How would you keeo drivers outside a tent?

Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
dstroy said:
No a terminal bar is no good, those screw terminals are open, and only suited for permanent installation inside of an enclosure.

You can go the toolless route and get wagos, like @CobKits suggested, they’re easy to use and easy enough to disconnect/reconnect.

Or you can buy terminal crimpers and connectors. There are brands other than molex, but I have their tools so I buy those connectors.
Click to expand...
But this molex would work?.

https://www.ebay.com/i/263758334698?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20161006002618&meid=63fb7d8ba72b46cb8cdba10a839621e1&pid=100694&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=252724598146&itm=263758334698
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
dstroy said:
No a terminal bar is no good, those screw terminals are open, and only suited for permanent installation inside of an enclosure.
Click to expand...
theres some marine ones that have covers

id still use wagos or just mount them in the tent. they put off so little heat....
 
Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
dstroy said:
No a terminal bar is no good, those screw terminals are open, and only suited for permanent installation inside of an enclosure.

You can go the toolless route and get wagos, like @CobKits suggested, they’re easy to use and easy enough to disconnect/reconnect.

Or you can buy terminal crimpers and connectors. There are brands other than molex, but I have their tools so I buy those connectors.
Click to expand...
There are ones with plastic covers, you could even use wagos instead, but thats what i would do, no matter what its cutting down on all the cords. By using the 12/6- 14/6 coming in to the tent.
https://www.ebay.com/i/400985456176?chn=ps&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-117182-37290-0%2F2%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fi%252F400985456176%253Fchn%253Dps%26itemid%3D400985456176%26targetid%3D422904937914%26device%3Dm%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D9021717%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D1028601082%26adgroupid%3D52145537193%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-422904937914%26abcId%3D1130036%26merchantid%3D101644847%26gclid%3DCj0KCQjwpcLZBRCnARIsAMPBgF1c-2FmihSN03p-ABQWrgMjeooL5uvjS-kxfAMJoHCpUJmCbv2KKacaAs6EEALw_wcB%26srcrot%3D711-117182-37290-0%26rvr_id%3D1578096885657%26rvr_ts%3D3a0b0beb1640a9c522003f5bffef956c
 
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1212ham

Well-Known Member
Personally, I think you could use almost anything for the three 32-45 volt, 1.04 amp drivers. Under 50 volts is considered low voltage and is not dangerous.
I think these would be fine. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A...g_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9MK1DE2H7XCHYHTS5BGV
Or even these, https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Pairs-20pcs-Male-Female-5-5mm-x-2-1mm-DC-Power-Connector-Jack-Plug-12V-24V/142262823041?epid=532259947&hash=item211f866881:g:olAAAOSw~R1bMMsT

The larger Meanwell drivers are high voltage and require a better connector. I'll see what I can find and post later tonight or tomorrow when I have more time.

Ok, here is one...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SD20-7pin-Waterproof-Connector-High-Voltage-Power-Bulkhead-Connector-LED-Plug/273087925340?hash=item3f954f0c5c:g:l0AAAOSwNURaksD8

Possibly @nfhiggs would like to suggest something?
 
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1212ham

Well-Known Member
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nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
Personally, I think you could use almost anything for the three 32-45 volt, 1.04 amp drivers. Under 50 volts is considered low voltage and is not dangerous.
I think these would be fine. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A...g_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9MK1DE2H7XCHYHTS5BGV
Or even these, https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Pairs-20pcs-Male-Female-5-5mm-x-2-1mm-DC-Power-Connector-Jack-Plug-12V-24V/142262823041?epid=532259947&hash=item211f866881:g:olAAAOSw~R1bMMsT

The larger Meanwell drivers are high voltage and require a better connector. I'll see what I can find and post later tonight or tomorrow when I have more time.

Ok, here is one...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SD20-7pin-Waterproof-Connector-High-Voltage-Power-Bulkhead-Connector-LED-Plug/273087925340?hash=item3f954f0c5c:g:l0AAAOSwNURaksD8

Possibly @nfhiggs would like to suggest something?
Click to expand...
My suggestion was 12 pin Molex connectors. If I wanted a single quick disconnect for multiple drivers thats what I would use.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Itd be 15 wires. Which is why I posted that Molex from eBay with 15 spots. But as far as what I can read I can't tell if it's rated for 600 volts or any number of amperage. If there's any way you guys know how to figure that out I'd really like to use that one. Also do I have to buy that certain Molex crimper or can I use any basic wire crimper?
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
Why not use a small white or black project box/junction box and hide all the connections? You could mount the box inside on a wall or directly on the fixture. All connections could be routed within the junction box and you could use the cheapest luster terminals available. A small junction box(big enough for 5 driver connections) is only 5-6$ or so and those terminals maybe 2 or 3$.
To make a cable out off multiple wires you could use shrink tubing, btw ... it's virtually available in all sizes!

Screenshot_20180626-110644.png
 
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CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
Itd be 15 wires. Which is why I posted that Molex from eBay with 15 spots. But as far as what I can read I can't tell if it's rated for 600 volts or any number of amperage. If there's any way you guys know how to figure that out I'd really like to use that one.
Click to expand...
thats a common series with a datasheet on molex's site
Airwalker16 said:
But this molex would work?.

https://www.ebay.com/i/263758334698?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20161006002618&meid=63fb7d8ba72b46cb8cdba10a839621e1&pid=100694&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=252724598146&itm=263758334698
Click to expand...
molex 0.062" series are 250V 5A

https://www.digikey.com/catalog/en/partgroup/standard-062-series/8448

https://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/ps/PS-02-06-001.pdf

if you'll be making more molex in the future prob best to get their crimper its not expensive
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Randomblame said:
Why not use a small white or black project box/junction box and hide all the connections? You could mount the box inside on a wall or directly on the fixture. All connections could be routed within the junction box and you could use the cheapest luster terminals available. A small junction box(big enough for 5 driver connections) is only 5-6$ or so and those terminals maybe 2 or 3$.
To make a cable out off multiple wires you could use shrink tubing, btw ... it's virtually available in all sizes!

View attachment 4156216
Click to expand...
That would work but I think that having a disconnect that allows me to separate the fixture from the drivers is really what I'm thinking would be most useful.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
CobKits said:
thats a common series with a datasheet on molex's site

molex 0.062" series are 250V 5A

https://www.digikey.com/catalog/en/partgroup/standard-062-series/8448

https://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/ps/PS-02-06-001.pdf
Click to expand...
so I can't use that Molex then? 250 isn't enough? And are you saying that to do the the connection you do or do not have to have to use the brand name crimpers?
I think what I like that I've seen hear the most is the waterproof connections from eBay. I would just use two of the 3 pin ones for the mean Wells and a 9-pin one for the three smaller ones.
 
dstroy

dstroy

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
I saw $54
Click to expand...
Thats the one, it does most of their pins. Even the mini fit jr.

If you go this route make sure that you follow the connectors datasheet recommendations on how to prepare the wire before crimping. You can find the datasheet on mouser or molex's website. Otherwise you might have an unreliable connection. (I know it's just crimping a pin onto a wire but there's a right and wrong way to do it)
 
dstroy

dstroy

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
so I can't use that Molex then? 250 isn't enough? And are you saying that to do the the connection you do or do not have to have to use the brand name crimpers?
I think what I like that I've seen hear the most is the waterproof connections from eBay. I would just use two of the 3 pin ones for the mean Wells and a 9-pin one for the three smaller ones.
Click to expand...

250v 5A is enough, you're only putting at a max (from that hlg 185, which has the highest voltage rating) 186-190VDC @1.4A, the hlg240 is less max voltage but 2.1A so not even close to the 5A rating.

That's how you need to think about which connector will work and there's been some good suggestions.

Then you need to calculate voltage drop for the length and size of wire you intend to use, and try to keep it as low as possible. Less than 3% is preferable, and at 10% drop some LEDs may not work.

I know this may be counter-intuitive but since you are using some lower voltages, those circuits are going to require a larger wire size to achieve the same voltage drop as higher voltage circuits.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
worth noting those molex handle MAX 18 ga which is about the MIN size you want to use for any sort of distance. 16/14 or even 12GA better depending on distance
 
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