What are these connectors called? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: itdontgo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 09:22:06 am
content: What are these connectors called?I've had look around and can't find them. This is why you need a dead tree catalogue sometimes so you can quickly look at pictures and not just guess at words!Thanks

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 09:27:23 am
content: They arespring terminals. Also known asspeaker terminals.

author: itdontgo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 09:35:14 am
content: Brill thanks!

author: Liv
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 11:29:42 am
content: A small addition - they come in different sizes. I used to PSUs two different sizes.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 12:05:35 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on March 10, 2015, 09:27:23 amAKA "one of the shittiest types of connectors ever made".

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 01:51:33 pm
content: Quote from: David_AVD on March 10, 2015, 12:05:35 pmSecond only to those 1/2-inch DIN audio/power/everything connectors from the 1960's

author: Liv
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 03:37:50 pm
content: Quote from: David_AVD on March 10, 2015, 12:05:35 pmI am very pleased with these connectors. One movement - and the wire is connected. Much better than the screw terminals. IMHO.

author: PeterHouse
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 03:50:59 pm
content: Unfortunately, the contact force is too low causing the connection to fail over a fairly short time.Binding posts are far superior and possibly more versatile for a "connector less" wire attachment.

author: Liv
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 04:03:15 pm
content: Maybe, but so far no defects noted. For laboratory use, which often have to connect the wires, very comfortable. Not for high currents, of course.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 04:11:33 pm
content: I'm sure there's variation from one mfg to another. I know I've used some where I had to squeeze them together for a good connection, others had a fairly tight grip on their own. They certainly are quicker to make connections with, but it seems like most would take more front panel space than binding posts.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 05:15:33 pm
content: TTi use spring terminals for the sense connections on many of their laboratory power supplies, including high-end models running into thousands of £/$. They are actually more compact than binding posts:They can be a bit fiddly to use, but generally hold the wires securely.Incidentally, the binding post also visible in the photo is quite clever: as well as the standard banana plugs, bare wires or spade terminals it can also accommodate shrouded safety plugs.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 05:19:51 pm
content: Quote from: rolycat on March 10, 2015, 05:15:33 pmUgh...why? Like I want to cut and strip wire to make a connection in the lab, when I've got a massive rack of banana-$VARIOUS cables right behind me...

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 08:08:32 pm
content: There are industrial high current connectors that function much like these. We use these Wago connectors all the time.http://www.wago.us/products/pcb-terminal-blocks-and-connectors/high-current-series-2706/

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2015, 08:13:28 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on March 10, 2015, 05:19:51 pmBecause it's convenient for longer cables to run a bit of small wire along and use appropriate terminals for it for sense applications?

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2015, 02:44:29 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on March 10, 2015, 08:13:28 pmSense wires going back to the supply from the load should be a twisted pair for low inductance and low noise pickup. These terminals make it very easy to terminate a twisted pair.

author: Liv
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 09:54:27 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on March 10, 2015, 05:19:51 pmSimilarly, it may be a lot of stripped wires right behind

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 05:25:25 pm
content: You know, some kind of adapter thing with banana plugs on the back and spring terminals on the front would be useful at times. Except with all those power supplies where the idiot designers used non-standard spacing on binding posts/banana jacks (such as putting the earth groundbetweenthe positive and negative).