high voltage connectors

[rockinmywaypa]

high voltage connectors

I was looking at the filler pump thread and I got to thinking about my electric fence and connections. Does anybody have an idea as to getting or better yet making connectors similar to welding cable connectors? I have different locations that I have two or three wires heading in different directions and I'd like to quickly and cheaply disconnect at will. I want lots of contact surface that those cheap handles don't provide or bending the wire in a hook either. I have numerous pastures,most with four wire electric ht. In spring I'll juice up all wires when ground is damp and train young and old sheep that it hurts if you touch any wire, then in the hot dry summer I will switch one wire to the ground so if they press they get shocked strong by completeing the path between two wires. Some gates would be handier if I could pull a connector before opening. Alligater clips are being used but the small surface is causing a bit of poor conduction.

 

[Soundguy]

Re: high voltage connectors

Check your ag store.. my local TSC has 3 or more different switch types.. rotary switches.. knife switches.. etc.

Coroded contacts don't conduct good.. but you don't need the wide surface are contact like low voltage high current connections need.

You will also fing aluminum tap gromets.. that slip on one wire, and have a hole for a second jumper wire.. ya crimp it.. then use that jumper wire with another crimp a tthe next line.

They also have flat connectors for the poly twine/wire tape.

Not many ways to get easier than springloaded insulated 'hook' handles.. and loops to hang on.

If you are getting lots corosion.. try the silicone dielectric grease that spark plug wire sets come with.. I've seen this sold at napa... Keeps the arcing down to a minimum.. only allowing conduction where the contact is... think of it as lo-tech switch debouncing. Most of your metal pitting occours when you attatch or remove the powered line anyway.. and the grease will help that... sheds water and stays real good too.

Soundguy

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Re: high voltage connectors

Thanks Soundguy for the ideas. I 'll check into the polytape connectors. I really don't like the hook handles at all because it's been proven to me that they don't conduct all that perfectly. I have switches but at about twenty bucks apiece I can't put them on all these strands of fence that I want to switch from power to ground. I'am wanting to turn off a switch at the post and then rearrange connections on the fence and then turn it back on or in the case of my four strand western gate, switch off, disconnect, open and lay on ground. Did I say this has to be cheap.

 

[BB_TX]

Re: high voltage connectors

If you have a good hardware store or electrical supply house nearby, they will probably have a basic uninsulated screw-clamp type connector. Just insert 2, 3, or more wires into the connector and tighten the screw-clamp down on the wires. These are typically used for ground wire type applications where insulation is not needed.

 

[MikeIA]

Re: high voltage connectors

A quick search for "surplus knife switch" found this:
http://www.labwarehouse.com/lw/singleItem.cfm?terms=7483

knife switches for $2.25 each

you could give them a good coat of grease to help with the rain

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

Re: high voltage connectors

For the connectors at the gates can you use something like http://www.mouser.com/catalog/specsheets/0417142.pdf? It is a 1/4in headphone connector. Made for elec connection but not made to be outside. There are many bannana plug type connectors availible fron places like www.mouser.com, www.digikey.com or www.newark.com. Again, these are made for electrical connections more than outdoor use.

 

[Soundguy]

Re: high voltage connectors

If I remember right.. the switches I bought were 5$ or so...

I don't blame you.. I wouldn't want to pay 20$ a switch either.

Yep.. poly twine and braid connectors are a flat - to - flat connector if that's what you want.

Soundguy

 

[SPIKER]

Re: high voltage connectors

You can make you're own switches pretty easy if you have some sheet metal laying around. Go to Harbor Freight and look at some of the battery disconnect switches they have them cheap if you want to buy them. You can make them using some pennies, screws and such so that cost is litterly only pennies /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Mark M

 

[Soundguy]

Re: high voltage connectors

That brings up another thought... Battery post isolators. i've seen these for a buck a piece at the flea market. ti is a top post battery connector with a big plastic knob on top.. you simply unscrew the knob a couple turns and it isolates the cable from the battery post... guess it wouldn't be too hard to adapt this to what he wants to do. And lead can be soldered with a soldering iron.. etc...

Soundguy

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Re: high voltage connectors

good ideas. I did make some using 1/2 in conduit with a couple inches of copper pipe sticking out the end which was then flattend after inserting a piece of wire. The wire goes through the tube which hinges into a spade type fuse gripper I got out of a 3 phase fuse panel disconnect box. There was enough pieces in that one box to make up 9 switches for the price of a piece of conduit and a few bolts with the possibility of a tool box left over. I may just make up a bunch of wires with alligator type clips on the ends, I just don't think they conduct the juice,joules,voltage,amps take your pick well enough. But maybe they will with soundguy's grease on them.

 

[Soundguy]

Re: high voltage connectors

I don't think conduction will be your problem. While you need large heavy lines to carry more amps.. your electric fence isn't doing this. The higher the voltage, the more efficient it is at moving power down a wire ( voltage is electrical potential )... look at transmission power lines... something the size of piano wire running at 7kv befor eit hits the transformer on the pole for my house.. and then I'm pulling lots amps at 120 and 240... Your high voltage will be fine on an aligator clip as long is it bites... and is not loose.

Look at old tractor ignition systems... the spark plug lines simple get the center conductor bent over the outter plastic insulating wire and then pushed into the socket with a metal base for conduction...

Soundguy