Bridgelux EB Series Build
- Thread starter brahbbyB
- Start date
Danielson999
Well-Known Member
18awg is not too big. You're using solid copper right? Not stranded....
You gotta give them a good shove to get them right up in there. Also have enough casing stripped off, about 1/4" is good.
Ahh im using stranded... Just stripping the casing and then twisting.. will that not be good enough?
I snapped one of the clips like an idiot.... taped it back on but if I need to push it down with a screw driver I may be in trouble unless I can fix it somehow? You can see it in this picture showing how much I am stripping if that will be enough?
Sorry for making such a mess of this lol....
I snapped one of the clips like an idiot.... taped it back on but if I need to push it down with a screw driver I may be in trouble unless I can fix it somehow? You can see it in this picture showing how much I am stripping if that will be enough?
Sorry for making such a mess of this lol....
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projectinfo
Well-Known Member
Yeah 18g, solid hookup wire
projectinfo
Well-Known Member
My gear comes in the mail Monday. 
This is the wire i got -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075M4VJ8J/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075M4VJ8J/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
OK so turns out I just didn't understand how the clips worked, even with broken clips on 2 of them I could still get them wired up just by prying open the jaws inside the clip with a small screwdriver whilst U push the wire in and then it closed itself just fine. Now I know what you meant about pulling the wire to make sure its stuck! I can drag the whole light gently along the desk by each wire so I know they are stuck tight now.One more question I have is does my driver connection have to have a positive from 1st strip and negative from last strip or can I just use the unused positive and negative connections on the first strip?
Does this look ok for parallel?
Chip Green
Well-Known Member
Alas ,the poke in connectors are not known for their durability. Liquid electrical tape for a bandaid. I've broken many.
nfhiggs
Well-Known Member
Yes, it will work that way. Its not ideal, but it will work. You can connect the negative either way - connecting it to the last strip (and positive on the first strip) will help equalize the voltage on all of the strips. If you connect both to the first strip then the last strip may get slightly less voltage.
Serva
Well-Known Member
I wired up 40 strips, most of them I wired before mounting, to test. So I have put around 150 wire ends into the connectors, no one broke! It is way easier, when the strip is mounted on some c-channel, so if you only have a frame, make sure to put somehing under the connectors, while pressing down slightly (it’s really not much!) with a screw driver. It‘s all working without any power, so nothing could even take damge. So to blame the connectors is lame...
Serva
Well-Known Member
Wish you a nice grow with them in you case!
Please tell me more about these screws you used. Are these just some black plastic screws? Or some clips?
Btw, I know, it would cost you a little bit more time, but you also get more experience by doing it again, what I want to say, you could do your wiring without using the broken connectors!
Yeah it was definitely my ignorance around how they actually worked that made me break them not the clips themselves.
Ok so next problem I have is that the output wire from the driver is not long enough to reach to positive of first strip and negative of last... can I use my awg18 to connect from positive to the driver cable using wagos?
Chip Green
Well-Known Member
However lame, it's my contention they were not manufactured with intent of being released the ridiculous number of times my hasty, haphazardly reckless redesign insanity requires....
Not faulting the equipment, just making note it's not uncommon.
Thanks man. Literally just need to get this sorted and wait for 2 usb to 4 pin fan cables for my fan controller and I am set.. Should be starting within the next few days assuming I finish this light off properly!
What size fuse should I use in my 3 pin wall plug that I attach to the driver? I have option of 3a 5a or 13a.. I am reading that it jsut depends on the power rating of whatever you attach and 3a will do up to 700w so I should be fine with 3a?
Edit: They are actually bolts I found in my garage and though it would look decent with them all being black . Attached a picture, just used a standard nut on the other side to secure.
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Serva
Well-Known Member
Ah, thanks! Thought it‘s something more easier to use... I guess I stick to my plan trying thermal tape next.
YEah the material i had for the frame already had holes in so nuts/bolts were easiest for me
nfhiggs
Well-Known Member
Same sized wire would be best.