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Electrical connections to carbon rods - how?

B

Bill Bailley

Jan 1, 1970
0
Rob said:
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

The connections are in a conductivity probe and are signal connections (ie
not high power. The current method involves simply twisting TCW around the
rods tightly then soldering it, this is then potted - not really ideal.

I am not sure that a clamping arrangement would be any better.

Do solderable epoxies exist - something like that which would be used to
repair a automotive window demister?

Ideas anyone?

TIA
rob

Copperplate a small area at one end. Then solder directly to it.

Bill.
 
L

Leon Heller

Jan 1, 1970
0
Rob said:
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

The connections are in a conductivity probe and are signal connections (ie
not high power. The current method involves simply twisting TCW around the
rods tightly then soldering it, this is then potted - not really ideal.

I am not sure that a clamping arrangement would be any better.

Do solderable epoxies exist - something like that which would be used to
repair a automotive window demister?

Have a look at a carbon cell. I think the connections are pressed on.

Leon
 
S

Scrim

Jan 1, 1970
0
The rods in small batteries have a metal cap press on, but I think the best
method for you would be to use conductive epoxy. It consists of normal two
part epoxy which has been loaded with silver in a suitable form (flakes I
think). Watch out you don't get the silver loaded thermally conductive
epoxy (micronised powder) though as its electrical conductivity is
apparently poor.
You might instead use conductive silver paint to improve the contact and
then pot that.

Scrim
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

The connections are in a conductivity probe and are signal connections (ie
not high power. The current method involves simply twisting TCW around the
rods tightly then soldering it, this is then potted - not really ideal.

I am not sure that a clamping arrangement would be any better.

Do solderable epoxies exist - something like that which would be used to
repair a automotive window demister?

Ideas anyone?
 
P

Paul Burridge

Jan 1, 1970
0
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

The connections are in a conductivity probe and are signal connections (ie
not high power. The current method involves simply twisting TCW around the
rods tightly then soldering it, this is then potted - not really ideal.

I am not sure that a clamping arrangement would be any better.

How thick is your rod? (if you pardon the expression)
If it's a decent diameter, use copper wire pressed in place with
jubilee clips. That's how many of us make non-inductive dummy loads
for transmitter testing.
 
A

Activ8

Jan 1, 1970
0
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

The connections are in a conductivity probe and are signal connections (ie
not high power. The current method involves simply twisting TCW around the
rods tightly then soldering it, this is then potted - not really ideal.

I am not sure that a clamping arrangement would be any better.

Do solderable epoxies exist - something like that which would be used to
repair a automotive window demister?

Ideas anyone?

TIA
rob

Automotive hose clamps.
 
R

Rob

Jan 1, 1970
0
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

The connections are in a conductivity probe and are signal connections (ie
not high power. The current method involves simply twisting TCW around the
rods tightly then soldering it, this is then potted - not really ideal.

I am not sure that a clamping arrangement would be any better.

Do solderable epoxies exist - something like that which would be used to
repair a automotive window demister?

Ideas anyone?

TIA
rob
 
B

Barry Lennox

Jan 1, 1970
0
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

Clamps.

If you need to start from scratch, go to a welding supply shop and ask
for carbon gouging rods, they are simply copper-plated carbon rods,
and are dirt cheap, I think I pay about 35c each in small quantities,
and they are much cheaper by the box.

Barry Lennox
 
K

Keith Wootten

Jan 1, 1970
0
In message
Rob said:
Slightly OT.........

Can anyone please advise me of methods used to make electrical connections
to carbon rods?

<Snip>

Take a light helical spring (eg ballpoint pen) which is just too small
to slip over the rod and twist it on.

Cheers
 
R

Rob

Jan 1, 1970
0
Paul Burridge said:
How thick is your rod? (if you pardon the expression)
If it's a decent diameter, use copper wire pressed in place with
jubilee clips. That's how many of us make non-inductive dummy loads
for transmitter testing.

Your lewdness is pardoned!

My rod is quite small, but it has two different diameters - like a stepped
shaft - where the connections are needed - around 3mm & 8mm in diameter.

The Cu plating idea someone suggested sounds like the best technically,
clamping would be great for higher volumes (but perhaps too fiddly for the
50 to 100 off batches we do), I think twisted wire bonded with conductive
epoxy might be the most practical.

Thanks
rob
 
R

Rob

Jan 1, 1970
0
Many thanks for the suggestions guys. It helps get things in perspective to
see what others would do or suggest.

regards
rob
 
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