by ex-Gooserider » 18 Sep 2018, 00:22
It is a seriously fried Anderson connector block... If it is a motor connector, which is what it looks like, it is probably using the smallest size 15/30/45A Power-Pole connectors.... They have three different current ratings depending on pin types used in the shells. The pin is picked based on the size wire that it is being used with... The shells are the same other than coming in multiple colors.
(There are other 'families' of Power-Pole with larger shells and higher power ratings, the PP-75 series uses the same pins as the SB-50 double or triple pole connectors. There are even larger families but we basically don't use them on our chairs)
MOST wheelchair motors use AWG 10 or 12 wire for the motor power (the red and black shells) and AWG 18 for the brake wires (or the metric equivalents) AWG 10 wire uses the 45A pins, AWG 12-14 uses the 30A pins, and smaller than AWG 16 use the 15A pins.
The 15A pins are pretty small and aren't as obvious when stuffed into the shells, looking closely at the photos it looks like they are in the white shells, which is appropriate.
The shells are individual units, one shell per pin....
The shells have little dove-tail extrusions and grooves that are designed to let the shells be locked together, optionally you can lock the blocks together by sliding split pins into the holes created when you slide the shells together. Anderson also makes accessory brackets and holders that can hold the assembled blocks these are fancy, but not all that essential...
Based on the pictures, I would absolutely replace the red shell and pin, AND the mating shell and pin that it plugs into... I'd be strongly inclined to replace the black shells and pins as well... More importantly, BEFORE I replace any parts, I'd want to figure out WHY the connector overheated in the first place.... I'd be looking especially at the wires and connections between the wires and pins for any signs of corrosion, or broken strands so that you aren't using all the wire that you should be...
I will disagree with Lenny, in that as far as I'm concerned there are serious subtle problems with the imitation Andersons - it is well worth spending the relatively small amount extra to get the REAL Andersons...
ex-Gooserider
T-5, ASIA-B
Jazzy 1100
Jazzy Select 6
Quickie Q-7
Invacare Mariner
Want to make / get a better chair, ideally one that stands.