PC-mount test connectors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2018, 07:07:08 pm
content: I would like to make some test adapter boards. With some kind of common connector (for example USB) on one end and broken out to individual pin test-points. I would like to provide banana for obvious reasons, but it would be great to find something that could accommodate ordinary DMM test lead probe pins. And I could even provide little turret pins for connecting "grabber" or alligator clips.But are there inexpensive, generic test probe pin sockets for PCB mount? And horizontal PCB mount banana sockets?These aren't for heavy-duty industrial/factory use, they are just hobby-grade occasional-use, so looking for something rather inexpensive.There are "machine-screw" style socket pins for integrated circuit pins that just solder into a PCB hole.They have internal spring contacts to securely grip the pin which makes that variety of IC socket vastly superior to the cheaper flat-spring styleBut are there something in a larger size that would fit a probe pin?I could even find some ordinary brass tubing that would be the right size for banana plugs.But I need something with spring-tension to grip a probe pin with any reliability.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2018, 04:26:43 pm
content: 2mm banana sockets?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2018, 09:29:46 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on September 28, 2018, 07:07:08 pmHirschmann/SKSMPB 1is made specifically for this purpose. But they also have a few others (like MBU 2) that might work better in your application.See pages 104-107:https://www.sks-kontakt.de/images/downloads/5-01000-004-2008_V2.pdfWhat you want are the 2mm spring contact sockets; the unsprung sockets are for 2mm banana plugs (where the plugs have spring contacts).Similarly, Stäubli has some stuff, too. Pay attention to which ones have spring contacts (“multi-lam”) in the sockets.http://ec.staubli.com/AcroFiles/Catalogues/TM_TM-Main-11014124_(en)_hi.pdfAnd Mill-Max has all kinds of sockets in varying sizes, including a few that will accept 2mm, e.g. pages 192-194:https://ww2.mill-max.com/sites/default/files/external/catalog/2018-08/153M-201M_1.pdf

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2018, 09:33:24 pm
content: That said, I honestly don’t think that plugging in probes is a good idea, just insofar as it’s so clumsy and huge.I made myself various 4mm banana to header (male and female) cables, so that I can reliably and conveniently connect to ordinary header pins or sockets. (Such cables do exist for purchase, but are very hard to find.)

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2018, 09:59:55 pm
content: Oh yeah, Hirschmann/SKSPB 4is the PCB-mount 4mm banana jack, Stäubli has XELW-4 and SLB4-I/90.

author: jolshefsky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2018, 11:53:57 pm
content: I've become a fan of the Keystone 5019 (DigiKey link) (and 5018 and its siblings; see Keystone catalog) for test points. They're reasonably cheap, simple SMD points that can be machine assembled or hand-assembled and offer a nice solid loop for a variety of test-lead hooks.