Choosing a Quick Disconnect Connector

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Dale Hayes

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Quick Disconnects are available as non-insulated, partially insulated, and fully insulated. I have various sizes of the non-insulated connectors in stock. I would like to use them in a control panel for making 120V control connections. The component terminations are not finger safe. Is there a NEC or UL rule governing where a non-insulated 1/4" tab male or female connectors can be used?
 
I don't know of any rule that would govern what you're talking about - that's really a design decision. I have used quick disconnects for control wiring before if there was a good reason not to use a terminal block or terminal strip of some sort, but I bought the fully insulated ones. I want the main part of the disconnect to be insulated since these things can flop around on you and possibly short to each other, the enclosure, etc. I also wouldn't want hot 120v popping out at me if I was the next guy to open the panel after everything was shoved in there.
 
I have used quick disconnects for control wiring before if there was a good reason not to use a terminal block or terminal strip of some sort, but I bought the fully insulated ones. I want the main part of the disconnect to be insulated since these things can flop around on you and possibly short to each other, the enclosure, etc. I also wouldn't want hot 120v popping out at me if I was the next guy to open the panel after everything was shoved in there.
You sound like the kind of guy who tapes wirenuts. :rolleyes: :)D)
 
I used to buy the non-insulated terminals a lot when I built more panels. Reason being, I had a wire marker printer that would print markers on a piece of heat shrink. I'd use that the both label the wire and insulate a little bit of the terminal over the crimp area. It might have saved 2 dollars a panel. :D I just liked how non-insulated terminals were easier to visually tell a good crimp from a bad crimp. That said, the only insulated terminals I trust are AMP's PIDG line. (pre insulated diamond grip).
 
You sound like the kind of guy who tapes wirenuts. :rolleyes: :)D)

Nah, just an industrial type of guy that is used to everything laid out nice and neat with a drawing made up labeling all of the terminal block positions. The one job where I used more than a few quick disconnects was one with architects redesigning every 2 hours, plus it was a modular, transportable house. There's a reason I don't post pictures from that job:grin:
 
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