What connectors do i need for this psu?

[ICEUK]

I know its cheap but hopefully it will tide me over. I just need to know what connectors are need for the front?

Thx

[Burgerman]

Anything over 15 or 20A you want ring terminals. And presumably you have the "nuts" in red/black... Or ebay.

[ICEUK]

Bm i cant find the plastic screw on terminals for a psu. I brought some ring terminals but i need the plastic sleeve that goes over the threads. Like this. Either im being dumb or am not describing it properly

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/S ... tAQAvD_BwE

[Irving]

They are called '4mm terminal posts' or '4mm binding post' but check currently rating, as many are 'speaker' use and limited to 5A. You may have to change whole post if threads don't match.

Have you asked supplier of PSU if they can supply?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/263737437953

[ex-Gooserider]

Those look like 'three-way binder posts' with the red and black plastic covered NUTS (not sleeves) removed - Very common on test equipment and low current power supplies as they are easy to use.

You can stick banana plugs in the tips

You can often stick banana plugs into the horizontal holes (not all are sized properly for this) OR bare wires, meter lead tips, etc. and clamp with the nuts.

You can wrap stripped wires, or appropriately sized ring or fork / hook terminals over the outside and clamp with the nuts...

I have seen them with several different threads - inch, metric, in coarse and fine pitches, etc. so it can be hard to find the right plastic covered metal nuts like they came with, but a standard nut in the right size will work just as well - preferably brass, but it doesn't make a huge difference....

The important thing to note is that this type of terminal is intended primarily for 'temporary' connections, and is not as reliable as other styles for long term use. They also tend to be intended more for low current use, so cheap ones (assume cheap unless you definitely know otherwise) may have problems above a few amps....

ex-Gooserider

[ICEUK]

I put some ring connectorss on and do you think i can find a couple of nuts, nah they must be fine thread makes me so annoyed.

[shirley_hkg]

They are cheap as a 20p coin a pair , though they came in one whole set.

[ICEUK]

Can i change them to connectors for my powerlab banana connector, if anyone has a link that would be great its like a minefield of connectors.

[Burgerman]

Not sure what you are asking?

[ICEUK]

I would like to connect the powerlab 8 banana connectors directly into the front,

[Burgerman]

Still dont get it.

The powerlab has 4mm connectors that are safe, and designed for up to 40A already. They are designed for safe 4mm connectors that you cannot short together if theres a battery on the other end... So the ones it has are already better that other ones.

Or do you mean you want to replace the connector on the rear cable with 4mm connectors? Because you cant. The powerlab can require 60A on its input. Too much for 4mm connectors. Or do you mean you want to replace the 4mm connectors on the power supply?

[Irving]

@ICEUK It can be confusing, pictures help, but lets start from the beginning.

You've bought this cheap psu and you want to connect to what? Your PL8? A battery? Something else?

You want to connect it using what? Existing wires? New wires to be made? Something else?

That'll do to start...

[Burgerman]

The problem here is I think a lack of words! No information to work with. You have confused everyone with what tou are trying to achieve.

[ICEUK]

I want to plug these banana plugs from my powerlab 8 into the front of the PSU.

[Irving]

I want to plug these banana plugs from my powerlab 8 into the front of the PSU.

OK, I understand that but what's confusing us is where those banana leads go to on the PL8? Most PL8 have EC5 connectors on the input side (unless you're BM!) and banana on the output

[ICEUK]

Picture of the inside, the banana connectors do not fit current binding posts,

[Irving]

Picture of the inside, the banana connectors do not fit current binding posts,

Simple matter then to find some binding posts that bananas do fit and swap them over... The ones I linked to should work.

But that doesn't explain why you've got banana leads going to your PL8...

[shirley_hkg]

These two go to the Front of your PL8.

NOT TO THE PSU

[shirley_hkg]

Originally , PL8 comes with an EC5 , for connecting to PSU .

However , you can change it to anything that suits you, eg Anderson , lugs , or even bare wire ends.

I can throw in a EC5 for free, with your ZXD2400.

[Burgerman]

I am still confused.

All thats needed is to cut off the EC5 blue plastic connector and fit a couple of banana plugs. Those are inadequate and will melt at full power or at low voltage input. But if thats what he wants to do then thats all thats needed.

But I suspect he is trying to use the PL8 backwards and wants to connect the PL8s output to the power supply... Please tell me I am wrong.

[ICEUK]

My pl8 has two wire coming out the back with ring connectors on, the front has banana inserts, the binding posts dont work with my ring connectors as i dont have the nuts for it and if im going to change the binding posts i may as well change it for a sb50 or banana plug insert.


I will get another psu of u shirley but im waiting for insurance to pay up so making do with crap for now

[Burgerman]

Why dont you just buy a couple of new connectors, and use the "nuts" only?
As many already suggested?

[ex-Gooserider]

DO NOT CONNECT THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE BANANA INSERTS ON THE FRONT OF THE PL8!!!!!!

If you are lucky nothing bad will happen, if you aren't lucky you will get to sniff the magick electron smoke....

The power supply needs to connect to the two cables that come out the BACK of the PL8....

As mentioned, you can use the ring terminals on the existing binder posts with appropriately sized nuts.

Alternatively you can replace the posts on the power supply with any appropriate connector you like AND replace the ring terminals on the PL8 with a mating connector. (or leave the binder posts on the supply and add a second connector in parallel..)

ex-Gooserider

[ICEUK]

Thx goose, i have it sorted now.. I ordered some binding posts.

[Dan]

Thx goose, i have it sorted now.. I ordered some binding posts.

Seems like a lot or work. I would cut the ring terminals off and solder the power leads from the PL8 into the inside of those binding posts. Or better for longer use make up a lead with a SB50 connector (or aEC5 connector) and solder that into the power supply binding posts and put a SB50 on the power input cables at the back of the PL8

Power input cables are at the back of the PL8. Charging cables come out the front.

This guy has a SB50 on his power supply and PL8.

[Burgerman]

This guy has a SB50 on his power supply and PL8.

So do I. And on every chair as 12 and 24V and my drills, mower, bed, and literally 30ither things. Inc van, inside and outside, and many different cables. And my solar system, inverters, and more. Everything is then interconnectable.

[flagman1776]

Ditto! I use grey SB50s for all sorts of things. I DO have SB50s between my power supply and both Hyperion 1420i and PL8. I can switch chargers or power supplies in seconds by unplugging if needed.

[Burgerman]

Remember theres 2x bench supplies, 2x shirley power supplies, 1x computer small supply, 1x leccy bed, 3x 230V inverters,10x solar panels, 3x solar 230V inverters, and many solar cables, 1x mower, 1x strimmer, 1x "battery" drill, 1x van wheelarch, 1x van dashboard, 4x PL8 charger, 2x hyperion chargers, 3x various other lead chargers (plus some old ones in garage) as well as 2 on eleccrtoplating tank, and one on a 12v orbital polisher for my van.

As well as a mass of short, long, 24v and 12v tri ends, and a real ling extention that lives outside near my van, and comes in through a wall nr my bench supplues. Used for powering all kinds of stuff and for van charging over winter. Oh and my BMW tyre inflators got one too. I think that I must have shares. All of those get used frequently or occasionally. Or as backup (bed, or for emergency use). The amount of possible combinations is enormous. Esp with van (100A 12V and runs quietly can power of charge everything) and solar power beng available as backup power if needed for everything else. Oh I forgot! 2 generators too! Thse have 12 Out, to charge chairs batteries, or solar batteries too or run bed etc. Eve have a 12V soldering iron and a 12V vacuum cleaner for my van. Those to are anderson. Grey on everything. What to plug into what and why is all in my head.

[ex-Gooserider]

I use the smaller 15/30/45A power poles as my standard power connector for power supplies, tools, etc. rather than the SB-50.... The only time I use an SB-50, or the matching PP-75's is when I know that there is a potential for more than 45A of current, which also means I'm using larger wires than the small PP connectors will allow (the 45A pins max out on AWG 10, and the insulation won't fit in the shells)

It seems like a better match for the job.... It is easier to make appropriate wiring connections, as you just match the pins to the wire size. The connectors themselves are MUCH smaller, etc... I haven't totally calculated it, but I believe it is also slightly less expensive to use the smaller pins / shells.

It can be a pain to stuff a small wire into an SB-50 size pin, and looks really clunky to hang an SB-50 off an AWG18 cable....

One of the things I've done is added a 45A pair to my chair's jumper plug for the otherwise unused 24V pins, so I now have a handy plug in point for my 'cordless' drill and other 24V supplies...

A PL8 can't pull more than 40A input, so doesn't need an SB-50 to connect it... My van can charge the chair at more than 100A if it's dead enough, so my van plug wiring is AWG6 w/ an SB-50... (and I have a short extension cord w/ a PP-45 splitting off it if needed)

My Shirley power supply is set up with both SB-50 and PP-45 plugs just so I can plug either style in, along with the 3-way binder banana jacks...

I agree with having a mostly standard set of connectors for everything that might want to interconnect, but I think the smaller power poles are a better match for 90% of what we actually connect together...

ex-Gooserider

[ICEUK]

I soldered in some new binding posts, gave up trying to find a nut to fit thread.