Connecting Aluminum stranded wire

[WVNed]

I bought some float sensors and they have stranded aluminum wire. What is a good way to terminate the wires so I can play with them on a breadboard connescted to a Raspberry Pi and eventually mount them more permanently later.

 

[SuncrestReef]

I tinned the wire ends to make it easier to connect them to the breakout box.

 

[ludnix]

I would probably solder them to a male pin connector so they would be easy to stick into the breadboard or pi. A short length of solid core wire can be used in a pinch.

 

[fermentedhiker]

Phoenix connectors might do the trick.

 

[WVNed]

I may try crimping them in some UY connectors to a solid Cu strand for now. I do not think I have ever soldered aluminum wires before. Is there anything special you need to use?

 

[reeferKen]

haven't tried them but was looking at these
Link

 

[TheHarold]

Are you looking for PCB terminals @WVNed ?

 

[WVNed]

Are you looking for PCB terminals @WVNed ?

Well I am not looking for anything yet because I am not sure what to look for. Those look like an excellent solution. Can you poke those into a breadboard?

 

[TheHarold]

Well I am not looking for anything yet because I am not sure what to look for. Those look like an excellent solution. Can you poke those into a breadboard?

Yup, the pin spacing is generic 5mm.

 

[ludnix]

I may try crimping them in some UY connectors to a solid Cu strand for now. I do not think I have ever soldered aluminum wires before. Is there anything special you need to use?

Not particularly, aluminum will solder to copper fine with regular leaded or unleaded solder. Sometimes aluminum needs a little stronger flux to break down it's oxide coating but I didn't have any issues with small wires on sensors with just using regular solder with flux core.

 

[rolibr24]

The equipment I work on is from the Netherlands. Everything has ferrule's on. I don't know if it is something that this particular manufacturer uses to terminate the connections or if it is a European thing.

You can either buy a kit like this, or buy just the size ferrule's that you need so you don't have all the un-needed large size ones. This particular kit comes with the crimping tool.