How to wire this? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: rthorntn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 03:18:29 am
content: Hi,How the heck do I wire this, they're aliexpress magnetic connectors, the pin is only ~2mm and there is no "cup" its just a cylindrical pin, how would you properly attach a wire to this?I saw in the product reviews that putting heat on the pins for too long can melt the plastic which loosens the pin.Thanks for looking!

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 04:39:39 am
content: Appears to be for mounting on a PCB, not wire soldered.

author: rthorntn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 04:46:05 am
content: Thanks, its weird though, they provide a wired option with photos on the product page?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 05:04:34 am
content: You could just solder the tinned wire to the side of the pin, there's nothing inherently wrong with doing that.Lap joints are pretty strong.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 05:13:06 am
content: My (somewhat naive, but whatever) take:o Small-gauge wire, preferably tinnedo Wrap wire a couple turns around pin, crimp with small plierso Solder carefully withhot, cleantip--no more than 1-2 secs.o Cover with heat shrinkShould make a good connection.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 05:26:05 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on June 08, 2025, 05:13:06 amHow would you crimp a solid pin and wire together without anything to 'close' around the wire under crimping force?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 05:51:38 am
content: the wired version has a solder cup on it

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 06:28:54 am
content: Quote from: Psi on June 08, 2025, 05:26:05 amSorry; by "crimp" I just meant a gentle squeeze with a fine-tipped pair of pliers, to snug the wire around the pin.

author: rthorntn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 06:51:51 am
content: Thanks all!I'm starting to think that a custom PCB might be a cool idea for my first ever custom PCB from JLCPCB.What amperage would you be happy putting through one of those pins (12V), 2A? 1A would be fine, for the pinout I was thinking:   [-12V]   [-12V]Thinking out loud, I'd want the PCB to be as small as possible especially for the cable assembly, also the cable should come out on the same plane as the connector, would I need a second PCB to go from vertical to horizontal?The PSU enclosure would have four of these connectors on it, then four cables and on the equipment enclosure another four connectors.Thanks again for all the great advice!

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 06:56:03 am
content: the pin is not the weak spot its the contact and its hard to tell it depends on the quality of materials and process

author: rthorntn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 07:01:45 am
content: Ah, so the eight electrical contacts between the two halves of the connector might give a crappy connection, should I mock up some kind of test with a bench PSU and a dummy load?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 09:55:29 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on June 08, 2025, 05:13:06 amFundamentally good, but one step is missing: pre-tin the pins. (And pre-tinning the wire is mandatory.) Pre-tinning is what lets you get in and out fast, which is critical to not melting connectors that are sensitive to heat. I wouldn’t bother wrapping around.So basically:Pre-tin everything.Apply a tiiiny amount of flux to each pin.Slip the heatshrink tube onto the wire.Solder the joint.Slip the tube down the wire onto the joint and heat to shrink.