Abstract: A connector system to provide electrical connections can include a base and a plug. The base can include a base body, a base bore that can extend axially into the base body along a base axis, a lay-in slot that can open at a sidewall of the base body, and a base conductor channel that can be formed by the lay-in slot and intersects the base bore. The plug can have a first end that can be sized to be received in the base bore. The base conductor channel can receive a longitudinal portion of a conductor into the lay-in slot so that the conductor extends through the base conductor channel to intersect the base bore. In an assembled configuration, the first end of the plug can extend into the base bore, aligned with the conductor along the base axis to deform the conductor in the axial direction.

Abstract: A grounding connector can include a connector body and a shear bolt. The connector body can have a recess sized to receive one or more conductors and a threaded portion. The shear bolt can be sized to engage the threaded portion of the connector body to secure the one or more conductors within the recess. When the shear bolt is tightened into the threaded portion of the connector body, the shear bolt can retain the one or more conductors within the recess. When the shear bolt is subject to a shear torque, a head of the shear bolt can shear from a body of the shear bolt. The shear torque can correspond to a target compression force applied between the shear bolt and the one or more conductors.

Abstract: A solid weld-metal-producing material is formed by agglomerating weld metal material powder. An igniter may be integrally formed in or on the agglomerated weld metal material. In addition to typical components of a weld metal material mixture, such as a reductant metal and a transition metal oxide, the agglomerated weld metal mixture may include a binder material, such as sodium silicate. In addition to functioning as a binder to help hold the agglomerated weld metal material together, the binder material may aid in the exothermic reaction that occurs when the weld metal material is ignited. The agglomerated weld metal material may be made by mixing together a reductant metal powder, a transition metal oxide powder, and possibly a binder solution. A slurry of the components may be pressed together, for example, using a die and a ram, and then may be dried.