New wire connector

[JHinPA]

Hi all, I was at my local BIG BOX hardware store today (home depot ) looking for suit case wire connectors. I am using #20 wire for my feeders and # 14 for my main bus around the layout. I could'nt find a suit case connector that would work with the #14 guage wire (too thick ) however I did find a new type of connector, well to me anyway, so I thought I would share it with ya. it takes both stranded and solid wire from #12- #20 and they are reusable.they come in 10 packs for around $2.50 and 100 packs for I think about $7.00. just thought this might be interesting to some people. thanks , joe

[Soo Line fan]

Anything is better than a suit case connector.

[rrinker]

Specs say 12-16, and sometimes 18. But, they certainly look interesting, cheap enough to testout, if I remember I will pick up a pack next time I'm in HD. They have 2, 3, and 4 port versions.

               -_Randy

 

[cedarwoodron]

Great Find! Those connectors sound like a better bet than other methods I have been thinking about! Cedarwoodron

[Phoebe Vet]

I don't like suitcase connectors.  You will never see them used in a professional wiring job.

My connections are all mde like this.

[gmpullman]

Hi Joe,

I first saw these a few years ago when some contractors were upgrading all the lighting ballasts in the plant I work in. They are pretty speedy and I have used them for that very same thing when I changed out some ballasts in my layout room to get rid of that 60hZ hum. They're perfect for that kind of work.

If you use them on the layout I would suggest using the 4 port or 5 port and leave some extra holes for future use if needed. Also solid wire is much easier to insert than stranded unless you want to tin it.

These are pretty much a one shot deal. You "can" wiggle and twist a solid wire out and maybe reuse the connector but forget it with stranded wire since it shreds if you try to pull it out.

Still, they are another option and as cheap as they are you could just cut it out and use a new one if you ever had to add or remove wires...

Take care, ED

[Texas Zepher]

JHinPA

Hi all, I was at my local BIG BOX hardware store today (home depot ) looking for suit case wire connectors.

Gag,  I guess you are lucky you didn't find any.   It would eventually have become  a regret.

I did find a new type of connector, well to me anyway, so I thought I would share it with ya. it takes both stranded and solid wire from #12- #20 and they are reusable.they come in 10 packs for around $2.50 and 100 packs for I think about $7.00. just thought this might be interesting to some people

Very interesting.  Thanks.  Always looking for something that makes things better.

[rrebell]

I think you are talking about Posi-taps, my whole layout is done with them, don't know why the pic was removed?

[JHinPA]

Sorry guys somehow all my pics got erased I can retake pics and post them if anyone is interested