Poorly fitting DC Line Plugs ? not any more!

[Numb-nuts 1]

I have installed a number of cameras in a number of locations over the years, not professionally of course,

but the one thing that has puzzled me all this time was that whenever I fitted 2.1mm DC line plugs I often noticed

a very loose fit in many of them, usually when I solder one on to make a custom power lead for wireless cameras.

 

It's not a major discovery and may seem rather a small issue to many of you but it has worried me in the past.

I have now discovered that the DC plugs come four distinct sizes. CCTV manufacturers use the 2.1mm x 5.5mm short.

Specifying 21.mm is not enough as often I have been buying 2.1mm x 5.00mm short or long and hence the poor fit.

 

I know that most of you will yawnat this but I posted this in case anyone else has encounterd the same problem

 

[Nimrod 0]

good post, thank you.

[survtech 0]

Coaxial power connectors are a notoriously poor connector. I cringe every time I encounter one. In many cases, I have just eliminated them altogether by cutting them off and splicing the power cables directly when dealing with manufacturer "pigtails". Along with Molex connectors (the type formerly used on computer hard drives), coaxial power connectors should have been eliminated years ago.

[Numb-nuts 1]

Coaxial power connectors are a notoriously poor connector. I cringe every time I encounter one. In many cases, I have just eliminated them altogether by cutting them off and splicing the power cables directly when dealing with manufacturer "pigtails". Along with Molex connectors (the type formerly used on computer hard drives), coaxial power connectors should have been eliminated years ago.

 

I have to admit to being tempted sometimes, but I am one of those people who are always looking for the correct solution or a better solution. The Molex are a particularly good idea as they are readily available, and you can add RS485 telemetry wires in the spare terminals, but you do need the correct crimp tool, I have the AMP superchamp so I can crimp those.

 

I have to admit though that rather than hunt down RS485 connectors, I prefer to use 1 amp connector block but I feel a bit guilty doing it.

 

By the way the short connectors are 9 or 10 mm and the long are either 14 or 15 mm long

[Numb-nuts 1]

When I install these Power plugs, at the camera end, although I enclose them in a IP66 junction box,

I usually slip a short length of 10 mm heat-shrink (adhesive lined) over one of the

plugs and after engaging the plugs, pull it back over the join, then shrink it to secure them.

Great to have a handy butane gas heat torch, fits neatly in the pocket or tool pouch.