A Better Terminal Strip...

[tomzarbo]

I just finished my crossovers for my Cello's last night, and I was thinking that there has to be a better way to make connections between components.

Of all the searching I've done on the net, I haven't yet found something I would really like to use.

So, I started thinking about what I would like to have when laying out crossover boards, and this is what I came up with...



It's just a quick pencil sketch, but you get the idea. They would be constructed of just metal, fairly thick and strong, able to take a .25 quick connect for easy mounting of speaker cables and binding post connections.

They could be as long as needed, say 8 "V" shaped tabs long connected by the two little "humps" in between, which could be snipped with diagonals when needed, but could be left in place to aid in making bulk connections, such as the ground of a complicated crossover. In the lower pic, there are three tabs, but there's no reason they couldn't be manufactured with 10 or 20 long... just snip to your needed length.

They would have holes for mounting with either wood screws into your crossover board, or you could even use rivets to fasten to circuit board material.

There would be 3 holes for soldering components to, and there would still be two holes left even if a quick connect clip were attached.

Having something like this would greatly simplify my crossover building time, especially for those crossovers that are a bit more complicated. It seems pretty simple in my opinion, but I think it's what I've been looking for. Does this exist anywhere? I really don't want to start manufacturing crossover terminal strips, but I may have to make a few just to see how effective of an approach it would be.

What do you guys think? or :(

TomZ

[kduggan]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

The things you have drawn actually exist. I have no clue where you can buy them but every Bohn Cooling Coil I install is filled with them.

[joekraska]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

This appears to be close to what you are looking for.

To find it I googled for "terminal strip .25 quick connect".

Joe.

[rogoll]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

E-mail Erse. They don't list them as a product, but they use them on their crossovers. They might sell you some (they're pretty friendly). You must have seen them at some point and pictured them in you mind subconciously.:D

[tomzarbo]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

The things you have drawn actually exist. I have no clue where you can buy them but every Bohn Cooling Coil I install is filled with them.

Great, so I'm gonna make sure I have my took kit with me next time I drive down some street and see a Bohn air conditioner!

This appears to be close to what you are looking for.

To find it I googled for "terminal strip .25 quick connect".

Joe.

I actually saw those, but they look a little overkill for crossover terminals, plus there are no holes, although I can see little dimples where it looks like you could easily drill some.

E-mail Erse. They don't list them as a product, but they use them on their crossovers. They might sell you some (they're pretty friendly). You must have seen them at some point and pictured them in you mind subconciously.:D

No doubt, I don't think I could have had such a good idea without seeing it somewhere before... or maybe the voices described it to me in vivid detail... ::rolleyes:

I went to the Erse site, but didn't see them, any idea which crossovers might use them so I can see if they're suitable before I start bugging them?

TomZ

[joekraska]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

I actually saw those, but they look a little overkill for crossover terminals, plus there are no holes, although I can see little dimples where it looks like you could easily drill some.

Screw these in, and hand bend?

Or one of these per pair?

Or here?

Joe.

[Wolf]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

http://meniscusaudio.com/terminal-strip-p-830.html

There you go!
Wolf

[rogoll]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

Tom, go to this page at PE and then click on the picture to enlarge it (it actually displays a different picture). Look at the "COMMON" and the "MR" connectors. They have two spades each. I'm pretty sure that the "no name" XOs are manufactured by Erse for Parts Express.

Something else that might work (but you'll have to experiment) is a fuse block from Radio Shack. If the tabs that clip onto the fuse are the right size so that the connectors will slide onto them and hold firmly, then they may serve that same purpose.

[Wolf]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

Tom, go to this page at PE and then click on the picture to enlarge it (it actually displays a different picture). Look at the "COMMON" and the "MR" connectors. They have two spades each. I'm pretty sure that the "no name" XOs are manufactured by Erse for Parts Express.

Something else that might work (but you'll have to experiment) is a fuse block from Radio Shack. If the tabs that clip onto the fuse are the right size so that the connectors will slide onto them and hold firmly, then they may serve that same purpose.

The Rat-shack fuse-holder is a kinda flimsy piece. It works for fuses, but I don't think it'll hold up as a connection terminal. Plus- you'd have to disassemble it.
Later,
Wolf

[rogoll]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

The Rat-shack fuse-holder is a kinda flimsy piece. It works for fuses, but I don't think it'll hold up as a connection terminal. Plus- you'd have to disassemble it.
Later,
Wolf

Yeah, I was thinking, if he couldn't find anything else, then that might work. I couldn't find a picture of the terminal strips by themselves. I'm glad you found it for him.

[tomzarbo]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

Screw these in, and hand bend?

Or one of these per pair?

Or here?

Joe.

Hey, thanks. Those are good suggestions, and pretty close to what I envisioned. Maybe for the straight one, take the one end, bend it and put a screw in it and use the rest of the holes for soldering components to and still have one end to put a quick-connect to.

Thank you... but where did you find them at?

http://meniscusaudio.com/terminal-strip-p-830.html



There you go!
Wolf

Nice! Gold plated for only 25 cents! They look suspiciously like the type of terminal you'd find on a nice speaker! Is that what you use?

Tom, go to this page at PE and then click on the picture to enlarge it (it actually displays a different picture). Look at the "COMMON" and the "MR" connectors. They have two spades each. I'm pretty sure that the "no name" XOs are manufactured by Erse for Parts Express.

Something else that might work (but you'll have to experiment) is a fuse block from Radio Shack. If the tabs that clip onto the fuse are the right size so that the connectors will slide onto them and hold firmly, then they may serve that same purpose.

Thanks Leonard, those are good ideas. I never would have thought of that fuse-holder item. What do you use personally for making crossover connections?


Thanks to all for the good suggestions,

TomZ

[Wolf]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

Nice! Gold plated for only 25 cents! They look suspiciously like the type of terminal you'd find on a nice speaker! Is that what you use?
TomZ

That is what they are. Meniscus sells them, but I'm a hard-wired guy. I like soldering the leads to the xovers. So I don't personally use those.

I have seen them in person at another builders' residence, and they are fairly solid.

Later,
Wolf

[mgrabow]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

since I started using the Matrix PCB from Madisound, I wont go back to point to point...

http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=404_16&products_id=526

All of the connections are made "point to point" soldered to the same trace and the parts are glued to the PCB.. Nice and neat...

[joekraska]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

All of the connections are made "point to point" soldered to the same trace and the parts are glued to the PCB.. Nice and neat...

I think I am envisioning what you are saying. Do you have a picture showing a completed job?

Joe.

[philiparcario]

Re: A Better Terminal Strip...

to me these are the way to go

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/MOLEX-39150-0310-/N-89F5996

they are able to cut down to a pair of connectors they have a space for a screw on every attaching bar. they are great for saving a short lead high end cap.