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25-08-2011, 06:24
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#1
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
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Electrical Connection Advice, Please
Hi folks
Todays problem:
I have a long run of very thick copper wire the thickness of a pencil. I do not want to cut this wire.
It is the wires from one of my solar panels.
I want to join a 10AWG wire from the other solar panel to it mid run.
I cannot find some correct conector for sale.
I have some copper ribbon.
The intention was to wrap the copper ribbon around the pencil thickness wire and secure the 10AWG wire to it with a screw. But the copper ribbon is maybe too soft to take a screw.
So whats the thought of putting the new wire against the large wire, wrapping copper ribbon around it a few times, wrapping with electrical tape, and then clamping with a stainless steel hose clamp?
Insane or smarty-pants idea?
If an OK idea how can I perfect it? (I can't solder in that position)
Mark
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25-08-2011, 06:34
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Boat: 43 ft Selene/Solo
Posts: 688
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
Why not run the new wire directly to the point that the "pencil thick" wire is wired into the first solar panel??
__________________
Do not go where the path may lead.........
go instead where there is no path........
and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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25-08-2011, 06:34
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Liveaboard
Boat: Allied Luders 33, Hull 98, 1971
Posts: 393
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Sounds reasonable. Could you solder it first? That's more or less what I do to hook up lights, etc., in mid run.
__________________
don
NV5L
S/V Aurora
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25-08-2011, 06:57
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Winnipeg
Boat: None at this time
Posts: 8,462
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
There is a reason that you can't find anything standard to connect 2 wires in that manner. Its best to run the 10 gauge wire to a connection point where you can use standard connectors.
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25-08-2011, 07:33
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: FL
Posts: 646
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
Or just break down and cut that wire where you want to make the connection. Put terminals on all three ends and join them at a stud there. You then have a reliable connection at that point and an easy place/means to seperate the wires for future trouble shooting. Nothing good will come from a cheesy wire-wrapped-around-wire type of connection.
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25-08-2011, 07:41
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,315
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
You need to achieve the best pressure connection between the two wires, unless you can find a barrel connector, a connector that allow the clamping of multiple wires without having to cut them, the best bet is the SS clamp directly around the two wires. The copper ribbon wrap may interfere and the tape is too soft to achieve good pressure.
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25-08-2011, 07:43
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,061
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
If you must make the connection mid-line, Fishspearit is right. Use a stud or buss bar to make the connection. MiniBus 100 Ampere Common BusBar 4 x 10-32 Stud Terminal
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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25-08-2011, 07:54
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,533
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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25-08-2011, 09:02
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#9
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Long Range Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Australian living on "Sea Life" currently in England.
Boat: Beneteau 393 "Sea Life"
Posts: 12,822
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
Thanks Gord. They look great. Just where does one find these good things in these islands? (Retorical question... )
Fishspearit and Hopcar, thanks. Yes.
What is $10 in the USA is 3 times the price here:
BLS/2303Busbar, 4Studs 1/4" 150A$24.55
$24.55 in St Martin plus freight and currency conversion to Grenada = $30.
At $30 per connection that begins to get expensive.
Chala, thanks Good thoughts.
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25-08-2011, 09:18
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,315
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
Try local electricien, common in overhead lines or riser in buildings, may be not as fancy that Gord pic.
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25-08-2011, 09:40
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Oro Bay Puget Sound
Boat: Irwin sloop
Posts: 407
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
Although bronze isn't easy to saw or file you could make one. Use wax for blade lubrication and have lots of hacksaw blades and band-aids handy.
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25-08-2011, 09:48
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,409
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
That connection is commonly called a bug, available at electrical supply house not usually recommended on a boat but as long as you insulate it I see no problem
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25-08-2011, 09:54
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Malvernshire, on the sunny side of the hill.
Boat: 50' steel canal and river cruiser
Posts: 1,905
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
You can make one
Cross drill a bolt and cut out a slot on one side?
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25-08-2011, 09:56
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: On Board, just above the water
Boat: Camano Troll 31'
Posts: 1,201
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
Quote:
Originally Posted by nv5l
Sounds reasonable. Could you solder it first? That's more or less what I do to hook up lights, etc., in mid run.
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Solder sounds good but cold solder joints are common.
Best to make a sound mechanical joint, then solder it.
Mark,
There are mechanical barrel splices for heavy gage cable. These look like the connection you wold find on a curcuit breaker with out oall the plastic involved. If you can find the right size that can slip over the insulation so you can slide it to the joint. Then add the second wire and screw it down tight, cover with electrical tape or if you can find it Heat Shrink. These connectors are made from brass or cad plated copper.
Found this link
There are some of what I was talking about here, but they look "High End", Home Depot probably has cheaper stuff.
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25-08-2011, 10:00
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,537
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Re: Electrical Connecting advice please
The copper split bolt connector is good, albeit bulky. You might use a small buss bar without cutting the original wire....? Otherwise, I guess strip about an inch of cover off the pencil sized wire, wrap the new wire around it several times and solder well. Either way....Wrap the joint in that stretchable electrical tape that sticks to itself. (like rigging tape but black)
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard
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