!2V distribution. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: paulca
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2022, 06:57:42 pm
content: Tagging on from my previous post about getting 12V from A to B, now I have it and it's working, I need to think about how to tidy it up. Croc clip banana leads onto the bare 6mm cable probably isn't even "permanently temporary" acceptable. It is allowing me to test it though, running a DC/DC buck/boost bench supply to charge a power bank.I've been around ebay, amazon, rv sites, cctv sites and I still can't decide.I have 6mm bare wires with 12V (ish) on it as source.Consumers include:DC Barrel jacks, 1.5 and 2.5USBXT60 R/C connector for LiPos, charge harnesses etc. etc.4mm banana sockets.Fuses and switches would be cool.Option 1: Caravan/RV/Boat panel. Make/buy/modify a box for it.Option 2: Electronics enclosure, individual sockets/switches/leds/fuse holders...Option 3: Combination of bothIs it acceptable to have a female DC barrel jack socket as a source? I'm sure I can find male to male leads, but it feels wrong.I was thinking the RV panel gives me 5 or 6 switches, say 5 after I convert one of them to switch the panel itself off for solar economics (those LEDs and voltmeter consume dozens of pixies).The RV panel outputs terminate in automotive fuses and a bare tail. So if I put an aluminium electronics panel below it and put male and or female connectors across it I could have the RV panel 2xUSB ports, the RV panel 12V accessory socket, 2xDC barrel sockets, 2xXT60 sockets (mixed gender, to bypass safety gendering), 1x4mm banana pair.Thoughts, ideas, wtfs?

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2022, 09:05:50 pm
content: For 12V DC (vehicle etc), I've converted everything to use anderson powerpoles. Common for amateur radio use. They can carry quite high current and are hermaphroditic, quite a neat connector, they click together and easy to make extensions for them. Plenty of bulkhead plates/holders available for them.I've lopped of cig lighter plugs and other daft proprietary connectors from anything 12V I use in the vehicle and put powerpole connectors on them instead.cheers,george.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2022, 10:00:17 pm
content: What you'd typically do is choose a connector you like, and install them at various points along your bench.In the case of my workplace we have nominal 12VDC (actually 13.5ish from a big old linear HF Radio supply) wired to all the benches in the lab, and we use ahirschmann connector. They plug in and out nicely, and have a threaded locking ring so you can't accidentally unplug stuff - they're also used on a lot of the equipment we make/maintain so they're already in the parts bin. It doesn't matter what this connector is as long as it's good, easily available, and you like it.A common lab connector is of course the banana, space them the correct distance apart (3/4" from memory) and you can use the double connectors to save making 2 connections each time.Now you have your source of power you can make up a bunch of test leads / power leads for various devices.I've got a little plastic project box with some banana binding posts installed on it that plugs in at the back of my bench and lets me power up bare wired stuff, or attach croc etc clips to. In the box is a 7805 to give me a 5V binding post.I do have a couple of nice power supplies, and I use them, but 99% of the time I just need to give something a nominal 12V or 5V so why bother twiddling knobs to set things up? Why risk them being set wrong too...(Obvious from the above I'm a tech not an engineer!)