Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: kolias on November 29, 2013, 10:07:26 AM

Title: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: kolias on November 29, 2013, 10:07:26 AM

I'm wiring my four stepper motors 18AWG shielded cables and I want to know how I ground physically the cable shields at the panel end.

When I cut the exterior plastic shell of each cable, there is under it the metal braiding and after there is the aluminum foil; do I ground only the braiding, the foil, both?

And how do you do this physically? Do I solder a piece of wire to the braiding / foil ?

Thanks

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: Picengraver on November 29, 2013, 11:06:06 AM

Solder a short piece of stranded wire to the copper braid only.  The foil can be trimmed out of the way.
John Champlain

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: kolias on November 29, 2013, 02:23:32 PM

Thank you John

Was planning doing so but thought maybe there is a better way

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: BluePinnacle on November 30, 2013, 07:06:09 PM

^ That's how I've always done it on every sort of equipment I've worked on. For tidiness, pop a bit of self-adhesive heat shrink over the transition between the braid and the insulated wire tail ;)

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: kolias on November 30, 2013, 09:52:28 PM

Good point, makes for a better looking connection

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: garyhlucas on December 01, 2013, 01:32:12 PM

I've used the heat shrink solder type butt splices for this. Just put the two ends into the splice and heat with a heat gun. Solder melts and tube shrinks at the same time. It looks very neat.

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: kolias on December 01, 2013, 02:28:53 PM

Don't know about this Gary but I will try to find out. Sounds a good idea

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: garyhlucas on December 01, 2013, 09:45:35 PM

Forgot to mention, Home Depot has them

Title: Re: How do you Connect the Metal Braiding of a Cable?
Post by: kolias on December 01, 2013, 10:38:51 PM

Thanks for the tip.

Just found them on HD site but they only have for 14, 12 and 10AWG. Will try elswhere because I need for 18AWG