attaching neutrik connector to panel *PIC*

[Max_Andrews]

Well the weather is beautiful and I'm starting to turn a few giant PE boxes into some giant PA monitors (how convenient the two-letter abbreviations are). THe main moniotr will have an amp and power supply built in, with the satellite monitor being attached by a neautrik two-pole "speakon" connector. I got the dish for it, I got the dish-mount thing, I have the connector, but what's the best way to go about attaching it? I'll of course put some glue or foam to seal it against the panel, should I use a few small bolts with nuts or is there a special type of screw to use?

[nick29498141]

I'd screw it in, and foam seal it. The seal is what will really hold it in there (epoxy or caulk will also work).

I love Speakon connectors! They work so well, and the waterproof ones are also really neat.

NK

[bill]

Max,

IIRC those connectors are designed to be secured with a pair of 4-40 flat head machine screws. Use lockwashers and nuts on the inside of the connector panel. For real holding power, after you snug down the nuts, apply some Glyptal or nail polish to the threads of the screws at the junction of the bolt and the nut.

HTH,
Bill

[ap]

> Max,

> IIRC those connectors are designed to be
> secured with a pair of 4-40 flat head
> machine screws. Use lockwashers and nuts on
> the inside of the connector panel. For real
> holding power, after you snug down the nuts,
> apply some Glyptal or nail polish to the
> threads of the screws at the junction of the
> bolt and the nut.

> HTH,
> Bill

I used the round speakon sockets which just screw straight to the cabinet - no plate required.

[kec]

I love Neutrik connectors. I used the SpeakOn connectors for the AC (yes, you can use them for AC - rated @ 250VAC 35A) as well as the Neutrik RCA's on my GainClones.

-Ken

[nick29498141]

Have you tried the PowerCon connectors?

NK

[envisionelec]

> Have you tried the PowerCon connectors?

> NK

LOL.

[Wolf]

> LOL.

I guess I don't see the joke, but the speakons really aren't intended for AC mains wiring connections. The PowerCon actually say the same thing that they shouldn't be used for mains wiring, but for an isolated power patch to another device. I imagine this means transformer isolated voltages off secondaries, or after rectification. I use IEC for mains, as it's the standard.
Later,
Wolf

[envisionelec]

> I guess I don't see the joke, but the
> speakons really aren't intended for AC mains
> wiring connections. The PowerCon actually
> say the same thing that they shouldn't be
> used for mains wiring, but for an isolated
> power patch to another device. I imagine
> this means transformer isolated voltages off
> secondaries, or after rectification. I use
> IEC for mains, as it's the standard.
> Later,
> Wolf

I LOL'ed because of the (mis)application, not because I thought it was a stupid idea. The PowerCons are absolutely the correct version for this application. Neutrik says the following about the PowerCons:

What are PowerCon® connectors and what are they used for?
The PowerCon® is a lockable equipment AC connector. It’s used in the audio business for the power lines of lighting applications, amplifiers, etc. It can be used as power supply for industrial applications with the advantage of its locking system in comparison to standard non locking MAINS* connector. The connectors fulfill all current safety standards such as SEV, UL, CSA and VDE and uses a colored power inlet-outlet coding to prevent a short circuit. To transmit 20A @ 250V it has a thicker silver plating (20µ) and an enlarged isolation between the Faston contacts. * Not to be used in the wall of a building structure as a mains power connector.

Therefore, I don't know what's with all that jive you're talking about isolation transformers. Heh.

Look closely.

[Wolf]

I guess I missed that somewhere. Correction noted.
Later,
Wolf

[kec]

> I LOL'ed because of the (mis)application,
> not because I thought it was a stupid idea.
> The PowerCons are absolutely the correct
> version for this application. Neutrik says
> the following about the PowerCons:

So, what's the problem? I'd like to know why I can't use them.

Product
Connector Type Speakon®
Gender male
Electrical
Contact resistance ≤ 3 mΩ (after lifetime)
Dielectric strength 4 kVdc (peak)
Insulation resistance > 1 GΩ (after dampheat)
Rated current per contact 30 A rms continuous
Rated current per contact 40 A audiosignal, duty cycle 50 %
Rated voltage 250 V (Insulation)
Mechanical
Lifetime > 5000 mating cycles
Wiring 3/16" flat tabs
Locking device Quick Lock
Mounting direction front & rear
Chassis shape D
Layout standard hole position, thru holes
Material
Contact plating 4 µm Ag
Contacts Bronze (CuSn6)
Shell Polyamide (PA 6 30 % GR) black

Product
Connector Type PowerCon®
Gender male
Electrical
Contact resistance ≤ 3 mΩ
Dielectric strength 4 kVdc
Insulation resistance > 0.1 GΩ (after damp heat test IEC 68-2-30)
Rated current per contact 20 A
Rated voltage 250 V
Mechanical
Lifetime > 1000 mating cycles
Wiring flat tabs for FASTON® 4.8 x 0.5 mm or soldering
Locking device Quick Lock
Mounting direction front
Chassis shape D
Material
Contact plating 4 µm Ag
Contacts Brass (CuZn39Pb3)
Insert Polyamide (PA 6 30 % GR)
Shell Polyamide (PA 6 30 % GR)

[envisionelec]

> So, what's the problem? I'd like to know why
> I can't use them.

> Product
> Connector Type Speakon®
> Gender male
> Electrical
> Contact resistance ≤ 3 mΩ (after
> lifetime)
> Dielectric strength 4 kVdc (peak)
> Insulation resistance > 1 GΩ (after
> dampheat)
> Rated current per contact 30 A rms
> continuous
> Rated current per contact 40 A audiosignal,
> duty cycle 50 %
> Rated voltage 250 V (Insulation)
> Mechanical
> Lifetime > 5000 mating cycles
> Wiring 3/16" flat tabs
> Locking device Quick Lock
> Mounting direction front & rear
> Chassis shape D
> Layout standard hole position, thru holes
> Material
> Contact plating 4 µm Ag
> Contacts Bronze (CuSn6)
> Shell Polyamide (PA 6 30 % GR) black

> Product
> Connector Type PowerCon®
> Gender male
> Electrical
> Contact resistance ≤ 3 mΩ
> Dielectric strength 4 kVdc
> Insulation resistance > 0.1 GΩ
> (after damp heat test IEC 68-2-30)
> Rated current per contact 20 A
> Rated voltage 250 V
> Mechanical
> Lifetime > 1000 mating cycles
> Wiring flat tabs for FASTON® 4.8 x 0.5 mm or
> soldering
> Locking device Quick Lock
> Mounting direction front
> Chassis shape D
> Material
> Contact plating 4 µm Ag
> Contacts Brass (CuZn39Pb3)
> Insert Polyamide (PA 6 30 % GR)
> Shell Polyamide (PA 6 30 % GR)

Right. But they're not meant to be mains power connectors and are not listed as such by any agency. For the same cost and panel cutout, you could have the correct fitting and no one would question your approach.

[wg_ski]

> Right. But they're not meant to be mains
> power connectors and are not listed as such
> by any agency. For the same cost and panel
> cutout, you could have the correct fitting
> and no one would question your approach.

The same reason that using 5-15P (or L5-20, etc) for speaker wires is frowned upon. You're not supposed to be able to mix power and speaker, even by accident.

[Andy_G]

Basically, it is VERY unwise to use the same plugs for speakers that you would use for power, and Visa Versa. The ramifications if you accidentally forget which is which are not nice !!

Always use plugs ONLY for what they were meant for !

[kec]

> Basically, it is VERY unwise to use the same
> plugs for speakers that you would use for
> power, and Visa Versa. The ramifications if
> you accidentally forget which is which are
> not nice !!

> Always use plugs ONLY for what they were
> meant for !

Boy, next time I guess I won't say anything. I used these connectors because I happen to have a bunch of them. I was going to use them for speaker connectors but decided not to. So, I used 2 of them on my GC modules.

There is no confusion, for me at least, as to where the power is connected and where the speakers are connected. My GCs have WBT binding posts. I could see if you had the same connector for both power and speaker, but I don't in this particular case.

The end result - it works.