Small 12V connectors

[JumbleDuck]

I have a messy connector box on my boat. It has an incoming three-core wire with switched supply, unswitched supply and earth (shared). The switched supply is connected to two B&G boxes while the unswitched supply feeds the VHF, the GPS, a chart light and a USB charging point for a mifi.

At the moment there's an Index marine box, like this ...

... but rather longer with a 12-way chocolate block connector with lots of short links to join bits together. It's a pain to work on, cramped and regularly develops faults.

Can anyone suggest a neater way of doing things? Basically I need 1->2 (switched), 1->4 (unswitched) and 1->6 (earth). Only the instruments (~4A in total) and the VHF (4A maximum) need much current. I'm tempted just to use ring connectors and three posts, but idea for more elegant solutions would be welcome. If at all possible I need to use the same space and ideally the same box, as it's fitted very neatly between a bookshelf and the folding chart table, which makes extending in any direction almost impossible.

 

[dom]

Have a look at the WAGO website: you’ll want the smaller connectors which then fit in their own junction boxes, rails, etc. Very neat, very maintainable, and easy to expand/alter.

http://global.wago.com/en/products/product-catalog/terminal-blocks-connectors/overview/index.jsp

 

[NormanB]

+1 on Wago connectors they are brilliant. You do need to read the product leaflets for the different types available and know the size of your cables cross sectional area.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Have a look at the WAGO website: you’ll want the smaller connectors which then fit in their own junction boxes, rails, etc. Very neat, very maintainable, and easy to expand/alter.

http://global.wago.com/en/products/product-catalog/terminal-blocks-connectors/overview/index.jsp

+1 on Wago connectors they are brilliant. You do need to read the product leaflets for the different types available and know the size of your cables cross sectional area.

Thanks, both. I am finding the website quite daunting. Do any of them connect sideways, so that a two-wire connector can be mated with another to join four together and with another to join six? If I could make an eight, a six and four I'd have a lovely solution.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thanks, both. I am finding the website quite daunting. Do any of them connect sideways, so that a two-wire connector can be mated with another to join four together and with another to join six? If I could make an eight, a six and four I'd have a lovely solution.

They come in 2, 3 and 5 way. You can either link two together to get what you want, or you may find you can put more than one wire on each hole, depending on wire sizes.

 

[alahol2]

Thanks, both. I am finding the website quite daunting. Do any of them connect sideways, so that a two-wire connector can be mated with another to join four together and with another to join six? If I could make an eight, a six and four I'd have a lovely solution.

The Wago 221 are probably what you want... https://www.screwfix.com/p/wago-5-way-lever-connector-221-series-32a-pack-of-25/5201r

You can put a short link in to join a couple together giving eg an eight way. They will also take two wires into the same 'hole' depending on wire size.
I made up a negative busbar using 5 way 221's sikaflexed onto a batten.

Edit: must type faster

 

[JumbleDuck]

They come in 2, 3 and 5 way. You can either link two together to get what you want, or you may find you can put more than one wire on each hole, depending on wire sizes.

The Wago 221 are probably what you want...

A thousand thanks, both. Just what I need. I was looking at the rail mounted ones.

Edit: Selection box of Wago 221s now ordered from Amazon.

 

[Twin]

With Wago use cable crimp connectors e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...ord-Pin-End-Terminal-Kit-Set/32801447519.html

 

[alahol2]

With Wago use cable crimp connectors e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...ord-Pin-End-Terminal-Kit-Set/32801447519.html

Why? It just adds another point of possible failure.

 

[dom]

Do any of them connect sideways, so that a two-wire connector can be mated with another to join four together and with another to join six? If I could make an eight, a six and four I'd have a lovely solution.

The 221s are perfect for little NMEA wires from 0.14mm^2 up to 4mm^2 and the 222s are a bit bigger (221 superseded 222 i think). I doubt you’d regret buying a selection of 221 2s, 3s, and 5s. For a really neat job, you can finish each unit of wiring in one of their bespoke junction boxes - labelled up they are great for future alteration and look like a true pro job.

BTW there is even a little multimeter test point at the back of each one to check all the connections and being so well designed — without those brutal chocbox screws — you’ll no longer have the headache of ever-shortening cables

http://secure.wago.ltd.uk/shop/product/abox_060_polystyrene_60290788_/

 

[PaulRainbow]

With Wago use cable crimp connectors e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...ord-Pin-End-Terminal-Kit-Set/32801447519.html

Nooooo one of the best things about the Wago connectors is that you don't have to crimp terminal ends on to the wires.

 

[NormanB]

They come in 2, 3 and 5 way. You can either link two together to get what you want, or you may find you can put more than one wire on each hole, depending on wire sizes.

I do not recall the manufacturer recommending that.

 

[NormanB]

Thanks, both. I am finding the website quite daunting. Do any of them connect sideways, so that a two-wire connector can be mated with another to join four together and with another to join six? If I could make an eight, a six and four I'd have a lovely solution.

Specify what wire you are using and if solid or stranded. It is important to get it right.

For example these MAY be suitable https://eshop.wago.com/JPBC/0_5Star...?supplierAID=2273-208&catalogID=WAGO01&zone=7

but they are specified for currents up to 24Amps and wires of 0.5 … 2.5 mm² / 18 … 14 AWG

 

[JumbleDuck]

Specify what wire you are using and if solid or stranded. It is important to get it right.

'Orrible mixtures of sizes, but all stranded. 221s look like the boys.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I do not recall the manufacturer recommending that.

Do you recall the manufacturer forbidding it ?

 

[NormanB]

With Wago use cable crimp connectors e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...ord-Pin-End-Terminal-Kit-Set/32801447519.html

Not at all necessary

 

[NormanB]

Do you recall the manufacturer forbidding it ?

Do you think it may be more responsible to encourage people to use the product in the way it was designed so they achieve the intended performance and reliability?
If you choose to ‘mash it up’ for a frolic and a laugh then that is your privilege as long as it is on your own kit and property.
There is nothing in the Wago literature that gets anywhere near suggesting ramming more than one cable in each socket.

 

[JumbleDuck]

There is nothing in the Wago literature that gets anywhere near suggesting ramming more than one cable in each socket.

Perhaps they think it's so obvious a thing to do that it doesn't need saying? Twist two stranded wires together and hey presto! One stranded wire.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Do you think it may be more responsible to encourage people to use the product in the way it was designed so they achieve the intended performance and reliability?
If you choose to ‘mash it up’ for a frolic and a laugh then that is your privilege as long as it is on your own kit and property.
There is nothing in the Wago literature that gets anywhere near suggesting ramming more than one cable in each socket.

0.5mm² thin wall cable consists of 16 strands of 0.2mm copper, 1mm² thin wall cable consists of 32 strands of 0.2mm copper. Can you explain how putting two 0.5 cables in one hole differs from putting one 1mm cable in a hole ?

No, of course you can't.

 

[NormanB]

Perhaps they think it's so obvious a thing to do that it doesn't need saying? Twist two stranded wires together and hey presto! One stranded wire.

Don’t bother with the Wago connector then and save yourself 30 pence.