Multipin connectors

[RSR Engineer]

Work on the RSR layout was held up because I couldn't find multipin connectors that were up to the job and not exorbitantly expensive. Eventually I gave up and decided to make my own. The only materials needed are terminal blocks and copper wire. Cut the copper wire (I used some gash ends the electricians left behind recently) to make pins the same length as the width of the terminal block (in my case 18mm). Fix the pins into one block so that one half of each pin is sticking out and tighten down hard. After plugging in tighten down on the other ends of the pins. Voilà!

The work is documented on flickr (pix 413-6): https://www.flickr.com/photos/53775591@ ... 9557116553.

Cheers,
Artur

[Tricky Dicky]

You mean something like this?

https://www.rapidonline.com/camdenboss- ... 0a-21-2497

Richard

[RSR Engineer]

Yes, Richard, I did mean something like this. I searched high and low on German eBay and found nothing like it and what I found at the DIY (a 3-pin thing) was brutally expensive (some 4 euros), so I gave up and did it myself.

Many thanks, though, for this tip, Richard. I may well need something like this for a later stage of the project.

Cheers,
Artur

[Tricky Dicky]

Hi Artur

Like you I tried a homebrew version myself until I discovered these the one big advantage of the commercially available ones are that the pins are sprung so actually make quite a good interference fit into the sockets so do not require screws to be tightened to remain connected. In fact they do not come with screws except where the wiring is inserted. If you are concerned about the two halves coming apart then cable ties can be used to hold them together alternatively screwing them down onto a board through the provided screw holes does the same. From good stockists they come in various sizes depending on their current carrying capacity.

Here in the UK many of the modelling suppliers do sell them but I find electronic component suppliers better and cheaper especially if buying other items t qualify for free P&P. I am surprised you have had difficulty on eBay, try putting "pluggable terminal blocks" into your search engine that usually brings up the type similar to what Lenz use on their command centres or "pluggable terminal strips" for the type we are discussing.

Good luck
Richard

[Steve M]

Artur, you're 'home brew' connectors will work well, as would the ones in the link. But had you considered using D sub plugs and sockets? They are robust, fairly small and easy enough to solder once you get the hang of it.

[RSR Engineer]

Many thanks for your feedback, gentlemen.

I used D sub plugs and sockets on the old layout and they worked very well. They're visible in the "Resurrection" album (e.g. pic 22) and the "Phase Three" album (pic 331). Unfortunately, I'd forgotten in the intervening 30 years how expensive they are (in Germany, at least). So I decided against them this time around.

I have no problem with doing up all those screws (and undoing them) because I'm not expecting to have to dismantle the upper levels with any frequency. I Googled "Lüsterklemmen steckbar" (having finally twigged - thanks to you, Richard - what they're called this side of the Rhine) and found myself in Aladdin's cave. So now I have a source of supply to tap when the time comes. Thanks again.

Resurrection: https://www.flickr.com/photos/53775591@ ... 1105841734;
Phase Three: https://www.flickr.com/photos/53775591@ ... 9557116553.

Cheers,
Artur