Connector wiring

[BigAl.NZ]

I am wiring a BEP Marine GDL600 gas controller.

It was one of these connectors on it, which I insert the wires into and then screw the clamp style connector onto the wire.

It calls for a 2A fuse, and the wire I have calculated 18AWG is fine.

The issue is that 18AWG with any sort of ferrule just falls out of the green connector - that are a bit TOO big to insert properly.

Bare twisted wire doesnt seem like a good solution either. I am tempted to tin the wire tips with solder, but then I know thats a "No no" as well.

Why they made those terminals so small I do not understand.

Its also unclear to me if this style of connector you screw the clamp down onto the wire, or insert the wire and screw it up?

[river]

The three way one shown is a rising clamp terminal. Unscrew fully, insert wire, then screw up the grip.

[BigAl.NZ]

Originally Posted by river

The three way one shown is a rising clamp terminal. Unscrew fully, insert wire, then screw up the grip.

Thanks - I did wonder. What do you reckon about ferrules vs twisted wire vs tinned with solder?

[river]

If ferrule doesn't fit I would do without. Don't solder.


Rising clamps are more accommodating of strands anyway. It will grip it all without splaying when you try to insert.

[BigAl.NZ]

Seemed to work well. Thanks

[thinwater]

It appears the terminals have pressure plates (the screw pushes on a plate, the plate pushes on the wire). These are designed for no ferrules and the correct sized stranded wire. And never solder (deforms over time resulting in a loose connection).


Terminals where the screw bears dirrectly on the wire are for solid wire. It is intended to bite in.


Skip the ferrules. They are only used primarily when you must put a stranded wire in a terminal designed for solid wire, and sometimes when repeated removal is foreseen. But not just eventual replacement removal and not routinely.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by thinwater

It appears the terminals have pressure plates (the screw pushes on a plate, the plate pushes on the wire). These are designed for no ferrules and the correct sized stranded wire. And never solder (deforms over time resulting in a loose connection).

Terminals where the screw bears dirrectly on the wire are for solid wire. It is intended to bite in...

Indeed.

[more]

Voltage: 600GD 10V-30V DC / 600GDL 10-15V DC
Current: Total 350mA Max
Alarm: 20% LEL (Lower Explosive Limit)
Current at outputs: 800mA Max (per output)this is for solenid valve

[Nicholson58]

I learned the hard way to solder all wire ends and connections especially crimps. Solder on the wire tips is what I do and add heat shrink where the solder to wire transitions as a stress relief. Soldering eliminated nearly all of our ghost electrical problems.