Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=CDI_Corporation%l=CDIM-PTS-MAIL-981125202157Z-1900@cdim-pts-mail.ports-va.marine.cdicorp.com>
From: "Rumburg, William" <wrumburg@cdicorp.com>
To: "'lancair.list@olsusa.com'" <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Electrical Connectors
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 15:21:57 -0500
Mime-Version: 1.0

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>>
 For builders who haven't yet started their electrical installations 
:

         Use AMP "Mate-N-Lock" free-hanging pin and socket connectors 
      and gold-plated contacts (pins and sockets) for all electrical 
system
      connectors.
         Gold-plated contacts cost somewhat more than standard 
(tin-plated)
     ones, but will ensure low-resistance and good electrical 
connections
     throughout the life of your plane. The connectors (plugs and 
receptacles)
     are available in the 1 through 6 position versions that you will 
need. The
     overall electrical system installation requires quite a few of 
each,
     especially 2 and 3 position.
   I purchased them through Digi-Key (800) 344-4539. Their Part # 's
are A-1432 and A-1433 for 14-20 AWG gold-plated pins and sockets
(they're also available from Newark Electronics and others). That size 
is rated for 10 amps and should be used for all your electrical system 
connectors. You will need nearly 100 for the entire system and it's
least expensive to buy that many at one time (I made the mistake
buying 20 initially, then 20 more, then 20 more, etc.).
They are designed for crimping with AMP's "Certi-Crimp" die-crimper,
a very expensive tool. It's similar to what manufacturer's use and 
costs
$ 412. However, crimping with pliers and then soldering works 
perfectly
well for all applications, except for the VMS CHT and EGT thermocouple 
probe leads. Those leads are made of a non-solderable alloy and are
furnished with spade lugs already crimped to the pigtails. Several 
loose
ones of the same type are furnished for the installer to squeeze on 
the
leads to the DPU (an unsatisfactory connection is possible).
   Pins or sockets cannot be soldered to them, but instead must be
properly crimped. However, I wanted a top quality connection and to
install them custom length, same as everything else. So, I ordered an
AMP "Certi-Crimp" from Newark (Part # 90124-2) for a one-day "trial",
after checking to make sure that it could be returned.
   It was easy to cut all CHT and EGT probe leads custom length and
then professionally crimp the gold-plated pins and sockets to them.
Also, rather than simply "Adell-clamp" the VMS Oil Pressure 
transducer,
I "Adell-clamped" a 2" piece of 1-1/4" I.D. PVC pipe to act as a 
collar for
the transducer, allowing it the slight freedom of linear movement it
needs due to engine motion. I did the same for the VMS Fuel Pressure
transducer, although it doesn't see any relative motion.
Where manufactured items were furnished with connectors and tin-
plated contacts (i.e. strobe and position lights), I removed and 
replaced
them with gold-plated ones.

                                     Bill Rumburg
                                     N403WR  (Sonic Boom)