Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

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Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby Capebuild » Wed Sep 29, 2021 12:15 pm

Hello.... I've got a positive and negative wire coming from the fuse box. I want to branch off from that wire to feed 3 outlets in parallel.
I'm looking for a suggestion for either a bus bar or terminal block (not sure which) that will let me attach the 2 main wires (one pos and one neg)
and then be able to feed 3 other wires from that block to the 3 outlets. Kind of like a butt connector but some thing that will handle the 4 wires (4 neg and 4 pos).
Preferably something that will not have to be screwed down, I can just leave it loose in the ceiling (like a butt connector). Hopefully I'm explaining all this
correctly and understandable.

thanks

John
EDIT: I guess, never mind, regarding the above. I think I can use butt connectors. I have some (Multi wire connectors) where one 14 wire goes in one end and you can have 2 coming out other end.
If I add an extra butt connector to the mix, then I can get the 3 total wire outputs I need.
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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby pchast » Wed Sep 29, 2021 8:55 pm

Be careful with butt connectors.

I use these:
https://smile.amazon.com/Hilitchi-Posit ... ljaz10cnVl
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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby John61CT » Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:52 am

WAGO are a great way to go
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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby Capebuild » Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:31 am

John61CT wrote:WAGO are a great way to go

These connectors look interesting but not sure they'd work with stranded wire. Solid wire, yes.

pchast wrote:Be careful with butt connectors.

I use these:
https://smile.amazon.com/Hilitchi-Posit ... ljaz10cnVl


Pete, I had seen those connectors on Amazon and almost went ahead a purchased some.... I suppose I changed my mind about them as I didn't want to have to anchor them down somewhere. The butt connectors seemed like I could just let them kind of be where they wind up. Why do you say be careful with butt connectors?
Thanks for the help.

John
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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby John61CT » Thu Sep 30, 2021 5:35 am

Maybe check out the datasheets before stating misinformation.

WAGO are specifically engineered to accommodate both solid and stranded wire, and a wide range of gauges too.

Used all across Europe, much higher standards than in the Americas
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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby mountainminded » Thu Sep 30, 2021 9:24 am

My bus bars are located in an enclosed utility panel in the cabin that is accessed by unscrewing the lowest shelf above the foot area. This eliminates the need for plastic covers but your build may require a cover to prevent contact. I use the Blue Sea 2701 which is made for boating and is quite robust. It does require attachment to a solid surface.

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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby pchast » Thu Sep 30, 2021 8:44 pm

Butt connectors with multiple wires have worked loose on me.
I can't guarantee that each one was properly crimped. IMHO
cheap crimpers can be inconsistent in use.

Since I changed to using terminal blocks in the last 20 years
on occasional projects. I've not had a problem with them.
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Re: Bus Bar or Terminal Block Advice needed

Postby Capebuild » Fri Oct 01, 2021 5:26 am

Thanks all for the help and follow up.

pchast wrote:IMHO
cheap crimpers can be inconsistent in use.

I had gotten the Titan crimpers Tony Latham suggested in his book. They work great and make a nice crimp, but I can see cramming 3 wires into a large multi strand butt connector might not be the best method.
I did order a those Hilitchi connectors you had suggested, Pete. I'll see how those might work when they arrive.

And I did take a "closer" look at the Wago connectors, John had mentioned. They do indeed accept stranded wire. I watched some of the videos on their website. Those actually look like they'll do exactly what I'm after so I'll order a few of those to check out.

So, again.... thanks all for the help.

John
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