGV and heavy recovery gear is built around SB175. If in doubt, don't guess — contact us with a photo and we'll confirm before you order.
SB50 — for campervans, leisure batteries & small solar setups
- Continuous rating: 50A
- Cable gauge: 16mm² high-flex copper
- Typical uses: campervan and motorhome hookups, leisure batteries, small 12V inverters, portable solar panels
- Shop: SB50 Anderson Connector Cable · SB50 Anderson-to-Anderson Lead
This is the connector most DIY solar and campervan installers will need. If your setup involves a leisure battery, an inverter under a few thousand watts, or a portable solar panel you disconnect and stow, SB50 is almost always the right size.
SB175 — for HGV tail lifts, fleet power packs & recovery winches
- Continuous rating: 175A (commonly quoted up to ~280A on short bursts)
- Cable gauge: 35mm² high-flex copper
- Typical uses: tail lift power packs, HGV battery connections, fleet vehicles, recovery and winch installations
- Compatible with tail lift brands including Anteo, Dhollandia, MBB Palfinger, Ratcliff Palfinger, Maxon, Zepro, HACO, Dautel and Del Equipment
- Shop: 175A Grey Anderson Cable · Commercial & HGV collection · Recovery & Winch collection
Before ordering, it's worth checking your existing connector actually is an SB175 — some smaller or electric-assist lift systems use a 50A connector instead, so don't assume every tail lift is the same size.
A word of caution if you're wiring a recovery winch
This is the one place "175A" causes genuine confusion. SB175 is rated for 175A continuous — but a recovery winch under real load can peak well above that, often 300-500A or more for short bursts. That's normal for the connector (it's built to handle short surges well past its continuous rating), but it means you should check your specific winch's peak draw against the cable spec before you order, rather than assuming 175A covers everything. If you're not sure what your winch pulls at peak, ask us — better to check first than find out mid-recovery.
SB50 vs SB175 at a glance
| SB50 | SB175 | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | ~35mm | ~80mm |
| Continuous rating | 50A | 175A |
| Cable gauge | 16mm² | 35mm² |
| Typical use | Campervans, caravans, solar, small inverters | Tail lifts, HGV power packs, recovery winches |
| From | £19.99 | £29.00 |
Frequently asked questions
What does "SB" stand for in Anderson connector?
SB stands for "Standard Battery" — Anderson Power Products' own naming for this connector family. The number after it (50, 175, etc.) is the continuous amp rating.
Can I use an SB50 connector on a tail lift?
No — tail lifts draw far more current than an SB50 is rated for, and physically the housings aren't the same size, so an SB50 won't mate with SB175 hardware anyway. Check your lift's existing connector size before ordering.
What amp rating do I need for a recovery winch?
Match the cable to your winch's actual peak draw, not just its "rated" figure — most recovery winches use SB175, but check the manufacturer's peak-amp spec first, since some heavier winches exceed what a single 175A lead is built for.
Are red and grey Anderson connectors different?
The housing colour is a wiring-polarity/identification convention rather than a different rating — grey is the standard for both SB50 and SB175 on general power connections; red is commonly used to visually separate positive runs or a dedicated circuit. Physically, colour doesn't change the amp rating — width does.
What cable gauge should I use with each connector?
16mm² for SB50, 35mm² for SB175. Using a thinner cable than the connector is rated for causes voltage drop and heat — always match or exceed the recommended gauge for the length of run you need.
Can I connect an SB50 to an SB175?
Not directly — they're different physical sizes and won't mate. If you need to step between the two (for example, a smaller solar source into a larger system), you'd need a dedicated adapter lead rather than trying to force a fit.
Need help identifying your connector or picking the right cable for your setup? Get in touch — we're happy to check before you order.