Do I need a washer in the terminal?
 

I re-wired my Singer 15-125 into a terminal block. The lamp and the motor share one of the screw posts. Do I need some type of fiber washer between them or is it ok that they are touching? :o

Wires on the same post do not use fiber washers typically. Sometimes a brass washer is used under the nut to help keep wires from moving as you tighten the nut. Fiber washers are used as insulators. This is if I understand you clearly, & i may not. From Mars ya know...

Yeah Venus here..and poor communicator. You are understanding me. I was worried about something shorting out. I am good at following clear directions for wiring but still haven't mastered the whole concept. I'll get there. ;) Thank you. It sounds like I am in the clear for plugging it in and seeing if we have lift off!

If youve missed some of the other suggestions I and others posted...suggest you plug it into a GFCI outlet (kitchen or bath)'withe the little button that pops out. Not having that maybe in an outlet strip with a fuse or circuit breaker built in. Im sure you're fine. But theres a readon my nickname is Sparky!

If we dont hear back we'll call the fir....
What? Me worry!

Keep left hand in pocket. Wear rubber soled shoes. Forget the kitchen or bath, hate to think about sinks, water....

Later i will show how to put a fuse inline with your test outlet receptacle. An assortment of 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2 amp fuses etc...

LOL,

No you don't need any form of washer between the wires on the same terminal.

Joe

You are too funny! I have an outlet strip with a surge protector attached to my workbench. We have lift off! The motor fired right up. ;) I haven't been able to attach the flywheel yet as plans changed for the day and I have a little grandson here now, so I am in thinking mode rather than doing mode.

I am going to have to work out another little thing. When I went to crimp on my connectors I found the lamp had been re-wired with 16 ga. (wasn't me!) Now terminal 3 where the motor and the lamp wires both attach is a little too crowded and the screw down doesn't want to tighten more than halfway.

Hmm options are, re-wire the lamp with 18 gauge wire. (I don't love that one!) How about I carefully file down the thickness of the insulation just a hair more than enough and then put a bit of heat shrink over it to make it equal in size to the 18 gauge? It would just have to be for that last eighth of an inch where it exits the terminal.

What do you think?

I'd thin it out.

But then in the Singer connection blocks I don't use connectors. I twist the wire, then bend it around a screwdriver to make a ring the right size for the posts and solder it. Then I flatten the soldered ring to make it thinner.

Joe

Joe, I think I'd like to try that method next time. My soldering skills are weak and I need more practice first. Seriously, I need more practice doing everything, but I sure am having a fun time learning. Every machine is a new adventure, no frustration, well... both.

I usually do that also. sometimes ring lugs make sense, especially if soldering isn't second nature yet. You might be able to turn connector on the bottom, upside down, leave the top one right side up. another possibility, if you have the slack left in the wires, but both into 1, cut back and restrip, then insert into one ring lug, (blue insulator plastic) Electrically it is the same or better.

I am totally mental. I couldn't stand it. No matter what I tried the terminal screw only went part way and it bugged me. I opened up the lamp and re-wired it. I got some good practice in first on my soldering until I felt pretty confident. The lamp is back on and working and now I have 18 gauge wires and more room to play. I think I will try the self made rings this time. First, some practice!

I tried the soldering home made rings but decided to go with the ring terminals instead. The soldered rings weren't any thinner even when I tried to smash them flatter. I tried squeezing them flat with pliers and also tried a hammer. When I really smacked them with a hammer it could push them out of shape and make it harder to fit them on the terminal post but they still weren't thinner.

Re-wiring the lamp with 18 gauge was a help and I felt the end result was better with the thinner wire.

The home made rings is a tedious task. I don't always get them right the first time either. But I do eventually get them.
To flatten them I just use the smooth part of the jaws on a pair of needle nose pliers. If you twist the wire tight and don't use a ton of solder they don't get really big.

joe