Preferred procedure screw terminal blocks

[megals]

There's plenty advice about making tight electrical crimp connections but I do not recall seeing anything about screw terminal block connectors. I have seen a lot of mashed up bits of copper wire and the odd wire pin connectors making these connections. What's the best way of sticking a bit of wire into a hole and tightening the screw without that sinking feeling you're relying the good graces of the god of smoke?

Once you tighten that screw, I am concerned the heat, vibration, etc is likely to work against the integrity of the connection , or am I over thinking things?

 

[IRstuff]

Well, yes, if you are concerned about vibration, in particular, you should not be using screw terminals. There are some pretty amazing videos on YouTube showing screws undoing themselves under vibration.

TTFN
faq731-376

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[megals]

I don't use them as a matter of course, but I have been given a little microcontroller to wire up with a terminal block. I suppose its a case of rubber mount, tighten and check the resistance and screw regularly, and allow a little extra length in the harness to cut off and clean up the scraggly wire ends as required.

Was hoping someone had a trick.

 

[LionelHutz]

You're not driving the screw directly into the wire when you're using good screw terminals for control type wiring. These usually work quite well when properly applied and can even work for automotive use.

Use a sleeve crimped over the wire if you have a crappy terminal block or simply change out the terminal block for a better one.