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Author Topic: just a heads up on electrical connectors  (Read 1871 times)

Offline PaulM

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just a heads up on electrical connectors
« on: January 29, 2009, 09:17:11 AM »
If you are building a roaster controller or PIDding a machine, you'll be confronted with choosing wire connectors. When I built a roaster control box a few years ago I decided on the connectors you can buy at the local auto parts store for connecting trailers, because brake lights, etc, draw huge current and those connectors are beefy.

Recently I became involved in building an electric RC airplane, and happily discovered that there are some potentially even better fittings available on the hobbyist market. Good article here:

http://www.stefanv.com/rcstuff/qf200001.html

Just a heads up.

Cheers,
Paul
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Offline peter

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2009, 09:21:12 AM »
Hey, stranger...
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Offline PaulM

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2009, 09:27:03 AM »
Quote from: peter on January 29, 2009, 09:21:12 AM
Hey, stranger...

Still here, just layin' low...
 ;)
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Offline Monito

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2009, 09:28:28 AM »
I use the Wago connectors, but I like those blue ones for the stove.

Do we really loose that much wattage?

My roaster is 2kW...

-pat
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Offline PaulM

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2009, 09:52:24 AM »
Hi Pat,

I don't know about lossage other than what I read. Maybe? Until I read that article I had just sort of assumed that the voltage drop from the length (or narrow gauge) of the wire was much more significant than that induced by poor connectors. I think I just assumed that the connectors were designed to be heavier than the largest gauge wire they were designed for, and so that any power loss experienced at the connector would be due to poor soldering, and not the connector itself, but now I just don't know.

I looked up Wago and they have an awfully large offering. Which connectors do you mean?

Thanks,
Paul
« Last Edit: January 29, 2009, 09:56:13 AM by PaulM »
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Offline Monito

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2009, 10:05:20 AM »
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Offline MMW

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2009, 10:24:01 AM »
Quote from: Monito on January 29, 2009, 09:28:28 AM
I use the Wago connectors, but I like those blue ones for the stove.

Do we really loose that much wattage?

My roaster is 2kW...

-pat
What are you more worried about?  Energy efficiency or getting power to the beans?

For efficiency purposes, I don't think you'd ever pay for the upgrade on the connectors.  For getting power to the beans I'd just have to ask weather or not <1% power going to make the difference in the roast.
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Offline PaulM

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2009, 10:31:18 AM »
Quote from: MMW on January 29, 2009, 10:24:01 AM

For efficiency purposes, I don't think you'd ever pay for the upgrade on the connectors.  For getting power to the beans I'd just have to ask weather or not <1% power going to make the difference in the roast.

I think you make a great point, which I imagine probably applies to most people completely. But just FWIW, during winter I sometimes have to roast in an unheated garage, with the popper mounted in such a way that it receives some heat from the kerosene heater that I light up down below. And sometimes even then the popper can't keep up with the heating ramp I have profiled. So for me at least, every 1%, and even every 0.1%, really does count.

Cheers,
Paul
« Last Edit: January 29, 2009, 10:42:05 AM by PaulM »
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Offline PaulM

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2009, 10:47:51 AM »
Quote from: Monito on January 29, 2009, 10:05:20 AM
Similar to this http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/?t=5&m=g1&itemNumber=3200714 is what I use...

-pat


Thank you Pat, those look good, except maybe for their temp limits if placed too close to the boiler? I know that air is a poor conductor of heat, but still I wonder. Where do you place yours?

Thanks again,
Paul
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Offline Monito

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Re: just a heads up on electrical connectors
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2009, 10:49:53 AM »
I always place them in a place that will be below 120 F

-pat
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