Suggestions for board connectors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: mbless
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 10:09:48 pm
content: I'm looking for wire-to-board connectors, but I haven't found anything suiting all of my desires. I want to use a fine-ish pitch connector (<=2mm pitch) either SMD or THT. It will be used for signal wires (<100 mA) and the wire bundles range from 4-26 individual wires.What I have used so far are the Hirose DF50 serieshttp://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/h/hirose/df50-board-wire-rugged-small-form-fact-conne-systemI like the small pitch, black color, multiple configurations and satisfying click. My only issue is that there aren't cable assemblies I can buy, and crimp the pins by hand is a PIAT. The specialized crimper is $2000, so that's a no go for a hobbyist.What are your go-to board connectors?

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 10:26:50 pm
content: These have pre-crimped wires available:http://uk.farnell.com/molex/501330-0800/housing-1-0mm-pico-clasp-8way/dp/1835966http://uk.farnell.com/jst-japan-solderless-terminals/shdr-30v-s-b/housing-receptacle-shd-30way-1mm/dp/1830842http://uk.farnell.com/hirose-hrs/df20f-10dp-1v-55/header-straight-no-boss-10way/dp/1518789The crimp tool is only £800 on farnell by the way

author: mbless
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2017, 10:45:03 pm
content: Quote from: CM800 on January 19, 2017, 10:26:50 pmWhere are the cable assemblies? Are you referring to this?http://uk.farnell.com/molex/92001-1198/cable-assmbly-28awg-300mm-black/dp/1836002?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-acce

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2017, 08:05:48 am
content: Quote from: mbless on January 19, 2017, 10:45:03 pmIndeed, there are cheaper ones for some of the other connectors there.Equally you could call around the local harness builders and see what crimp tools they have... some of the crimping companies will surely have these.

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2017, 09:44:20 am
content: If the maximum length is 15cm or 20cm (fixed), you should also look into flat flex cable - you get fine pitch and usually each wire can do 0.5A or something like that (but you can use multiple conductors for one signal)30 core and 40 core are quite common, but 2 x 4...13 core are also quite common... You could standardize on some widths and stock just 2 or 3 different widths in order to get better price for each quantity.0.5mm and 1mm pitch are quite commonHere's links :http://uk.farnell.com/ffc-fpc-cablesfor cables , and here's the connectors :http://uk.farnell.com/ffc-fpc-board-connectorsMay find a much wider selection on Digikey and Mouser and others.

author: mbless
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2017, 01:43:51 pm
content: Quote from: mariush on January 20, 2017, 09:44:20 amI did think about FPC cables but they won't play nice when the other end isn't FPC. My current project will have the board connector to a panel mount USB breakout and a 0.1" pitch connector, so I don't think a flat flex cable would work for that.

author: max_torque
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2017, 02:05:18 pm
content: TE connectivity MicroMatchhttp://www.te.com/usa-en/products/connectors/pcb-connectors/wire-to-board-connectors/ffc-fpc-ribbon-connectors/intersection/micro-match.html?tab=pgp-storyYou can get pre-made ribbons, or just the connectors to push onto ribbons. They do board to board and board to ribbon parts too.

author: CM800
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2017, 03:08:01 pm
content: Quote from: max_torque on January 20, 2017, 02:05:18 pmI'd be the first to say I hate those connectors. One of the manufacturers for drives that our company sells use them and they are a pain. Really not a fan.

author: exmadscientist
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2017, 01:27:24 am
content: For what it's worth, we compared the DF50 against the competing series from JST (I think it was GH, but they all kind of blur together) and the JST parts were much easier to assemble than the Hirose. In general I have found JST products to be usually good choices, while I cannot say the same for Hirose. The JST catalog is my first point of call when new crimp wire-to-board connectors are required. Molex also makes some good options.