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Old 20-05-2018, 14:09   #1
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How do I connect to these terminals

I am replacing my mppt controllers with a victron model. On my current controller, I used terminal rings heat shrinked and crimped onto the wire ten attached to screw terminals.

The victron looks like it is press fit in the wire directly? See pic. Is this an acceptable way to attach. It seems there is no strain relief.Click image for larger version

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Old 20-05-2018, 14:15   #2
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

Strip the wire, insert, tighten the screw. You provide the strain relief by your wire routing.
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Old 20-05-2018, 14:27   #3
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

Normally a bootlace ferrule is used, extremely common in industrial electronics.

Bootlace Ferrules For Sale | Turner Electronics
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Old 20-05-2018, 14:33   #4
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

Thanks. Do they make them with heat shrink sleeves like I have with my current crimp connectors, and do you need a special crimp tool for these or can I use the one I got through mainsails web site?
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Old 20-05-2018, 14:45   #5
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

I haven't seen any with integral heat shrink sleeves but that doesn't mean someone doesn't make them. You could use off the shelf heat shrink sleeving.

I have only ever used a "bootlace ferrule crimper" for these fittings.
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Old 20-05-2018, 17:00   #6
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

Bootlace ferrule? Interesting. That's one I'd never heard of (here in the States) yet. It looks more like the aiglet, the plastic tip on shoelaces.

But those compression "sockets" tend to come in two styles. One, where a screw simply bears down on the trapped wire. That's intended to be used on solid wires. The other, more expensive, has a trapped metal plate, and the screw pushes the plate against the trapped wire--so stranded wires can be used without being chewed up by the screw. Inserting a small metal shim or tinning the end of a stranded wire can accomplish the same thing.

I've found it often makes good sense to accomplish a "strain relief" not by modifying the wire, but simply by looping it back to a hard point, so any strain is taken up at a mounting point, and not in the connection.
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Old 20-05-2018, 17:15   #7
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

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Originally Posted by hellosailor View Post
Bootlace ferrule? Interesting. That's one I'd never heard of (here in the States) yet. It looks more like the aiglet, the plastic tip on shoelaces.
These bootlace ferrules work well for non-solid wires, here is some detailed info: https://expressassembliesltdsite.wor...tlace-ferrule/

Oops, just noticed Wotname posted a similar link, well, here is a second one
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Old 21-05-2018, 08:14   #8
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

strip the insulation back and solder the end so that it becomes solid then insert.
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Old 21-05-2018, 08:29   #9
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

I've used similar termination systems on solar installations, and generally found them unreliable and inferior compared to ring terminals. The wires work loose, and any moisture wicks its way into the wire and also corrodes the terminal. You can improve things a bit by tinning the end of the wire.
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Old 21-05-2018, 08:33   #10
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

I had the same controller. You need to loosen the screw and make sure the little clamp opens up or you can't insert the wire enough to be secured. I used a small screw driver to push it open. Most of them opened fine but a few needed some help. I just stuck in the wire and tightened. Had no problem.
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Old 21-05-2018, 09:40   #11
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

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strip the insulation back and solder the end so that it becomes solid then insert.
Yeah, tinning the wire seems to work much better that just stripping off the insulation and connecting, but I have both at the moment (on my $18.00 PWM controller) so either will work

I have two panels hooked to the one controller in parallel so it does get a little tight at the connection point on the controller with two wires in each solar hookup point
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Old 21-05-2018, 10:31   #12
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

Consult the installation manual. Everything I have seen says do not tin the wires. This type of connection depends on the ability to compress the strands slightly to make a good connection. Tinning the wire prevents it from being compressed.
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Old 21-05-2018, 13:05   #13
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

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[...]The victron looks like it is press fit in the wire directly? See pic. Is this an acceptable way to attach. It seems there is no strain relief.[...]

Either crimp on pins or ferrules (with integrated strain relief) would be better for this application than stripped wire ends. See pics.
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Old 21-05-2018, 13:49   #14
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

I had the same problem. I mounted a terminal block directly beneath each of my regulators, connected the regulators to the top row of terminals and the second row of terminals, which were strapped under the blocks to the first row, carried the battery feeds.

I find that tinning the wires makes no difference to the connectability of them in Fahnstock or other spring-loaded terminals--and tinned copper suffers less from corrosion. I always use it with direct current--no exceptions.

The terminal blocks were heavy-duty Bakelite and screwed on to the same epoxy-saturated 9 mm plywood mounting board as was each of the regulators, making the whole thing strong, water-resistant and comparatively compact and easily fitted almost anywhere on the vessel.

For the input leads I used tinned 6 mm cable, then removed some of the strands and re-twisted them to enter the regulators. For the outlet leads the same 6 mm, but I terminated these using ring terminals crimped on to the 6 mm tinned wires and soldered as an extra. On each termination I fitted colour-coded terminals. Positive red--negative black or blue.

I never use anything other than tinned 6-mm wire for any low voltage application using low current drain, and where possible I run all of my wiring in square or rectangular re-enterable PVC conduits. I just use extra fuses at the equipment to prevent damage. For high currents I use tinned welding cable or (if you have a military disposals facility nearby, all sorts of expensive stuff can be purchased for comparatively little money--since most aircraft systems are DC and usually low voltage electro-hydraulic --and TINNED for some applications.
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Old 21-05-2018, 14:29   #15
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Re: How do I connect to these terminals

The manual mentions nothing about bootlace ferrules or soldering. 8 months with no issues here with just stripped wires.
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