hon30critterEd: I just ordered some of the connectors to see how well they work. I'm a bit sceptical that they will hold the wires firmly enough but we shall see.
I also ordered fifty from China and thirty from Amazon. I wanted to compare quality AND I wanted to have them sooner than three or four weeks.
I just happened to come across a review in another (RMC Dec. 2016 P.24) magazine where the reviewer stated that the MRC KwiKonnect will hold wire from #12 to #34 gauge!
http://www.modelrectifier.com/product-p/062352.htm
Sometimes using some connectors I'll strip extra insulation off then fold over the wire end to give it a little more thickness. This doesn't always work with wirenuts, though.
There are new lever-type connectors but they seem too bulky for model use and I use dozens of the Ideal "In-Sure" type connectors for ballast replacements and such, these ARE approved for house-current:
http://www.idealindustries.ca/products/wire_termination/push-in/in-sure.php
I also have a bunch of CCTV cameras that use a neat little push-in spring clip for wiring but I have never seen this type available except for soldering onto a PC board.
We shall see,
Take Care, Ed
7j43kThese are NOT OK to use for house wiring. Don't even think about it.
Ed! Please! Give us a break! Anyone stupid enough to use something like these for household wiring deserves to watch their house go up in smoke! Ideally they will be watching from inside the house! Its called the process of natural selection.
Sorry, just kidding around. Your advice is correct and needs to be heeded.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
7j43k-those wily metric people.
Hey, I'm supposedly a metric people! (Canadian eh!) Not so sure about the 'wily' part though. I still think in terms of feet and inches and miles per hour. So do most Canadians my age!!
Ed: I just ordered some of the connectors to see how well they work. I'm a bit sceptical that they will hold the wires firmly enough but we shall see.
BigDaddy I think 7j43k might have been comparing diameter to gauge rather than cross sectional area to gauge.
I think 7j43k might have been comparing diameter to gauge rather than cross sectional area to gauge.
Yes I did--those wily metric people.
Ed
gmpullmanAll I'm looking for is something I can wire up the cat-whisker size magnet wire coming from signal masts and other such low-voltage applications.
That's pretty tiny isn't it. I guess it will depend if the jaws close all the way or not.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddythe accompaning photo says 0.5 mm^2
Yes, I did mess up and place a 0 after the decimal point.
I'll edit that... sorry for the misprint.
Thanks, Ed
7j43kAccording to their chart, they're good for #24 up to #8. Physically, not electrically.
I was using this conversion chart:
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/awg-wire-gauge-d_731.html
#8 should fall somewhere around 8.36 mm2.
All I'm looking for is something I can wire up the cat-whisker size magnet wire coming from signal masts and other such low-voltage applications.
No, I would not use them for line voltages but I will say that I have opened up lots of "consumer electronics" devices and have been amazed at how flimsy some of the line-voltage wiring can be. "UL and CSA" stickers are available in the thousands in some Asian countries.
Regards, Ed
7j43kAccording to their chart, they're good for #24 up to #8.
It looks great. I'm interested to know if they hold up with use.
The specs are area and not diameter. 20 ga on the small end and 12 on the large. I found some on Amazon and the seller says 20 ga to 2 ga, yes he said 2 which is 1/4" in diameter. A couple reviewers said they worked with 22 ga.
I'm not, but I do have comments:
According to their chart, they're good for #24 up to #8. Physically, not electrically.
Also, I'd be wary of shoving two or more wires into one hole if they're different wire gages.
These are NOT OK to use for house wiring. Don't even think about it.
All that said, they ARE intriguing.
There has been some discussion here about how to make reliable connections for very fine wire for signals, LEDs and maybe even track feeders.
I was searching for wire-nuts in a smaller size than the gray 22-14 gauge size since these are still too big if you are using sizes below 22 ga. There's an ivory colored one that is smaller but I can only find them in sets with other sizes that I don't need.
I stumbled across these quick-push spring connectors and think they might just be the answer!
As close as I can calculate .05mm2 .5 mm2 is equivalent to 30 20 AWG.
It seems that Model Power, now part of MRC, had 12 position strips at one time but for now, all I can find are two or three position strips.
I ordered a bunch from Guangdong Province at about a dime each and I'll update when they arrive. This fellow has a YouTube video demonstrating them.
I have been looking for something like this for years. I hope they do the job as I anticipate. The screw-down euro-style strips mash the wire too much and there have been times when they don't grab the finer size wires. These should cure that.
I ordered here but have no experience with this particular seller:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/142251827693?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&var=441313862013&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Is anyone using something like this and have any comments?