I apologize for going off subject in this posting.
I am only following up from “RR_Mel” last posting.
Hello; “RR_Mel”
Lets agree not to agree.
You mentioned your past history being an electrical engineer. At one time I was a special projects manufacturing engineer, doing modifications to the F-15 jet fighter.
The original Euro wire terminals are manufactured in Europe with specific approved required electrical standards. This included maximum and minimum wire sizes. The much cheaper Euro (type) wire terminals are all made in China without any required electrical standards. There are no actual approved electrical maximum and minimum wire size standards.
There may/will be problems if you use #12AWG (.08" Dia.) and #22AWG (.025" Dia.) in a larger size Euro (type) wire terminal. This product is made from ABS plastic (not electrically approved). The Euro (type) wire connector is “Not” a cage clamp. It uses a screw clamp. The flat bottom screw tightens against the top of the wire. There will always be a small gap between the flat bottom screw and the bottom round contact surface.
How much will a small #AWG wire compress under these conditions?
Wire Clamping Screw Gap:
Here is an example of an original Euro wire terminal manufactured in Europe. Made from POLYAMIDE 6 (electrically approved). Take special note that there is a soft brass plate under the clamping screw, to form to the round electrical contact surface, to act like a cage clamp.
100% eh? My experience says otherwise. I was working on some LED lighting for my deck today and I was using virtually identical connectors with approx 28 ga. wire. I had to double the wire back on itself to get a solid grip, and yes, they had contact strips in them.
The connectors that you show will work if you order the right size. You should have mentioned that.
You should refrain from making broad general statements which may be misleading.
I second that, Dave. I’ve had those with the “contact plate” insert and once they get compressed they never fully open up again. Forget reliable connections with fine, IE 28 to 36 ga. wire.
There ARE some nice clamping-type wire terminals but I can only find them intended for use on PC boards.
Both of the above types are worthless for fine stranded wire. I use lots of DIN-rail types like these Weidmüller type:
They will be hooked up to a 2.5 v power supply which is located inside a waterproof box. Everything is under a roof which really doesn’t matter given that the lights are waterproof to begin with.
I can hardly wait to hear what fault(s) you find with my setup.
Other than for bus wires maybe, what good are those for most wiring needs on a model railway? Are you suggesting that everything should be 18 ga. wire or larger?
Perhaps you could do those of us in North America a favour by posting a photo of the ‘Chupa Cup’ sticks. I don’t recall seeing the brand here. Are they just regular straws or are they thinner?
To me, they seem to be about the right size for street lights etc Chupa Chups are widely available here but may be not so in North America but there could be a similar product.
I was a school teacher so I usually found plenty around the yard etc, suitably picked up with a plastic glove and bag, washed and disinfected etc but I have seen them on streets etc
I have also used them in whole or offcuts for a few building innards to elevate LED lights to represent incandescant globes in houses, as tubes to support throw wires for turnouts through baseboard, corner bracing for styrene buildings, representing down pipes and as bolster location pins where screws have been stripped etc. They are thick enough to be turned down in a lathe at around 4mm or 5/32" with tube hole of about 2mm or 5/64".
And the best attribute was they were free, or a by product to a diversionary bit of candy (although I cannot remember the last time I have had one!)
