Whats the name of those motherboard fan terminal connectors<?> - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: r00n
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 04:22:53 am
content: Ordering parts for projects is always difficult.I've tried many connectors terminals to attach components to PCBs like potentiometers and the like, but they all fail after detaching and reattaching several times. I would like to use connectors like the PC motherboards use for the fans. They seem to be sturdy.My beginner questions are:What are the names of those connectors? JST? Molex?Can I get them in 2/3/4/5 pins?Do they have the standard 2.54mm pin separation?Thanks for your patience and replies.

author: alligatorblues
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 04:47:56 am
content: Quote from: r00n on October 18, 2023, 04:22:53 amI seldom recognize a connector by name. The manufacturers are not set up to sell 5 or 10 pieces. Try 10,000 pieces. So, they won't give you the time of day. So, I try to get the pin-out and spacing correct, and replace both sides.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 05:31:06 am
content: It is a Molex 47054-1000https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/part-detail/470541000The 4 pin one is special due to the offset locating notch to make it backwards compatible with 3 pin fan connectors.However you can find other pin counts as part of the Molex KK 254 family. The pitch is indeed 2.54mm so these connectors also mate with just regular standard 0.1in pin terminals (minus the polarity safety that the plastic finger provides).You can buy them in low quantity from component distributors too. But if you just want some for personal projects go buy a whole bag of these with precimped cables from ali express.If you are looking for just a generic trough hole board to cable connector to use in your projects id recommend the JST connectors as they are more "standard" (copied by many manufacturers, easily find cheep from china etc.. ) The 2.54mm and 1.5mm JST variants are my favorites and i have a bag of precimped cables for those.

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 12:55:06 pm
content: Quote from: r00n on October 18, 2023, 04:22:53 amMany styles of connectors are only designed for a limited number of mating cycles. Sometimes it can be a surprisingly low number, like 50 or even 20.And as you have found, when you exceed that, they become unreliable - loose, intermittent contact, high resistance, worn pin plating, etc.

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 01:03:39 pm
content: Quote from: Berni on October 18, 2023, 05:31:06 amIf you're talking about the common JST XH series (and clones), they are 2.50 mm pitch,not2.54. Sure, you can jam them in 0.1" pitch holes, but that no longer works when you get to 5 or more pins.I remember there was a big discussion here some time ago about the existence of 2.54 mm pitch XH clones, but IIRC it was never satisfactorily proven such a thing actually exists and wasn't just mislabelling/mis-advertising and/or inaccurate measuring.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 01:26:53 pm
content: This connector is made by many manufacturers usually under 2510 name with prefix depending on manufacturer. Molex KK254 is actually different. IIRC male KK254 mates good enough with female 2510 but usually not the other way around as latch on the male side will be bent outwards. EDIT: I just googled a bit and corresponding Molex parts seem to be 5045/5159 series.