Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim MacWilliams on March 16, 2024 at 7:31pm

UL Power's drawing shows a recommended minimum of 12awg, but I'd go to 10awg.  What do you hope to gain by potting the wires?  If the manufacture does it, then the physical connection can be done away with, which will improve the electrical properties (no heating of that connection under high loads), but if you do it, that physical connection will still exist only now it'll be buried in a potted connection - no advantage IMHO, since that connection will still heat up under high loads (if there is significant electrical resistance).

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dean Blood on March 17, 2024 at 4:13pm

Thanks for the reply Jim. To answer your question, I was hoping to eliminate a slip connector by either soldering the wires directly to the male spades or slipping the female connector on, then solder to reduce possibility of loosening creating high resistance.  I attached  some info I recently saw on a UL owners group started in Belgium. The new regulator with potted wires looks identical to the early unit, just no connector. That is why I think maybe they slipped female spades on and potted, or made a soldered connection. Not much room to work down in there for soldering. I agree with you on having a slip connection that is buried is not ideal, that was my reason for wanting to solder. The Deusch connector they are talking about is for the 3 wire connection to the stator wires. I was just searching to see if anyone had more info on the newer regulator.

Attachments:

• IMG_6019.jpeg, 499 KB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim MacWilliams on March 17, 2024 at 7:32pm

My concern with soldering - assuming you can get an iron down in there - would be melting the plastic that's holding the spade connectors.  The heat that will need to be applied to the spade connector to allow solder to flow properly will be considerable and I think it likely the plastic around that connection will begin to melt.  I don't see it's worth the risk.

In my opinion, I think a better option (assuming you want to stay with UL's regulator/rectifier - there are other options, e.g. mosfet regulator/rectifier) would be to use 10awg wire (mil spec) properly crimped on the spade connector and then some sort of physical clamp that would prevent the connector from backing out.  That could be as simple as cable ties (make sure the cable ties can take the heat - I wouldn't use plastic cable ties).  This way it could be disassembled easily if need be.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dean Blood on April 1, 2024 at 11:48pm

Jim , I apologize for the late response. You are correct on soldering the connectors. It is too difficult to access and I agree heat would be an issue. I think I will go the Mosfet route from Ray. 

Thanks for your input.

• ▶ Reply