Crocodile clip

An alligator clip, also called short alligator clip, used in the connection technology of electrical engineering instead of a terminal with test setups for the rapid production of a detachable electrical connection to an electrical conductor (eg wire or component lead ).

Function

For electrical and mechanical Kontakierung the head of two opposing rows of teeth is captured. Often a row of teeth is narrower, so that the two parts of the clip to rest without a ladder into one another. By a spring, the teeth to be pressed around the conductor. In the same way to work, for example, a clothes peg.

Execution

In these terminals, there are two different versions. In the first case one crocodile clip is connected to either one end or both ends of a line. In the second case there is an electrical contact terminal which has on one side an alligator clip and can be connected directly to the other side with a banana plug.

The terminal can be completely uninsulated or plastic coated, with only the contact area is left blank, to increase the contact reliability.

The maximum permissible currents can be up to several hundred A in the range of a few mA. Depending on the permissible current, the terminals can be realized with different cross sections.

Naming

The name of this terminal was derived from the animal kingdom. The shape is similar to an alligator clip with the teeth of the snout of a crocodile.

Application

Alligator clips are used for the rapid production of electrical connections, for example in electronics workshops or laboratories. Standard laboratory versions can transmit currents of a few mA to about 15 amps, depending on the spring force and material.

When used as jumper cables for the electrical system of internal combustion engines, the mechanical dimensions are significantly larger, the currents can briefly be in the range of several hundred amperes.

In addition, they are used despite being damaged by the sharp teeth as a small, fireproof and secure clip for textiles and paper ( card clip ).

Security

The fact that in most models, live parts can be touched, they should only be used for low voltage protection or only under the observance of safety distances to terminals either. Contacts under electrical voltage are particularly dangerous because the metal contacts can be very lightly touched in the application.

Moreover, it can come at high current strengths to heating of the metal contacts and the connecting line, which in case of insufficient quality, the cable insulation could melt. How should this banana plug terminals, therefore, be used only by trained personnel.