Spacers for standard 0.1" through-hole headers? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Dave8266
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 12:28:29 am
content: When purchasing the ubiquitous through-hole 0.1" header strips, the male ends are typically made from cuttable insulating black plastic strips that hold the pins in place during assembly. Likewise, these strips are sometimes added to the headers of either gender to extend them away from the PCB for mechanical spacing purposes, or to set or alter the exposed contact length on the other side.I'm going to need to customize the spacings of some headers for a project. Short of manually plucking the pins out of header strips, does anyone know if these spacer strips are available for purchase separately, and if so, what terminology a person would use to find them?Thanks in advance.[ Specified attachment is not available ]

author: Dave8266
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 12:29:59 am
content: (the second attachment apparently failed on the first post...)

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 01:08:54 am
content: The terminology I've seen is to call the breakaway plastic sections standoffs, and a header using more than one standoff would be called stacking header (irrespective of gender).I don't think I have ever seen those strips sold individually, which makes sense as they are not something you will find easy to assemble yourself. The pins would normally be inserted by machine.Maybe take a look at Amphenol Bergstrip datasheets to start. I recall seeing they had an online configurator for custom length headers. Harwin, Samtec, TE, or almost any other similar connector company would also offer custom sizes with certain MOQs. Asian brands like 4Ucon or HCTL probably do too.Depending on your needs, you might be lucky to find the right size as an off-the-shelf part.I've got a bunch of such connectors that I inherited from an importer here in Australia that stopped reselling them. I've never ordered custom ones myself. Bergstrip configurator seems to be available here but you need to create an account:https://www.amphenol-cs.com/product-series/bergstik-254mm-btb.html

author: hanakp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2025, 02:58:35 pm
content: I needed something similar a few years ago. In the end, I used small PCBs for that purpose. My workplace has CNC drilling/milling machine and stock of FR4 sheets with no copper cladding on them. We always keep several thicknesses on hand, from 0.4 to 3.0 mm. So I drilled long strips with 2.54 mm pitch holes and then cut them with pliers as needed. The only downside was they always had the default yellowish FR4 color.I'm pretty sure any decent PCB house will be able to make them, and with solder mask color of your choice. Although uncommon PCB thicknesses are still pricey in most houses.

author: Infraviolet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2025, 03:33:19 pm
content: You might be able to 3d print the plastic "breakaway" style strips, if they can just sit loosely on the headers and don;t need a tight enough tolerance to grip on to the header pins they'll be placed on to. Afterall, if these are used to create a space between the female and male pins then you've already got a tight holding at both ends, and the loose printed spacer would just be held inbetween them.Otherwise, there is a trick with a vice to get the plastic breakaway strips off a male header strip without breaking the plastic. Look at my atached image for how:First two images show putting a header in a vice and pushing the plastic strip along the pins, just go further with this until they come off, rather than doing the last bit where I kept them at the end and threaded the headers through some plated holes.See also:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/stripping-the-plastic-off-headers-an-easy-way/