Test Bench with old C-7

Here is my old C7 ready to help code drivers. Complete with it’s own router in bridge mode since I don’t have the Wi-Fi dongle for it. Going to get some Wago connectors this weekend so I can ditch the wire nuts.

Zooz ZEN54
Zooz ZEN17
Leviton Dimmer
Zooz ZEN30
Zooz ZEN31 is out of frame.

Old brass light fixtures I replaced a few years ago work great wired up to some old lamp cord from the other lights I replaced.

Bought two $3 extension cords and cut the ends off to wire up the zen54 and the light to the dimmer. Was cheaper than making my own cord!

ZEN31 in an old box I had laying around. I think this box came out of the wall behind the stove at a house I lived in 10 years ago :rofl:, so I could move the outlet over and get the stove flush against the wall.

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My test bed looks very similar, except I use Wago connectors instead of twist on for the electrical connections.

Is really handy to have a test bed for driver devlopement!

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Yeah after taking a few apart a couple times I realized I need those also, Menards has them so picking a bunch this weekend! I fully expected someone to say this and edited my post just a few minutes ago.

I also tinned the tips of some of my wires that get used a lot. Very amateurly, but I think I got the hang of it now and I need to go back and redo some of them.

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That's smart. I should do that too....

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And that, wives everywhere, is exactly why we have at least three large boxes of wires and old parts in the garage or closet!

Vindication!

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Ferrules are great for this. They require a dedicated crimper, but are incredibly useful. Wires going to the screw terminals on my Zen16 have ferrules, for instance.

In a pinch, I used the crimper to secure metal shoelace tips onto 3mm paracord. Cat stopped chewing the ends of the laces.

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Just a side note. Avoid tinned wires long term in screw terminals. They can fail mechanically over time and generate heat. As mentioned above ferrules work well.

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