F5 Turbo Builders Thread

Pic of what, end sleeves or pliers ?
An end sleeve should be crimped in one go, and with very high pressure on the sleeve, which requires a lever type crimping tool.

Self adjusting ones by Phoenix contact or Knipex cost a few hundred dollars, but a China copycat can be had for $20, e.g. at the bay.
No idea how long those will last, but I'd think at least a few dozen amp projects.

Standard crimping pliers are junk.
 
Don't use terminal blocks, problem solved.

Alternative for modular building is spreading the connector tabs further apart at the board design stage.
(or additional tabs, still remains difficult to suggest/ask for at GB efforts)

There are serial manufacture metal blocks for PCB mounting, either with multiple solder pins, or a threaded end.
Mounting side is either a screw hole, or also a threaded end for a nut.

Smallest ones are 0.2''/5mm diameter, see example pic, rectangular ones are 9/32'' .
Smallest disc spring is 6mm diameter, also see example pic.
For an M3 ring cable lug : mounting block - cable lug - regular washer - disc spring - screw head.
 

Attachments

  • Ettinger B1340523.JPG
    Ettinger B1340523.JPG
    47.2 KB · Views: 407
  • Schotelveerring.jpg
    Schotelveerring.jpg
    5.9 KB · Views: 413
Last edited:
My last pic with the green terminalblock...what is better? Tinned leads, or just with the bare copper leads ???
What gives the lowest contact resistance? Also in long term?

Or should I not use them at all, and solder the leads directly on the PCB's?
But then my PSU is not so modular anymore:confused:

Walter

Walter, I solder directly to the boards. I hate those terminal blocks--adds to the "clutter" of a clean chassis (yours is.....!) and just becomes another potential spot for trouble.

I can't tell from your photos..... Do you have rubber grommets in your chassis holes, where you run your power supply/transformer leads from on side of the chassis to the other. If not, you might want to consider them--they are a cheap insurance for potential "high current to ground" problems later.

If you have already done the final wiring, I possible solution to still install a grommet--slice a suitable rubber grommet somehere on it's circumfrences (so you have a "C" rather than a full "O") and work the grommet into the hole around the chassis (using a small flat-blade screwdriver). With the proper grommet for the hole, the "C" should close back into an "O". Not a perfect solution, but close enough.
 
Member
Joined 2012
Paid Member
Making some progress...

My last pic with the green terminalblock...what is better? Tinned leads, or just with the bare copper leads ???
What gives the lowest contact resistance? Also in long term?

Or should I not use them at all, and solder the leads directly on the PCB's?
But then my PSU is not so modular anymore:confused:

Walter

Walter -
Your question is a good one. Up until lately I worked in a test lab testing electrical connectors. When you have a lot of pressure on the wire, like from a tightened down screw, it does not really make any difference if the wire is tinned, bare copper or even gold plated for long term conductivity. If the pressure is a lot lower, say under 100 grams, like in many connectors, then the plating matters much. I speak from experience subjecting connectors to acid vapor, thermal cycles, humidity cycles, etc. The Phoenix brand of green connector seems to be a very good one. The thing I suggest is to twist the strands on the end so they do not flatten, then tighten the screw, then wiggle the wire and tighten again until it won't tighten any more.
All that being said...if I do not need something to be modular or easily disconnected in the future, I solder my connections, making sure there is not any stress on the solder joint.
 
Member
Joined 2012
Paid Member
Walter -
Your question is a good one. Up until lately I worked in a test lab testing electrical connectors. When you have a lot of pressure on the wire, like from a tightened down screw, it does not really make any difference if the wire is tinned, bare copper or even gold plated for long term conductivity. If the pressure is a lot lower, say under 100 grams, like in many connectors, then the plating matters much. I speak from experience subjecting connectors to acid vapor, thermal cycles, humidity cycles, etc. The Phoenix brand of green connector seems to be a very good one. The thing I suggest is to twist the strands on the end so they do not flatten, then tighten the screw, then wiggle the wire and tighten again until it won't tighten any more.
All that being said...if I do not need something to be modular or easily disconnected in the future, I solder my connections, making sure there is not any stress on the solder joint.

Ah thanks! That's the answer I was looking for.
I liked the idea to exchange Amp boards so I can try different Amps. But maybe I just solder the connections anyway...
 
Member
Joined 2012
Paid Member
Walter, I solder directly to the boards. I hate those terminal blocks--adds to the "clutter" of a clean chassis (yours is.....!) and just becomes another potential spot for trouble.

I can't tell from your photos..... Do you have rubber grommets in your chassis holes, where you run your power supply/transformer leads from on side of the chassis to the other. If not, you might want to consider them--they are a cheap insurance for potential "high current to ground" problems later.

If you have already done the final wiring, I possible solution to still install a grommet--slice a suitable rubber grommet somehere on it's circumfrences (so you have a "C" rather than a full "O") and work the grommet into the hole around the chassis (using a small flat-blade screwdriver). With the proper grommet for the hole, the "C" should close back into an "O". Not a perfect solution, but close enough.

Propitious thanks for the tip, I have been looking for rubber grommets about 13-14 mm diameter with a height of 5 mm ( 3mm alu + 2 mm steel), but didn't find them that high.