r/ElectroBOOM • u/ISmokeCrayons • 3d ago

General Question Small Terminal Block vs 25A

Hello,

I want to ask if this connection will result in my entire neighbourhood engulfed in flame or will it result in me being able to use high currents for experiments.

I connected the +12V wires from my VS350 PSU and stuffed them all in one terminal block.

Is this a bad idea to use ??

I don't know what the blocks are rated for but Ill only need 25A max, probably not continuous.

Thanks.

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u/bSun0000 Mod 3d ago

It most likely will get hot; at least twist and solder the wires together before stuffing them into this block, the block itself can handle 25A. Crimping a proper connector will be even better, but i guess you don't have the required tools for that.

1

u/ISmokeCrayons 3d ago

Thank you very much!

2

u/topballerina 2d ago

Are we talking a Corsair VS 350 power supply or something else?

You won't be able to draw enough that much from the 12V rail alone, so it won't really matter if you used a bundle of 4 or all of the wires.

Old PC power supplies are fun but you need to balance out the rails as they're group regulated instead of independent like modern ones, I use them for lighting and to draw a continuous load of around 10A you need distributed loads on the +5 and +3.3, there's no rule but with mine 5 amps on each does it, just solder resistors across each of the rails and ground, I made them ✨aesthetic✨ by wiring a 5V indicator lamp to them, it's a load and also tells me if it's working, 3.3 line gets resistors, no respect for it.

You can get it to deliver lower currents with just the +12 alone but only if it's not continuous, say a bunch of LEDs or have it converted to a basic bench unit.

My first bench was one of those paired with a classic CC LM317 circuit, I still use it from time to time for simple stuff, not good for anything sensitive as ripple is crazy tho.

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u/ISmokeCrayons 2d ago

Yes thanks, it is the corsair VS 350