Hey guys. I'm trying to avoid/limit soldering all together with my setup so I will be using COB Holders with built in wire connectors and DC connectors for my COB to Driver wires. I was wondering if it would be possible to connect my 100k OHM potentiometer to my driver using the same DC connectors:
https://www.amazon.com/Ksmile®-Female-2-1x5-5mm-Adapter-Connector/dp/B015OCV5XO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1478120685&sr=8-4&keywords=dc+connector
And if not what can I use instead of soldering? Also a lot of people are telling me to put my drivers outside of the tent to create less heat inside, If I were to do this would I have to make my wires coming from the COBs extra long to link up to the DC outside of the driver.
Also: For the AC side I was planning on hiring an electrician for my flowering tent setup which will use 4 or 5 Drivers, but for my vegetation tent I'm only using 1 Driver. Is it easy soldering/connecting the AC side? I hear you need to be very careful and I have never done any mechanical/electricity work in my life so kind of spooked. Is there something l can use as an AC connector so I dont have to solder?
Thanks!
Well,first be patient if I will make mistake,English is not my first language.
Now to answer your question....I used wago connector while testing my driver to connect dimming wires with potentiometer.
If you plan to dimm all 3 or 4 driver from flower fixture at the same time with just 1 pot, you easily can do this.
To do so you have to connect all dimm+ from each driver to a wago connector, than take a piece of wire and connect it to same connector:doing so,that wire will be dimm+ wire ,common to all driver.Do the same for dimm- wire.After that you have to connect common dimm+ and dimm- wires to potentiometer.
To take right potentiometer, you have to divide 100 by the number of driver you are going to dimm from that pot:so if you will use 3 driver is 100/3=33 koh pot,if you use 4 driver is 100/4=25 koh pot and so on.
I do not know what kind of pot are you going to use,but standard linear potentiometer I always have seen here need to be soldered to wire,and so I do not think you can use connector you posted.
I have recently done my first diy cob fixture,and I had never done any work with led and/or electronic and electric stuff,so you could do it too.I was afraid about soldering potentiometer to wire but it is easier than expected.
About having driver outside tent,I think it would be better (like I did).You will need spare wire of same awg of your driver (same awg for safety) and shrink tube (Not sure it is called this in English...I am speaking of that kind of plastic tube that shrinks once you warm it with lighter)
To do so,take +(red) and -(black) wire from DC side of driver.Strip the wire and unisolate the wire by approx 25mm (1 inch).Now take a piece of red (for +) and black (for-) wire of the same awg that comes from your driver(see spec about awg from meanwell site).Take your measurements to choose the length you need.Strip 1 end of each red and black wires,like you did for wires from driver.Cut a piece of shrink tube (1.5 inch).You have to choose a size of shrink tube a little bigger than wire you are using,in order to be able to let wire pass through its hole,but that shrinks enough to hold wire and grip to it after you warm it.Pair 2 red wire (stripped end)in front of each other and twist toghether as tight as you can,like 2 snakes (I do not know how to explain better,sorry).Than,slide the piece of shrink tube over twisted wire,and cover completely to isolate stripped part.Warm it until it shrink and you are done.Now you have the length you need to mount your driver outside.You can use dc connector you posted for potentiometer, to connect driver to cob (I did the same),so you can easily plug or unplug your driver to cob.
edit:
I forget to answer about ac side....You can do the same I described to do for dc side.
Strip 3 wires from driver for 25-30mm.Take some 3p wire(hot/neutral/ground of same awg of wires from driver for safety reason) and strip it as well.twist each end(hot with hot,ground with groun,neutral with neutral,than shrink tube for each couple of wire,be carefull to cover and completely isolate every part of stripped wires).Than connect the other side to correct plug.Job done.You could also use wago connector,if you prefer.
If you need some easier explanationation and visual guide,than look at growmau5 youtube guide(that's how I learned
,and I am not english speaking,so for you it would be easier)
