• Splitter as a DC tee?

    From Don Y@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jun 25 01:54:25 2025
    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

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  • From Edward Rawde@21:1/5 to Don Y on Wed Jun 25 12:02:00 2025
    "Don Y" <[email protected]d> wrote in message news:103gdgj$2lhen$[email protected]...
    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    I'd have done something like that 40 years ago.
    These days I'd be wary of whether there could be any circumstances where some lawyer tells me I haven't complied with the relevant
    power distribution regulations.

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    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From john larkin@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Wed Jun 25 09:36:15 2025
    On Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:54:25 -0700, Don Y
    <[email protected]d> wrote:

    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    Try it?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Don Y@21:1/5 to Edward Rawde on Wed Jun 25 10:30:18 2025
    On 6/25/2025 9:02 AM, Edward Rawde wrote:
    "Don Y" <[email protected]d> wrote in message news:103gdgj$2lhen$[email protected]...
    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    I'd have done something like that 40 years ago.

    How did you remove (and reattach!) the back cover? There's a shitload of thermal mass there to overcome. And, over a large area (2+ sq in).
    I'd be tempted to try a propane torch for removal -- in the hope that
    there would be no collateral damage from the excess heat.

    These days I'd be wary of whether there could be any circumstances where
    some lawyer tells me I haven't complied with the relevant
    power distribution regulations.

    Powered splitters/amplifiers tend to accept power over an F-connector.
    It's all low voltage (9-15VDC) and low power (a few watts).

    Providing power by connecting several RG6 "stubs" together and to the power source doesn't change the amount of power or potentials involved.

    It just looks more "homemade". <frown>

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From john larkin@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Wed Jun 25 11:22:56 2025
    On Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:54:25 -0700, Don Y
    <[email protected]d> wrote:

    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    Phone plugs are great connectors. You can step on them or blind-mate
    them in the dark.

    https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Splitter-Connector-Adapter-Earphones/dp/B00Y1YD8PK/ref=sr_1_14

    In the pre-Ethernet days, time sharing with RS232, I wired a building
    with all phone jacks for the terminals.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From john larkin@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jun 25 11:31:46 2025
    On Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:22:56 -0700, john larkin <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    On Wed, 25 Jun 2025 01:54:25 -0700, Don Y
    <[email protected]d> wrote:

    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    Phone plugs are great connectors. You can step on them or blind-mate
    them in the dark.

    https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Splitter-Connector-Adapter-Earphones/dp/B00Y1YD8PK/ref=sr_1_14

    In the pre-Ethernet days, time sharing with RS232, I wired a building
    with all phone jacks for the terminals.

    USB hub/splitters and cables are crazy cheap. That's a nice way to
    distribute 5 volts.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Edward Rawde@21:1/5 to Don Y on Wed Jun 25 22:07:59 2025
    "Don Y" <[email protected]d> wrote in message news:103hbnt$2svt0$[email protected]...
    On 6/25/2025 9:02 AM, Edward Rawde wrote:
    "Don Y" <[email protected]d> wrote in message news:103gdgj$2lhen$[email protected]...
    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution. This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    I'd have done something like that 40 years ago.

    How did you remove (and reattach!) the back cover?

    Blow torch (known as a blow lamp in other space/time continua).
    With a suitable sized and shaped hole in a ceramic shield to prevent excessive heating of anything which shouldn't be heated too
    much.
    A propane torch is probably a better idea because it will be easier to direct the heat in such a way that the soldered lid either
    falls of when all the solder is molten or can be prised off with minimal help. Reverse orientation to reattach.

    There's a shitload of
    thermal mass there to overcome. And, over a large area (2+ sq in).
    I'd be tempted to try a propane torch for removal -- in the hope that
    there would be no collateral damage from the excess heat.

    These days I'd be wary of whether there could be any circumstances where
    some lawyer tells me I haven't complied with the relevant
    power distribution regulations.

    Powered splitters/amplifiers tend to accept power over an F-connector.
    It's all low voltage (9-15VDC) and low power (a few watts).

    Providing power by connecting several RG6 "stubs" together and to the power source doesn't change the amount of power or potentials involved.

    It just looks more "homemade". <frown>


    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Don Y@21:1/5 to Don Y on Wed Jun 25 18:53:03 2025
    On 6/25/2025 1:54 AM, Don Y wrote:
    I'd like to use the mechanical aspects of a two-way splitter to
    act as a "tee" for DC power distribution.  This seems infinitely
    easier than trying to wire a bunch of connectors together.

    Most of the devices I've encountered have a "back" that is soldered
    in place as a solid shield.

    There's a bit of mass, there, so I am wondering how much
    effort it will be to try to remove the back, gut the device,
    replace with a length of wire and reattach the back piece.

    Ha! They apparently make such a beast! Problem solved!

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)