I am trying to connect a LiPo battery to my motor controller L298N. I need help with how to safely connect 12 gauge battery wire to the motor controller. Everytime I try the braids on the wire unwind or don't stay tight when I tighten the screws.
Im not sure if I can just solder on smaller wires to the deens connector and plug it into my controller or if that is not safe to go from 12 gauge to like 28 gauge wire.
I got a ferrule crimper but that can't fit a 12 gauge crimp into the motor controller and smaller ferrals won't crimp the wire.
Put your battery wires in one side and connect smaller gauge wire in the other to go to the 298.
What size LIpo?
By the looks of the gauge wire it will be capable of providing much more current than a 298, can I suggest an inline fuse of say 2 Amps to protect your project.
Using a fuse and from there smaller size wire.
Fastest way is using a wire stripper with smaller gauge setting, so while stripping the insulation it removes some braids as well.
Shoe lace connector, or tin about 3/4" of battery wire and double it over before screwing down or put a JST connector on the battery (should have come with one) then make or buy a cable with the opposite gender and use shoe lace (my fav) or bare wires or tinned/folded over.
The trick is determining the correct JST connector. I ended up ordering almost every one from Amazon until I got the right one. Here is a cheat sheet, but I am not 100% sure it has all of them. https://www.mattmillman.com/info/crimpconnectors/common-jst-connector-types/
Tin and trim the exposed twisted braid as if you were preparing it to solder to a large PCB pad like you find on PDBs.
Then use the screw terminal thing. It works also, if a bit less well, with the kind of connection wire solid copper is expected to be wrapped more than a half turn around a screw.
