A DC barrel connector with a 2-way screw terminal on the back, so you can put a plug or socket on a power lead without soldering. Choose the female socket to accept a plug pack's barrel plug, or the male plug to feed a device that has a DC socket. Both come in 5.5 x 2.1mm, the usual size on 12V plug packs, and 5.5 x 2.5mm. Each terminal is moulded with a + or - beside its screw.
Specifications
What's in the box
Female socket or male plug in the size you select. Order one of each type for a joint you can unplug.
Great for
Wiring & getting started
- Check the barrel size
Look for 5.5 x 2.1mm or 5.5 x 2.5mm on your power supply or device label. The two sizes look almost the same, but a 2.5mm plug sits loose on a 2.1mm socket pin and a 2.1mm plug will not fit a 2.5mm socket.
- Strip and fit the wires
Strip about 5mm from each wire, twist the strands, and push them into the square openings on the end of the green block. Tighten each screw firmly and tug the wire to check it holds. For a connector with the lead already fitted, see our 5.5x2.1mm DC power pigtail.
- Match the polarity
Put the positive wire under the screw marked + and the negative under the screw marked -. The + terminal goes to the centre pin, which suits centre-positive supplies, the usual type on 12V plug packs.
- Check before you power up
Measure the voltage and polarity at the far end with a multimeter before connecting your device, and keep the load to 2A or less.
