Alternative to box terminals

[Shorty Jenkans]

So i hate using plastic box terminals. Ive been looking at the SMD ones and they seem pretty good but they are a little expensive. What other other options? Direct lead through the box? I've also seen bolts, but how do you know what bolt is the most conductive? stainless or copper?

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[Austin175 10+ year member]

I usually go either direct or use bolts an ring terminals.

 

[The_Quiet_One 10+ year member]

Dayton Audio BPA-38G HD Binding Post Pair Gold

Or I have just ran wires through the box. Seal up around the wires.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

So i hate using plastic box terminals. Ive been looking at the SMD ones and they seem pretty good but they are a little expensive. What other other options? Direct lead through the box? I've also seen bolts, but how do you know what bolt is the most conductive? stainless or copper?

You'd want to use stainless bolts since corrosion/tarnishing will be an issue otherwise. If you're worried about having the best possible conduction drilling a hole, running wire, then sealing is best.

 

[JohnKuthe]

I usually go either direct or use bolts an ring terminals.

I used bolt through in the cabinets I built for inside speakers years ago.

John Kuthe...

 

[JohnKuthe]

So i hate using plastic box terminals. Ive been looking at the SMD ones and they seem pretty good but they are a little expensive. What other other options? Direct lead through the box? I've also seen bolts, but how do you know what bolt is the most conductive? stainless or copper?

Silver if you could find them, or better gold. But solid 24K gold would be too soft for a threaded bolt. Unless you had a gold terminal with a stainless machine bolt core and gold surround and on the terminal faces. I'll bet people already tried that, and if it was so super better they'd be all over the place still! Like gold plated stainless bolts!

John Kuthe...

 

[Shorty Jenkans]

Thanks guys!

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Silver if you could find them, or better gold. But solid 24K gold would be too soft for a threaded bolt. Unless you had a gold terminal with a stainless machine bolt core and gold surround and on the terminal faces. I'll bet people already tried that, and if it was so super better they'd be all over the place still! Like gold plated stainless bolts!
John Kuthe...

Silver is the best conductor but oxidizes quickly which is the main drawback. Gold plated this or that isn't for the sake of gold being the best conductor, but for the sake that it's non reactive.

 

[JohnKuthe]

Silver is the best conductor but oxidizes quickly which is the main drawback. Gold plated this or that isn't for the sake of gold being the best conductor, but for the sake that it's non reactive.

Oh, that's right. I remember now and you are correct. Silver IS the best conductor at STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure). Yes silver IS very chemically reactive whereas gold is not very chemically reactive.

John Kuthe...

 

[wingless]

Here is a electrical conductivity chart.

Silver and copper are the best, aluminum is very good, followed by zinc, brass and nickel. Copper is soft, aluminum is weak, steel bolts plated w/ zinc are strong, brass will oxidize and nickel-plated steel bolts are strong.

 

[wingless]

There are many options for gold-plated speaker binding posts.

 

[JohnKuthe]

There are many options for gold-plated speaker binding posts.

Yep, probably because of the "bling factor"! Gold sings bling proudly!

John Kuthe...