Re: "ring terminal" use in tesla coil

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>

Hi,

I just buy the nice clips and wire separately and make my own with heat 
shrink strain reliefs and all.  DigiKey has nice clips and the nice rubber 
test lead wire.  When I make my own, they last forever.  The cheap bags of 
clips you find at your favorite electronics store last a only few days it 
seems...  Maybe nice for CMOS signals, but dangerous for power 
connections.  As Ken points out, the wire connection are often very poor.

What someone really needs to do is make alligator clips with real quality 
insulated crimp connectors to hold the wire.  The traditional hole that you 
solder somewhere and the flimsy ears to hold the wire could be vastly 
improved upon with a little thought.  Next time I see one of those guys 
from AMP, I'll try to remember to pester them about it ;-)  I would gladly 
pay more for a fast reliable crimp rather than those Frankenstein era wire 
"connections" that are traditional now on alligator clips.

For standard crimp terminals.  Those $50 ratchet crimping tools can connect 
the wires and grab the insulation very well and provide excellent 
connections fast and easy.  Well worth the cost of the "right" tool 
there.  Those "crush the wire as hard as you can" cheap $7 crimpers are not 
that great unless you have a super grip and know just how to do it.  If you 
use the cheap tool, soldering is recommended, but then you need a 
temperature controlled soldering iron or great skill to avoid burning up 
the nylon insulator or wire insulation...  After a few years, your wrist go 
out and you need to buy the right tool anyway (guess how I know this 
;-)))  You also need to get the expensive terminals too that really do work.

I would get the none insulated bare terminals and crimp and solder them and 
then use heat shrink tubing for a very good termination on a budget.  It 
takes a little work, but anyone can do it and not much can go wrong.  Radio 
shack has the bare terminals and you can crush them with pliers if the $7 
tool is too much cash.  Personally, I "would" save the $7 in that case and 
just use pliers.  They can't be that much worse and the solder will "fix" 
things anyway.

Cheers,

         Terry


At 06:57 PM 3/7/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>All the imported alligator clip kits seem to be complete and total garbage.
>Many seem made wit the alligator clip ferrule crimped around the copper wire
>and PVC insulation. Heat makes the PVC softer, the grip weakens and it just
>gets worse.
>
>Pomona electronics alligator clip kits are made in the US, cost a bit more
>than the communist disposable junk, but are made well. The price difference
>is well worth it. Allied Electronics seems to stock most of the useful ones.
>
>KEN
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 6:01 PM
>Subject: Re: "ring terminal" use in tesla coil
>
>
> > Original poster: "Peter Lawrence by way of Terry Fritz
><teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Peter.Lawrence-at-Sun.COM>
> >
> >
> > Be sure to solder them, not just crimp them, I learned this the hard way
> > when I once observed _arcing_ going on at a crimped connection (inside
> > a plastic alligator clip cover that was then glowing) !!!
> >
> > -Peter Lawrence.
> >
> >
> >  >
> >  >Original poster: "Harold Weiss by way of Terry Fritz
><teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> > <hweiss-at-new.rr-dot-com>
> >  >
> >  >Hi Adam,
> >  >
> >  >I haven't had any problems with them.
> >  >
> >  >David E Weiss
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  > > Original poster: "Adam Britt by way of Terry Fritz
><teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> >  ><beans45601-at-sbcglobal-dot-net>
> >  > >
> >  > >
> >  > > Is it okay to use those ring terminals (the things you crimp onto the
>ends
> >  > > of wires) to hookup all the components of your tesla coil together?
> >  > >
> >  > > Thanks
> >  > >
> >  > > Adam
> >  > >
> >  > >
> >  > >
> >  >
> >  >
> >
> >
> >