Leisure & Solar
Build Your Off-Grid Power System With Confidence — Sized Right, First Time
Plain-English wiring guides and fast UK stock — whether you're wiring a van, boat or caravan.
What size connector do I need?
Answer a couple of quick questions to check which connector suits your setup.
This usually isn't a job for a plug
A fixed inverter install is normally wired with a permanent bolted connection and heavy welding-style cable, not a plug-in connector — so there often isn't an Anderson lead involved at all.
If you specifically want a removable, quick-disconnect setup (a portable battery bank, or a system you swap in and out), our SB175 leads are built on 35mm² cable, which only suits shorter cable runs or smaller-to-moderate inverters. Check your inverter manufacturer's own recommended cable size for your run length before ordering — for anything longer or larger, get in touch and we'll help you get the right spec.
What do the colours mean?
Colour helps you tell circuits apart at a glance — for example, one colour for your charging circuit and another for accessories. On our connectors, size and colour together are what determines a correct match, so keeping your whole build consistent (same colour, same job, every time) is the easiest way to avoid mixing up connections. If you're adding new leads to an existing setup, check the colour and size of what's already there before ordering. Only connectors of the same colour and rating can fit together so for example a Grey 50A connector will only fit with another Grey 50A connector. They are designed that way for safety and so you can't connect the wrong one by mistake.
How does it all fit together?
A quick, plain-English guide to where an Anderson connector fits in a van, boat or caravan 12V system. Expand the section you need.
What does the Anderson connector actually do in my system?
It's a rugged, genderless, keyed disconnect point between two parts of your 12V circuit — for example, between a portable solar panel and your leisure battery, or between a tow vehicle and a trailer's charging circuit. It isn't a component itself, just a quick-connect/disconnect joint that's simple and reliable to use in the field.
What can a 50A (SB50) connector handle?
Rated to 50A continuous — around 600W at 12V — SB50 comfortably covers the vast majority of van, boat and caravan setups: fridges, water pumps, lighting circuits, DC-DC charger connections and portable solar panel leads. If you're planning a large inverter or a removable battery bank feeding heavy loads, that typically needs a bigger connector than we currently stock in this range — get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.
Wiring and fusing basics
A circuit from a battery bank to an inverter for example should have a fuse on the positive cable, placed as close to the battery as possible — this protects the cable itself if it's ever damaged or shorted between the fuse and the connector. Connector, cable gauge and fuse rating all need to be matched to each other, not just to your load. Much thicker cables are usually required between inverters and batteries. There are a wealth of build forums and communities online with more detailed guides.
Do I need to worry about polarity?
Anderson connectors are genderless, so there's no male or female plug to worry about. Just wire every connector in your build the same way — same colour, same polarity, every time — so you don't get caught out swapping between connections later. If you have two different connections next to each other both 50A rated then it might be a good idea to use a different colour 50A connector so that it becomes impossible to connect the wrong end to where it should fit. Remember these connectors only mate together with connectors of the same colour and rating.
Frequently asked questions
How do I wire batteries in parallel?
Connect positive to positive and negative to negative across identical batteries, and try to keep the connecting leads the same length on each side so current shares evenly between them. Always fuse each positive lead close to the battery it's connected to.
Does cable length matter?
Yes — for any pair of leads doing the same job (like two batteries wired in parallel), keeping the lengths matched avoids one lead having noticeably more resistance than the other, which can cause uneven charging or discharging over time.
What wire gauge do I need for my system draw?
Our SB50 leads use 16mm² cable, matched to the 50A rating — comfortable for most van, boat and caravan loads like fridges, lighting, water pumps and portable solar. If you're not sure what your total system draw adds up to, get in touch and we can help you check.
What's your returns policy?
You've got 14 days to return an unused lead if it's not what you needed.
Not sure what you need?
Get in touch and we'll help you figure out the right connector, cable and length for your build.