Help: Connecting Leads to Pins

Feb 10, 2007 44 Replies

I am working on a project and want to incorporate some single row terminal blocks.



I'm trying to figure out the best way to connect leads to the pins underneath and was wondering if anyone new of the existence of crimp- on female connectors that I might be able to use on the individual wires.



If not, someone suggested wire wrappping. I have no idea what this is, but if it represents a plausible way to connect wies to the terminal pins then I'd appreciate it if someone can direct me to a website/book that illustrates how this is done and lists all materials needed.



Thanks.



Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.



There are single row IDC connectors that will push right on, but you have standard post sizes and spacings that must be adhered to, and your posts need to be long enough. You don't want to get into crimping because that usually involves requiring a $350 tool.

On Feb 10, 6:36?pm, "Searcher7" wrote: was wondering if anyone new of the existence of crimp-

Underneath what?!

I've used Ferruls before with Din-Rail style terminal blocks. (I probably spelled "ferruels" wrong, but try some variations.)

Let's see, who makes terminal blocks:? Try:

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Also, try Phoenix Contact, or just Google "DIN Rail terminal blocks".. There are plenty of vendors.

If you're were thinking those little black screw-type things with the big metal screws, the tops of which are open to the world when wired up, that's a different type of "terminal block". But I suppose you could still use ferrules with them... The purpose of which is of course, wire identification, solid connections, and to help prevent wire breakage.

-mpm

You have a mental picture of exactly what your problem is but, unfortunately, nobody else can see it. I can think of quite a few gizmos that could possibly be called "single row terminal blocks" and it might help to focus potential answers to the specific one that you have in mind. Could you post a link to someplace (like Digikey or Mouser or ...) that has a picture of it?

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Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

Could you tell us the make and part number of the terminal blocks you are using? - a web link to a datasheet would be good. With that information, we would have a better idea of your problem

Peter Bennett, VE7CEI peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

Most of the strips I have are simular to these:

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There are screws on one side and pins on the other.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

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What is the diamter of the pins?

Will 30 AWG wire be big enough for your signals?

I would seriously look at wire wrap. You used to be able to buy the tool at radio shack, alas no more. The simple ones look like the odd man out of a set of jewler's screwdrivers, you put the stripped wire in the small hole in the bit and feed it up the slot, put the big hole over the pin, and twist to neatly wrap several turns of the wire. You can of course solder the result for extra security.

The common "official" wire wrap pins are .025" square. The tool should take the circular diametrical equivelent of that and maybe a bit more or less. Designed for .100" pitch, but I've been able to get wires into 2mm connectors with care.

Bigger versions did exist in a past era, but those would be very hard to source (I tried to make my own tool as a kid to recycle some 44 pin edgecard sockets from some NorPack racks)

these:

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I searched eBay "wire wrap tool", but I really don't know what I'm looking at.

I'll need to connect 18g to 22g leads to the pins. But I have no way of measuring the size of the pins, which are actually flat and also rounded at the point.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

these:

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Why not use a double-row barrier strip like

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instead of a kludgey solution (unless you're forced into MacGyver mode for some reason)? Then you can use proper ring terminals and have some assurance of long-term reliability.

Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

I have a difficult time soldering leads to fingerboards, so pins would be a nightmare.

And I already have a huge number of single row terminal blocks(strips).

Anyway, I'm assuming there is no crimp-on connector solution for this?

Thanks.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

For that kind of terminal strip you use crimp on ring or spade terminals, the one size will do 18-22ga, then these go under the screws- did you think the screws were there for looks?

?!?

You haven't read what I wrote.

There are pins on the other side opposite each screw.......

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

You're an arrogant little prig for someone who doesn't know anything. I just told you to stack your crimps with your precious "leads" on top of the damned screws where they belong. Get it?

these:

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Looks like a PCB-mount style to me. If the nameplate goes on top that is. Otherwise...???

I'll bet you could find some crimps to fit those pins. Just measure them. And if you wanted to, (and had enough access to them), you could solder the crimps too.

I don't know about wire-wrapping 18-ga insulated on these??. Sounds like a headache. And as others have mentioned, I think it's OK to wire everything on top (using 2 spades or ring terminals). I'm reasonably certain these terminals are rated for more than one terminal under the screw, but if you need to check (like for UL Listing or something), then do so.

Obviously with this approach, you would not use the pins underneath.

-mpm

Actually, he wanted to know how to connect hook-up wire to the pins on the underside of the terminal block. I suggested that he solder them, but he said he couldn\'t because of some problem he has with knowing how to solder. A lost cause, I think.

You may be able to find some ferrules and a crimp tool which you can use, but be prepared to spend some big bucks if that\'s the route you want to take. You really do need to learn how to make harnesses and how to solder if this is going to be your profession.

What's on the bottom -- that is, are you working with an existing circuit board or are you sort of free to roll your own? If you can use your own layout, something like stripboard might be the ticket. Just solder as many connector blocks as you need, in parallel, and do all of the wiring to the top terminals.

See

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for some examples that might work.

Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

I know what you said.

And the fact that you think I'm arrogant because I don't want to do things your way, indicate that you are the arrogant one.

If I can get the proper hole spacing, the intent is to use stripboard(or some material that I can drill the holes in myselfd) and stand-offs, so the leads to the pins will be permanent and out of sight underneath.

On the screw side, where some spades might have to be stacked anyway, I may have to change out connections.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

I still wouldn't know where to begin to look for whatever tool I'll need to do things that way.

No, this is definitely not a profession for me. Just a project.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

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