why are header sockets so pricey? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 04:30:03 pm
content: I've designed a small daughterboard for a Raspberry Pi that provides watchdog & battery monitoring Pi's that will be deployed with solar panels in remote locations. The 40 pin 0.1" socket is by far the most expensive item on my BOM.So far, I've only shopped at Digikey and Mouser and I can pay $3-5/ea while I prototype, but it just seems outrageous for some pins and plastic. I don't think I'll ever see great volumes, maybe a few hundred at most. Is there somewhere else I should be looking? In my imagination this part should cost about $1. I don't know where I came up with that number. It just seems right. :-)Related question for socket experts: My board takes up the RPI GPIO header, but it would be nicer if another board could stack on top. I could do this by putting a male header on my board, offset from the Pi's, but even better would be if I could find a male socket that had long pins, like an Arduino, that could go through and act as a male header on the other side. I really hate the Arduino ones because the pins are ridiculously long. I guess ideal would be pins just long enough to look like normal 0.1" headers on the other side. Does this animal exist? And if it does, can it be machine soldered without the pins picking up gobs of solder?

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 04:36:16 pm
content: They're called 'stackable headers'https://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=stackable+header

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 04:41:40 pm
content: Most board-to-board connectors are pretty expensive. A lot are much pricier than the common 0.1" headers. Take a look at the Harwin connector line for instance. Crazy. (Although these are very good. But still!)

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 05:14:26 pm
content: Quote from: rstofer on September 07, 2018, 04:36:16 pmIt's interesting that all of these stackable headers are "from" Adafruit, SparkFun, SchmartBoard, etc. That is, these resellers are buying them "somewhere" and just selling them on Mouser. They are clearly aiming at hobbyist volume, as they do not even have decreasing block pricing.

author: ultrarunner2018
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 06:53:29 pm
content: There is also a gold surcharge, so the price will fluctuate somewhat.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 07:19:26 pm
content: Quote from: djacobow on September 07, 2018, 04:30:03 pmhttps://lcsc.com/products/Female-Header_645.html?q=female%20header2x20 female header; 100+ $0.11162x20 stacking header; 100+ $0.5547

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2018, 07:35:22 pm
content: Quote from: langwadt on September 07, 2018, 07:19:26 pmDayum! Now we're talkin'.

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2018, 12:51:28 am
content: Quote from: rstofer on September 07, 2018, 04:36:16 pmI just learned today that if you want two rows of pins in a stackable connector, you can add PC/104 to your search term, as that seems to be the (only?) market for this type of connector.