How would you keeo drivers outside a tent?

[Canadain Closet Gardener]

I use the barrel connectors I got from rapidLed to connect my drivers to my lights


Cheers
CCG

 

[Airwalker16]

I use the barrel connectors I got from rapidLed to connect my drivers to my lights

View attachment 4155807
Cheers
CCG

Ya but those are 3 pin and I'd only need 2=

 

[sethimus]

use the third for ground? or do you want your lights ungrounded?

 

[CobKits]

Like would these work? @CobKits
They're 16awg and the cob builds we all do we use 18awg.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A6LTK44/ref=pd_aw_lpo_263_bs_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9MK1DE2H7XCHYHTS5BGV

those are fine but are bare leads at the ends. you'll still end up making another physical connection. id just use wagos they are plenty rated for your application

 

[Airwalker16]

Those are for low voltage (12vdc) and should not be used for high voltage connections.

If you try and buy all neutrik that would be super expensive.

Go to mouser.com, and search for 2 wire connectors that are safe for your voltage range. Then you can look and see if you can find a connector with a higher pin count at a decent price.

I personally use mini molex connectors, which are rated to 600v and 10a.

Any time you need an electronic part, go there first if quality is a concern.

Good luck.

There's so my options at mouser. I only saw 1 that was on there rated for 600v and it was a black and white sketch so I don't know what it even is. I can't figure their search engine out.

 

[Airwalker16]

those are fine but are bare leads at the ends. you'll still end up making another physical connection. id just use wagos they are plenty rated for your application

I'm not worried about making a solder connection tithe wire. I'm worried about being able to take it in and out easily.

Dstroy said those won't work though cause they aren't rated for 600v.

 

[Airwalker16]

use the third for ground? or do you want your lights ungrounded?

I guess ground would be going from driver to the fixture. I wasn't thinking about that..

 

[Airwalker16]

I'd be using15 wagos if I went that route..m no thank you.

@CobKits

 

[Airwalker16]

I use the barrel connectors I got from rapidLed to connect my drivers to my lights

View attachment 4155807
Cheers
CCG

But are they rates for 600v??

 

[Airwalker16]

@dstroy would I be able to use the ones I linked to on Amazon for the smaller drivers though? The drivers are CC 700MA and the XPE clusters are 24-36v. 2 clusters per driver.

 

[dstroy]

If the connectors are rated for the voltage and amperage out of the driver, then you won’t have anything to worry about.

No matter what connectors you buy just make sure that the ratings meet the output of the driver at a minimum.

@dstroy would I be able to use the ones I linked to on Amazon for the smaller drivers though? The drivers are CC 700MA and the XPE clusters are 24-36v. 2 clusters per driver.

Even though the drivers are low voltage I probably wouldn’t be looking at a prebuilt connector like that for something like this, because you just introduce more points of failure instead of just the connector now you have to splice wire as well. Keep it simple.

 

[Airwalker16]

So use the rapid led waterproof ones there too ...?

 

[Airwalker16]

These are what the 3 drivers are.

 

[Airwalker16]

If the connectors are rated for the voltage and amperage out of the driver, then you won’t have anything to worry about.

No matter what connectors you buy just make sure that the ratings meet the output of the driver at a minimum.



Even though the drivers are low voltage I probably wouldn’t be looking at a prebuilt connector like that for something like this, because you just introduce more points of failure instead of just the connector now you have to splice wire as well. Keep it simple.

Here's the thing though, it's a necessity. Can't have that many drivers sitting inside of a tent. There has to be a disconnect on the cord between the drivers on The Wire that goes through the tent to the fixture. That's why this needs a remedy.

 

[Aolelon]

Here's the thing though, it's a necessity. Can't have that many drivers sitting inside of a tent. There has to be a disconnect on the cord between the drivers on The Wire that goes through the tent to the fixture. That's why this needs a remedy.

What about just running 12/6 - 14/6 awg cords and splitting the wires in the tent off a terminal bar or to whatever else.
You could effectively turn 3 cords into just 1 going into your tent, and split it off accordingly at each end, to the driver, and the lights

 

[Airwalker16]

What kinasd of terminal bar?

 

[Airwalker16]

Like this right? @dstroy

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MFEOTSW/ref=pd_aw_sim_328_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CDGMNCXP63WTAX2WATV8&dpPl=1&dpID=61+Cj5bVaxL&th=1

There's a 600v45a 3pole set of 5.

 

[nfhiggs]

I understand that each of the 5 drivers from the driver housing box outside the tent, each will have a red and a black wire going to the fixture. At this point I've kinda figured out the answer to my question and am NOW more trying to get an idea on what quick disconnects I could use that would work with the drivers I mentioned above.
Because I'm pretty sure basic 12v 5a ones would not. Right? Except for maybe the smaller drivers?

https://www.ebay.com/i/252724598146?chn=ps

 

[SSGrower]

I just pass the whole driver through the tent port then mount it and plug in.

 

[dstroy]

Like this right? @dstroy

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MFEOTSW/ref=pd_aw_sim_328_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CDGMNCXP63WTAX2WATV8&dpPl=1&dpID=61+Cj5bVaxL&th=1

There's a 600v45a 3pole set of 5.

No a terminal bar is no good, those screw terminals are open, and only suited for permanent installation inside of an enclosure.

You can go the toolless route and get wagos, like @CobKits suggested, they’re easy to use and easy enough to disconnect/reconnect.

Or you can buy terminal crimpers and connectors. There are brands other than molex, but I have their tools so I buy those connectors.