Can I use this power distribution block?

[HereinCS]

My understanding is that all power and ground to stepper motor/drivers have to come from a common source. I saw

this

this

on amazon, was wondering if I can use one block to ground/power?

[analogman]

Pretty fancy. It will work. I would think a ground block from an electrical supply would be super cheap, like 95 cents.

I bring all ground lines back to a single point my metal enclosure to avoid ground loops. In my enclosure the ground point is simply a 1/4" stud.

[Phife]

Its probably for car audio which uses much larger wires. You'll also want a few distribution points for +,- and GND, possibly for both AC and DC.

That will most likely be over kill and you may not even be able to hold smaller wires in place.. Find an electronics store near you or try online.

[HereinCS]

Probably is a bit overkill. Can you suggest another distribution block?

[tpworks]

http://www.marathonsp.com/
http://www.marathonsp.com/DoubleRow.html

[Phife]

Originally Posted by HereinCS Probably is a bit overkill. Can you suggest another distribution block?

I used DIN rail and the proper terminals for that, its very cheap and you can add as many distribution points as you want, it also takes care of grounding if you use the grounding terminals (green)

My suggestion is to go to a electronics (not radio shack) and ask them for DIN rails and the terminals.

[Al_The_Man]

I find it easier to scrounge or buy ~1.5"x1/4" copper from a metal supply source and drill and tap a couple of rows of #10-32 holes.
Then use ring terminals to terminate the grounds etc.
Al.

[brtech]

Although the copper bar would look pretty, it's much easier to use 1/4-20 screws in wood or plastic and ring terminals. Very easy, very cheap and effective. I do like the idea of the ground bar from an electric distribution box. If it really was a buck or two, that would be very pretty.

[Al_The_Man]

Originally Posted by brtech Although the copper bar would look pretty, it's much easier to use 1/4-20 screws in wood or plastic and ring terminals.

How would you get the bonding between all the common earth conductors?
Al.

[brtech]

First, let's not confuse everyone.

We have power, ground ("neutral" on AC) and "earth".

In a DC distribution system, you connect to earth (the metal chassis if you have one) to ground in exactly one place. You can distribute "ground" if you want to, but "earth" is done once.

I would have two 1/4" studs in two 1/4" holes in a block of wood. Each of your power and ground wires has a ring terminal. You stack the ring terminals on the stud. They come in at different angles so the crimps are radially adjacent to each other. The rings are stacked up contacting each other along the entire circumference. By bending the crimp you can have 3 or more sets of these, dozens of conductors, if you needed that many.

[Al_The_Man]

I agree, I should have used the term Ground or Earth ground conductors.
But I would hesitate to use wood as a medium to secure terminations with machine screws, especially with wood being a volatile medium.
This is where I believe common control wiring procedure practices should be followed and
a proper metallic star point connection should be made.
As in the top left quadrant.
(Ok the pic did not come out large enough)
Al.

[brtech]

The wood supports the screw, that's it. The rings are the conductors. It should be fine.

IF you have a metal enclosure, then I would have the ground connection connecting to the metal (i.e. the stud goes through the enclosure), which is what you are advocating.

Many of us just have the electronics on a board or shelf, and then a block of wood with a couple of screws is fine.