Power Distribution Terminals for Elk?

[Steve]

Steve -- what kind of label maker did you use on your install?

I see a few lables in that picture you posted (some wires on the bottom labled "Front") -- they really look nice.

It's funny you asked that. Seems like everything else in my life, that got complicated too. I actually tried both a RhinoPro 5000 and a Brother P-Touch 1650. Without going into a whole long review now, I like the tape in the Rhino better, but the functionality of the Brother better. The Rhino has a very nice flexible tape but the unit I had wasted alot of tape and I could not adjust settings like font sizes and bolding. The Brother is fully configurable but it uses laminated tape. Even the flexible ID tape delaminated on several wires.

I spoke to both Rhino and Brother at EHX. The Brother rep thinks my tape was defective, but I don't think it is. But he did mention they were thinking about coming out with a nonlaminated tape and I pushed him in that direction. The Rhino rep actually thought the machine I had was bad and told me he was going to send me a new one (even though I already returned the old one) but I have not heard or seen anything yet. The Rhino 3000 seems like it has better configurabilty than the 5000 but it only takes up to a 1/2" tape. The Brother accepts up to 1". Rhino said they were coming out with a new model, like a cross between the 3000 and 5000.

My personal bottom line is I like the nylon (non-laminated) tapes much better. If Brother comes out with them and you can choose either nylon or laminated, I would stick with the Brother. If Rhino comes out with a machine that has the configurability of the Brother with their existing nylon tapes and at leat up to 3/4", I would choose them.

Also last note is the delamination is mostly on the smaller 22/2 or 22/4 security wires and seem to be better on Cat5. So the bottom line for now is the labels you see and the machine I have is from the Brother 1650. ProVantage was by far the least expensive on all label makers.

I hope this helps.

 

[carry15+1]

The Wago terminals I used are approx 3/16" wide each, and a 40 position strip is 8" long.

The jumpers plug into a dedicated position on the terminal block and do not consume a connection point or share a connection point with your wiring. The link provided by Curt pretty much explains the whole thing.

I have no trouble using stranded cable with the blocks, and IIRC my blocks go down to 28 AWG.

Curt, thanks for the link, it is a good description of them. It looks like they simply connect the top and bottom, much like a barrier or euro strip. It appears that if you want a continuous connection all the way across there are jumper pins that look like need to get installed. I imagine you can put 2 legs in each clamp (1 leg of each jumper)? Also a few more questions if you have used them...

1. Looks like it will support down to 24GA wire, but can you use stranded in addition to solid?

2. How many individual clamps can fit across a standard 14" wide SW can?

 

[ChuckSchick]

Check out Automation Direct for the din stuff. They are quite reasonably priced.

Examples of screwless din connectors/terminators

I ordered a catalog and they sent out a could din terminator samples with it.

Curt

I'm noticing on Curt's link a "Ground Terminal Block" configuration which grounds to the rail. If one could isolate the rail from the can (velcro?), this might be a slick way to distribute power. I'm not seeing a small volume source, however.

 

[ChuckSchick]

.... Even the flexible ID tape delaminated on several wires....

I'm having the same problem with my Brother labels. I've wrapped some of them with clear tape trying to hold them in place, but I'm not sure that will hold either.