Stupid new guy question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: oldcrow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 06:27:23 pm
content: OK I've just about exhausted the search engine thing looking for a simple minor part. We always called them studs and I can't find themI'm building a dedicated volt/amp meter to use with an old TripLight power supply I use to drive a battery charger and other stuff on the volts bench that use 12volts +- a couple volts.Now this is no project for an engineer but I'm running into a block when it comes to the simplest part of this whole project. The insulated studs for the output terminals. The 1/4-20 simple old insulated studs. I CAN"T FIND ANYI had a bunch in a junk box at one time but that box "disappeared" in a move some years back and now i go to Digikey and Jameco and nothing. I can find some super heavy duty insulated terminals from marine suppliers but all I need are simple 1/4-20 studs with the through hole insulators with a couple nuts.What is the "technical" name for these things that would result in a positive result in the Jameco or Digikey catalogs?This is embarrassing! I've been a tech for 35 years and I'm drawing a total blank on a simple part.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 06:31:43 pm
content: banana plugs, terminal posts?

author: oldcrow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 06:45:02 pm
content: Not banana plugs This is a 15A supply and I'm driving some radios and battery chargers that pull some good current. I'm looking for heavy threaded studs 1/4 or 3/8 size for use with ring terminals.I've tried terminal studs, bolts with no luck. When I search on terminal blocks I get the heavy duty marine blocks. I could use one of them but the things cost more than the LCD panel meters. STUPID!I wish Radio Shack was still the Radio Shack I remember when I was a kid.

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 06:49:03 pm
content: Are you talking about a feed-thru?Example, split ceramic goes through hole, threaded stud through ceramic bushing:http://www.surplussales.com/antennas/antennas-6.html

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 06:52:06 pm
content: http://www.digikey.fi/product-search/en/connectors-interconnects/banana-and-tip-connectors-binding-posts/1442302Something like these maybe? or are you talking some sort of block connectors more often used in forklifts and suchs?

author: oldcrow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 06:59:50 pm
content: It would be a feed-thru if it were RF but I'm looking for the "stud" on the back of an old linear power supply.The idea is to put a shunt and a couple panel meters in a project box that will live on top of the PR-15. Easy peasy right?Everything but the terminals.

author: oldcrow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 07:04:50 pm
content: Quote from: lapm on March 30, 2014, 06:52:06 pmClose, very close.

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 07:43:38 pm
content: Quote from: oldcrow on March 30, 2014, 06:59:50 pmLike the split black and red plastic insulators on the back of say, an Astron 12V power supply, right? 1/4" brass or copper threaded rod with pairs of nuts and washers on each side?Try a google image search on "threaded bulkhead terminal". Does that help?

author: oldcrow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 30, 2014, 07:57:31 pm
content: Quote from: Rory on March 30, 2014, 07:43:38 pmEXACTLY!!! Gad the simplest things can be the toughest to get right!

author: oldcrow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 01, 2014, 05:14:16 pm
content: Well I did get this figured out. Might not be the most "professional" or elegant solution but it shopuld work. I could make insulators out of a piece of derlin turned on a lathe. But I don't have a lathe and it's not in the budget for the immediate future.But after a bit of thinking and a bit of looking at the old neighborhood hardware store I found a selection of nylon washers and standoffs that could be put together with a bit of CA to make a serviceable insulated bushing then a piece of allthread for the stud.That is until I invest in a 700 dollar lathe to make 50 cent parts.

author: michaelym
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2014, 06:32:07 pm
content: When I am looking for the "Technical" name of a mechanical part usually Google image search is the first place I go.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2014, 06:35:42 pm
content: $700 lathe needs $500 in cutting tools to work properly. But it can cut PTFE and nylon very well then. Just made a chuck for mine out of a very dead drill, had to cut the taper, and mostly got it right.