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Euro-style terminal strips

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  • Member since
    October 2016
  • 4 posts
Euro-style terminal strips
Posted by LukeBarber on Saturday, October 22, 2016 5:48 PM

Do you think that it's easier and cheaper to use a euro-terminal-strip with compression clamp connections to interconnect devices?

  • Member since
    October 2016
  • 4 posts
Posted by LukeBarber on Monday, October 24, 2016 11:40 AM

I was looking at Altech's Eurostrips for low cost & availability.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by SouthPenn on Monday, October 24, 2016 12:01 PM

In my limited experiance with european electrical devices, they didn't seem very robust or sturdy.

I prefer screw terminals for a good connection over the long haul.

South Penn
  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, October 24, 2016 12:33 PM

It looks like they are cheaper on ebay.  Easier?  I never thought screw terminals were difficult but if we were having a race, the european style would probably win.  I don't expect to be fiddling again with the terminal blocks I have for years but if I do, a system that records what is wire goes where is more important that the type of terminal blocks.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, October 24, 2016 12:49 PM

I use both.

I like to use the euro when I want to be able to undo the wires, but it won't happen very often.  For example, connecting signals to signal drivers.

But for more robust work, I prefer the classic barrier strips:

 

 

Barrier strips (the "official" name) come in various sizes, based on the screw size.  Easy to forget.  

 

They make prefab jumpers that go between the barriers so that you can gang a whole buncha wires, if needed.  I ALWAYS use crimp-on lugs, either forked or round, depending on how often I think I might want to disconnect the wires.  If you put one connector on "upside down", you can put another on top if it.  If you want.

I always use uninsulated crimp-ons because I believe you get a better quality crimp.  There is a special tool to do the crimp.  You should use it.

 

 

Ed

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, October 24, 2016 1:07 PM

EDIT:
 
PhotoBucket was down for maintenance when I made this post, I added pictures of my control panel showing the Euro and Shorting blocks.
 
The Euro connectors work great for my layout.  I buy the 3 & 6 amp in lengths of 12 connectors and cut them to the amount of connectors I need.  I prefer the Euro terminal blocks because you don’t need lugs on the wires, I easily can stuff from one to ten #24 wires into one Euro terminal.
 
 
 
 
 
I also use bus bars/shorting blocks for power distribution and common grounds.
 
 
 
I have found the pricing from LED-Switch very comparative to eBay, fast delivery too.
 
 
 
Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

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