Lancs_fus Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Don't know if it is of broader interest but a fellow Digitrax user and I had been corresponding on wiring up a breakout board for the BDL168 block detector and I was trying to explain how I did it using bootlace crimps and terminal strips and decided to make a short video. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs_fus Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 Also I did a short video on how to make your own telco cables to any length rather than spending a fortune from the major manufacturers. I picked up a roll of 100m no less brand new ex China for a tenner plus 100 RJ12 plugs and show how I make a Loconet telco cable using 6P6C telco cable and test them after making using a really useful tester that tests both ends of the cable at the same time. Hope it is interesting or useful to someone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Top marks for the use of crimps. Good luck converting the "average modeller" to their use, let alone getting them to understand why they are used The subject has been done to death on various forums over the years. Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs_fus Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 https://flic.kr/p/NocKPy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted November 2, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 2, 2016 I can see the point of using boot lace crimps if you're going to be regularly removing wires from a screw terminal block but don't see why there's needed for a fixed installation that's only likely to get modified once in a blue moon or if something goes "pop" and needs replacing. The mains wiring in my house manages quite well without them.... Happy modelling. Steven B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted November 2, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2016 I can see the point of using boot lace crimps if you're going to be regularly removing wires from a screw terminal block but don't see why there's needed for a fixed installation that's only likely to get modified once in a blue moon or if something goes "pop" and needs replacing. The mains wiring in my house manages quite well without them.... Happy modelling. Steven B. Your mains wiring is solid wire which tends to stay in a tightened up state because of this, bootlace crimps are widely used in the electronics industry to replicate this feature on multi stranded cable. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs_fus Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share Posted November 3, 2016 Crimps mitigate multistranded wires separating under screw type terminal sockets like chocolate blocks and other PCB mounted screw terminals. If the wire strands separate under load, you can end up with a poor connection long term and depending on the current and voltage a potential high resistance join that can heat up. The crimps also mitigate corrosion based degradation of multistranded wires at the terminals too which can be exacerbated by minute arcing of individual strands improperly connected. This is what my fellow instrumentation and electrical buddy's in the offshore industry have told me. I was a sparky once upon a time and the old adage was do it once do it right and you'll never have to do it again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Your mains wiring is solid wire A Cooker cable isn't, but only 6 or so strands The first time I saw a torque specification for tightening mains electrical terminals was on a cooker. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Crimps mitigate multistranded wires separating under screw type terminal sockets like chocolate blocks and other PCB mounted screw terminals. If the wire strands separate under load, you can end up with a poor connection long term and depending on the current and voltage a potential high resistance join that can heat up. The crimps also mitigate corrosion based degradation of multistranded wires at the terminals too which can be exacerbated by minute arcing of individual strands improperly connected. This is what my fellow instrumentation and electrical buddy's in the offshore industry have told me. I was a sparky once upon a time and the old adage was do it once do it right and you'll never have to do it again. Is solder tinning the end of the wire considered to be a good alternative to bootlace ferrules as it seems to give similar benefits. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meil Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Is solder tinning the end of the wire considered to be a good alternative to bootlace ferrules as it seems to give similar benefits. Simple answer is NO. In fact it makes it worse than bare wire. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Simple answer is NO. In fact it makes it worse than bare wire. Hi Meil Can you explain why please? I would like to understand your point of view. Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crosland Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 There are two issues. Soldering is likely to cause the insulation to shrink back, making shorts or other unwanted connections more likely. A phenomenon known as "cold flow" (google it) where the solder under pressure from the screw will move and allow the joint to go slack. Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
norman Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 Hi Andrew Thanks. I just googled cold flow solder - interesting. I assume that's due to the lead content but I wonder about unleaded solder. The article I read also mentioned vibration induced stress cracking - that's understandable if a layout is being regularly transported I guess. cheers Norman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs_fus Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Crimps take seconds to add and cost peanuts to buy so I am of the view why not rather than why bother. It's also the old adage that you don't know what you don't know when it comes to these things too. I watch videos from a Digitrax on their channel about setting up their DCC set and they don't use crimps just twisted wire ends and of course if everyone watches that then they think that is how it should be done. It isn't wrong mind you, just different. That's why I was sharing the crimps video just to show how quick and easy it is for very little money. On this one I use printable heat shrink tube to identify the signal cables on the control board. I could have used masking tape or electrical tape or something else but I chose the heat shrink because that's what we do at work I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs_fus Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 Just another video although shorter on the use of crimps as a friend in TX USA asked about the different types of crimps I had been using. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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