Connectors

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Revision as of 10:43, 1 September 2019 by Jackie (talk | contribs) (Anderson Powerpole)
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One current problem we need to address is to choose a capable standard connector so that everyone can participate and prepare equipment before the next camp so that time is not wasted trying to connect everything together.

The discussion tab can be used to debate the various types of connectors.

It would be worth listing the connectors that have been tried but are not suitable with reasons too, for example, car cigarette connectors. Although rated for 10A, this happened at 30V@5A.

Connector requirements

We have some requirements on our connectors which need to be met with varying importance. Key Words according to rfc2119. Please expand this list. :

High Voltage Connectors

  • Must have at least 3 Pins (PE, GND, V+)
  • Must be lockable to prevent unplugging when loaded or alternatively this must be prevented by a different measure.
  • Must be able to handle the load and voltages
  • Should not be commonly used for different applications in a Camp context. If this cant be prevented damage to the different application and ours must not occur when connected with each other.
  • Should be Waterproof
  • May have added pins for communication. <- This may change to a "must have" depending on our implementation of load sharing.
  • Must prevent touchable live connections. This may be implemented by a different measures.

Low Voltage (< 50VDC) Connectors

  • Should have at least 3 Pins (PE, GND, V+)
  • Must be lockable to prevent unplugging when loaded or alternatively this must be prevented by a different measure.
  • Must be able to handle the load and voltages
  • Should not be commonly used for different applications in a Camp context. If this cant be prevented damage to the different application and ours must not occur when connected with each other.
  • May have added pins for communication. <- This may change to a "must have" depending on our implementation of load sharing.
  • Should prevent touchable live connections. This may be implemented by different measures

Suggested Connectors

Multi-Contact 4

Technical Specifications:

  • Max Amps: 20A
  • Max Volts: 600V

Pros:

  • Waterproof
  • Fairly cheap
  • Difficult to disconnect by accident
  • While not recommended, designed to stop potential arcing on disconnect (an advantage over the MC3 connectors)

Cons:

  • + and - connectors are separate cables.
  • Can be difficult to disconnect without tools
  • Low (~200) mating cycles

XT60

Technical Specifications:

  • Max Amps: 60A
  • Max Volts:

Suggested by Munich Maker Lab during camp Page creator has no experience with this type of connector.

Pros:

  • Cheap
  • Small
  • one connector does both + and - wires

Cons:

  • No waterproof variant has been found

Speakon / PowerCon

Technical Specifications:

  • Max Amps: 20A
  • Max Volts: 250V

Pros:

Cons:

  • Used for all sorts of stuff. Mistakes are more likely.

XLR-4

Technical Specifications:

  • Max Amps: 10A per contact
  • Max Volts: 50V

Pros:

  • Extra wires could be used for signalling

Cons:

  • Could be confused with stage equipment already in use at festivals

RST16i2

Technical Specifications:

  • Max Amps: 16A
  • Max Volts: 250V

Pros:

  • Seems uncommon enough so mistakes are less likely

Cons:

Hirschmann CA Series

Hirschmann CA-Series.png

Technical Specifications:

Protection: IP65, IP67

4 pole

  • Max Amps: 16 A AC/10 A DC
  • Max Volts: 400 V AC/230 V DC

7 pole

  • Max Amps: 230 V AC/DC
  • Max Volts: 10 A AC/DC

Pros:

  • Extra wires could be used for signalling

Cons:

  • Costly? (7€ plug, 3€ socket for 4 pole, 10€ plug, 7€ socket)

SELV Connectors

Details on the specs

Technical Specifications:

  • Max Amps: 16A
  • Max Volts: 48V

Pros:

  • Made specifically for low voltage AC/DC power connections
  • Keying for different voltage levels

Cons:

  • hard to get
  • only 2 pins

Anderson Powerpole

Technical Specifications:

  • 15/30/45/180 Amp variants available (different sizes)
  • 600V rating, dielectric withstanding voltage of 2200V
  • 250 mating cycles under full load, a few hundred thousand mating cycles without load

Pros:

  • Easy to get
  • Cheap
  • Extremely modular (you can build your connectors to spec using single pole assemblies in different colors and there are even pcb-mount variants, housings with locking, ...)
  • Pretty much touch-proof (you'll have to try really hard with something like a screwdriver to touch a contact)
  • Unisex (optionally, one can add a blind pin to make it non-unisex)

Cons:

  • without one of the modular housings, it's not waterproof