[TowerTalk] Parallel Connections

[jimlux]

On 1/1/20 8:43 AM, Stan Stockton wrote:
> I am looking for ideas on something off the shelf or easy to make that
> would allow you to parallel multiple sets of up to eight wires using
> plug in connectors.  Currently I am using a couple of Green Heron
> bases to simultaneously switch three 2x6 position coax switches.
> Everything works but is a little messy with 12 sets of four wires
> twisted and taped together.

Do you want something like stacking banana plugs? You can get them in 
ones and twos, I don't recall seeing more. However, you can fabricate 
(an evil word, sometimes) a bracket or something to hold multiple sets 
in alignment.  Thinking of standard dual banana plugs, you could put a 
screw through the middle of the web between the plugs into a strip along 
side however many you wanted, which would hold them in a constant 
orientation.  A piece of plastic bar, with some notches machined every 
3/4" would be perfect.  A 3d printer could make a very nice little 
fixture to hold them, and then it's a matter of epoxy.

Then just have a row of banana jacks in a panel that connects to your 
barrier strip.

You could also arrange banana plugs in some other pattern (square, 
circle, etc.).


https://www.adafruit.com/product/3694 are the ones where you just stick 
the wire in, crank the screw down, and you're done. A little dab of 
thread locker on the screw might be useful.


The other thing is to use something like 1/4" tab connectors, which are 
available in multi tab versions, some which are designed for barrier 
strip mounting.  I'm not wild about these because each mate/demate is 
individual.


There are some nice multi tier screw clamp terminal strips (you've seen 
them, they're green, usually), and they make a plug/socket version.

this kind of thing:
https://www.phoenixcontact.com/online/portal/us?uri=pxc-oc-itemdetail:pid=1757048&library=usen&pdfmode=direct&pdflanguage=en


There might be a stackable version.


> 
> It would be great to have a box that had about six sets of eight
> receptacles for the same type of terminal block connector as provided
> by Green Heron that could be somehow be configured for what you
> needed.
> 
> Other than an old style terminal strip with screwed down terminals
> does anyone have any ideas on how to improve on having a bunch of
> wires twisted or soldered together and taped up?
> 
> Thanks...Stan, K5GO/ZF9CW
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