Adding quick connectors to wires - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Youkai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2019, 08:41:32 pm
content: I'm doing some work with some servo's, NeoPxels, Arduino, LED, etc. I'd like to attach quick connects to some of my soldered boards so I can easily disconnect the components for travel/storage/testing etc. Also it would be great to be able to put "jumper wire" ends on my wires for quick breadboarding and testing with my arduino. What I've done currently is to pull male header pins out of the track they come in and solder them to the end of my stranded wires so I could easily plug them into the Arduino. This is a problem though because it leaves a fair amount of bare wire and a blob of solder (of varying size) near the end of every wire. This is a surefire plan for short circuits or crossed wires.So there are two things I'd like to have: 1) "jumper ends" on my individual wires. 2) The ability to "bundle" some of them together when appropriate like the 3-wire connector on a servo. I'm hoping that I can use the same tool for my jumper ends as I would in the bundled ones by just using the male connector with no housing.I'm looking for the proper names of these things; I've seen "dupont connector", "Mini-PV", and also recently "d-sub". If someone could give me the proper terms to search for that would be helpful.Additionally I need to know what tools I need to apply them. Some sort of crimper I'm sure. Suggestions on a quality and inexpensive one would be helpful.Oh and finally is there a standard recommended wire gauge for hobby electronics of this type? Either due to convention or ease of finding tools/crimpers that work on the wire gauge? I currently have a bunch of 22 gauge wire but that's not for any particular reason.So my "shopping list" would be these things; plus anything you tell me I need that I'm unaware of:Crimper toolMale endsMale end housingFemale endsFemale end housing

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2019, 09:20:54 pm
content: I have been using the so call "Dupont" connectors recently, the 2.54mm type that are commonly available on eBay. I get the half gold flashed ones.Guides can be found on Youtube that show how to make poor quality crimps. One reason is the use of incompatible crimpers. The proper ones are unaffordable.The other reason that ensures poor crimps is by tightly twisting the strands. This prevents the open barrel crimp forming in the way it's supposed to.I'm getting good results with a modified PA-09 tool on folded 28AWG wire using the 1.4mm die. This is equivalent to 25AWG, so 26AWG should be a suitable sized wire to use.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/pin-connectors-crimpers-decent-connections-and-the-futility-of-it-all/msg2290557/#msg2290557

author: Youkai
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2019, 10:12:30 pm
content: Seems like the PA-09 crimper comes pretty highly recommended. What size pins am I looking for? is the 2.54mm pins what I need?

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2019, 10:19:32 pm
content: Quote from: Youkai on May 20, 2019, 10:12:30 pmYes, search for "Female Pin Dupont Connector 2.54mm". I know little about the other size.

author: xavier60
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2019, 11:12:05 pm
content: Also, crimpers that are designed to make the connection and insulation crimps separately will cause some bending of the connector and will need to be straightened using the plier end of the crimpers or other methods, before inserting into the housing.

author: pwlps
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2019, 08:25:02 am
content: For female ends I often use the Phoenix Contact MICRO COMBICON FK-MC series connectors (3 to 12 pins), like:https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/3579486/No crimpers needed, the wires are held with spring clamps (removable connections), you can put two or more wires on the same contact as long as they fit in the hole. Very handy especially in students' labs where every connection has to be undoable quickly