Very simple question about busbars and terminals

[FALCON]

Ok, when I use a busbar like below, or even when there are connections like that (such as in the Charge controller), do you normally use a pin type terminal? Or do you just strip the wire and stick it in?

I've seen pictures of ground bars in buildings where there are no terminals - it's just wires sticking into the holes. But the ones I saw are NOT strand type wires and I'm imagining that with strand wires they would get squished in a bad way. Am I right in guessing that I should use pin terminals for every connection that is like the picture above?

I've looked in the component manuals but it is not actually clarified, except for the inverter (where they included two pin terminals to use, but no pin terminal for the ground connection(?) or info about how to connect that)

 

[sephson]

Just strip the wires and stick them in. The screw compresses the wire, locking it into place and creates a solid electrical connection. Just make sure you use a large enough gauge wire and only put one wire at each screw terminal.

 

[GotSmart]

The bus bar is where they drink, and the terminal is where they get the passengers.   :s  

I have used them with both kinds of wire.  Just make sure the connection is tight.  

Snug them when installing, and tighten one more time before the power gets turned on.  This is standard with household main lines.  A solid wire would be impossible to use.

 

[rvpopeye]

They are primarily used in a household breaker box for ground and neutral connections but.....I've used those buss bars in lots of applications.
I'd like to add this.
Check them once or twice a year for tightness.
They will get a little loose.
Especially in a mobile environment .

Attaching a pic of how I used a couple in my main DC power distro in my rig.

 

[rvpopeye]

OK , no joy
I'll try the pic again

Edit:
Still no joy......
Oh my goshk , I hatesk when that happensk !
I'll try again later.

 

[rvpopeye]

Take Three !


EDIT: Duhhhooooooo Bart !

 

[FALCON]

if you have an image on your computer that you're trying to post, it is pretty darn easy to post it on www.imgur.com. You don't have to make an account or anything.

- Just go to www.imgur.com (don't worry about whatever shows up on the homescreen)
- Drag the picture file from a folder in your hard drive into the imgur internet window (when you drag it over the window, the screen changes and says "upload" or something) (and release the mouse button once you see the "upload" word
- Click the "Start Upload" button. It is near the bottom right of the window that comes up.
- After it uploads, your picture is shown. Select and copy the website address from the bar near the top of your browser
- Paste that address into your post here.

 

[rvpopeye]

Thanks Falcon
I've posted quite a few pictures using the attachment method at the bottom of the reply window. Not sure why it's not working for me today..
No big deal , it's not needed to support my post . I'll try again, maybe tomorrow.
I'm not a big fan of the cloud , prefer to keep my files on my own equipment.
I know , dinosaur thinking but I'll resist as long as I can .

 

[highdesertranger]

that terminal strip in the picture is for solid wire. on terminal strips for stranded wire the screw doesn't contact the wire, there is a piece of flat pressure pad made of metal that sandwiches the wire. you could use bootlace ferrules with that screw type shown in the pic. however that is a grounding terminal for household wiring. I would just get the correct terminals for automotive use. Bussman and Blue Seas make excellent products for mobile applications. highdesertranger

 

[SternWake]

I dislike the 'insert stranded wire, crush under screw' type of terminals


At some point, they are either going to loosen up, or corrode and develop high resistance, or both, and then burn the wire insulation, or worse.

How long this will take is certainly up for debate, but if this is for 12v systems passing 20+ amps you will suffer voltage drop, and an IR thermometer will show some significant heating at the junctions.


Check out these ferrule crimper pliers and ferrule products in the following link, if you want a cleaner longer lasting install in such connection where a screw is intended to crush stranded wire.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261410449188

Crushing the wire is so simple, and convenient, but perhaps take some steps to insure the screw can't back out and a little Noalox or some Deoxit Shield, or dielectric grease will keep those shiny surfaces from getting dull, oxidized and corroded, but there could be some dissimilar metal issues too.

One can also 'tin' the stranded  copper ends with some solder, and then file the bottom round and the top where the screw is going to hit it, flat, and get a bigger contact surface for less resistance and less surface area for oxidation to form.

 

[ccbreder]

that terminal strip in the picture is for solid wire. on terminal strips for stranded wire the screw doesn't contact the wire, there is a piece of flat pressure pad made of metal that sandwiches the wire. you could use bootlace ferrules with that screw type shown in the pic. however that is a grounding terminal for household wiring. I would just get the correct terminals for automotive use. Bussman and Blue Seas make excellent products for mobile applications. highdesertranger

Worth repeating.

 

[FALCON]

Ok, thanks for the input guys. For the positive and negative/ground Busbars, I'm planning to use these or something like these:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/2301/Common_150A_BusBar_-_10_Gang

And I can use ring terminals.

My question still applied for some devices that I already have which have holes and set screws and ring terminals cannot be used (my Inverter, Charge controller, and solar combiner box). I right now I'm thinking I'll use either pin-type terminals or bootlace ferrules. The bootlace ferrules look easier.

 

[rvpopeye]

If you're going to buy new ,go with the other type fer sure!
I just used 'em cuz I had some and I'm on a low budget diet.
On other devices tinning or adding the pin sleeves will help.
No matter what you do , remember to check any screw terminals periodically for tightness.

 

[highdesertranger]

there you go FALCON, good choice. highdesertranger