50A vs 120A vs 175A vs 350A Anderson Plugs: What’s the Difference?

Anderson-style plugs are everywhere in Australian 4WD, caravan, camping and 12V electrical setups, but choosing between the common 50A, 120A, 175A and 350A sizes isn't always obvious.

While they're often referred to simply by their nominal amp size, the biggest practical differences are the physical size of the connector, compatible contacts and cable sizes, and the type of connection they're suited to.

Here's a quick guide to help work out which size makes sense for your setup.

Quick comparison

The correct connector should always be selected around the actual circuit requirements, cable size, contacts and equipment manufacturer's recommendations, rather than choosing from the name alone.

50A Anderson-style plugs

The 50A-size connector is easily the most familiar in Australian 4WD and camping setups.

Its compact size makes it particularly useful where you need a removable power connection without taking up much panel space.

Common applications include:

• Portable fridges
• Solar connections
• Camping accessories
• Battery boxes
• Canopy accessories
• Trailer and caravan connections
• General 12V power distribution

The genuine Anderson SB50 housing is the smallest connector in the SB family discussed here and supports a range of contacts and conductor sizes. Anderson specifies wire contacts across approximately 1.3–13.3 mm², depending on the contact arrangement used.

For most canopy and touring setups, this is the connector size you're likely to encounter most often.

120A Anderson-style plugs

Moving up to the 120A-size housing gives you considerably more room for larger contacts and cable.

This makes the SB120 family useful where the smaller connector isn't appropriate but the installation doesn't require the physical size of an SB175 or SB350.

Anderson specifies SB120 wire-contact options across approximately 5.3–42.4 mm², depending on the selected contact.

Typical uses can include:

• Battery connections
• Charging systems
• Larger auxiliary power feeds
• Equipment requiring heavier cable
• Removable high-current connections

Physically, it's noticeably larger than a 50A connector, which becomes important when you're trying to fit several connections into a compact canopy or electrical panel.

175A Anderson-style plugs

The 175A-size connector steps things up again.

These are substantially larger than the common 50A plug and are generally seen where larger conductors and higher-current equipment require a more substantial connection.

Genuine Anderson SB175 housings can accommodate contacts for conductors up to around 50 mm² in standard configurations.

Potential applications include:

• Larger battery systems
• High-current charging equipment
• Heavy auxiliary power connections
• Industrial equipment
• High-current removable power systems

If you're planning a panel around one of these connectors, don't assume it'll fit wherever a 50A plug does. The difference in physical size is significant.

350A Anderson-style plugs

The 350A-size connector is the monster of the group.

It's intended for applications involving very large conductors and substantial power connections, so it's much less common in an ordinary fridge or solar setup.

You're more likely to see this size associated with:

• Large battery systems
• Heavy equipment
• Industrial applications
• Very high-current DC connections
• Large inverters or similar equipment where the electrical design requires it

It also occupies substantially more mounting space, so the connector needs to be considered early when laying out a panel or enclosure.

So which Anderson plug should you choose?

There's no single answer based purely on amperage.

Start with the electrical system itself:

What current will the circuit actually carry?
Consider both normal operating current and any relevant peak or surge loads.

What cable size does the circuit require?
The connector contacts need to suit the conductor you're actually using.

What does the equipment manufacturer specify?
For chargers, inverters and other high-current equipment, follow the manufacturer's wiring and protection requirements.

How much mounting space do you have?
Moving from a 50A to a 120A, 175A or 350A connector makes a substantial difference to the physical size of the installation.

How often will it be disconnected?
Think about access, cable support and where the connector will sit once installed.

Can different Anderson plug sizes be mounted together?

Absolutely.

There's no reason a canopy or electrical panel needs to use only one connector size.

For example, a setup might use smaller connectors for accessories and solar while using a larger connector for a higher-current battery or charging connection.

This is where planning the panel as a complete system becomes useful rather than installing each connector individually as the build grows.

Fab Lab Co. mounts can accommodate different Anderson-style connector sizes and can also combine them with other connections such as Deutsch connectors where required.

Building a custom connector panel

If an off-the-shelf layout doesn't suit your setup, our Build Your Way system lets you configure a mount around the connections you actually need.

Choose your connector combination and layout, see the overall mount dimensions before ordering, and we'll manufacture the finished mount here in Australia.

Whether that's a couple of 50A Anderson plugs or a combination of different connector sizes, the aim is the same: one clean mounting solution instead of a collection of individual holes and brackets.

Final word

The difference between 50A, 120A, 175A and 350A Anderson-style plugs isn't simply “how many amps can I put through it?”

As the connector size increases, so does the physical housing and the range of contacts and conductor sizes available.

Choose the connector around the electrical requirements of the circuit first, then make sure the physical installation gives it enough room, support and access.

And if your setup needs several different connections in one place, combining them into a purpose-built mount can make the finished installation considerably cleaner.