Best way to connect components that are on different parts of the case?

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Hello!

I'm making a project for which I will use a 3D-printed case that consists of two parts - the baseplate (where most of electronics would be mounted) and also the housing (where some more modules and buttons will be). Sized for Raspberry Pi + Arduino.

So I want those parts to be detachable.
I don't expect the device to experience a lot of vibration.

What kind of connection I could for those parts?
Can I just use the development jumper wires?

Thank you.

2

Might work ... at least on the bench. as soon as you deploy, you'll hunt bugs. Why not simply solder wires?

3

These are a bit kludgy, but I have a project with a separate cover and base where I don't want to solder the wires between them. They are rated for wires from #28 to #14 so it's quite versatile.

wireconnector.jpg
wireconnector.jpg1100×1100 45.4 KB

wireconnector.jpg
wireconnector.jpg1100×1100 45.4 KB

4

IDC ribbon cable, one end the cable splits out and soldered to all the controls, the other end plugs in to pcb.

However if its not a single pcb it gets more complex. Mostly people allow enough cable to unfold a case for
working on it, but don't allow detaching (each connector costs, and is a point of failure). Typically if pcb
or module is meant to be interchanged, it will have its own connectors.

Sometimes I make a sort-of-plug using a row of male headers soldered to wires, and female header
row on the module/pcb. Hot-melt glue can be used to robustify such a plug.

The professional solution is crimp connectors (molex style) with headers on the pcbs. Using connectors of
different pin counts means there is no confusion as to where each one plugs.

5

Thank you for replies, guys!

zwieblum:
Might work ... at least on the bench. as soon as you deploy, you'll hunt bugs. Why not simply solder wires?

I don't want to simply solder wires to ensure maintainability - this is my first real project, and I think it will break on the first demo :wink:

SteveMann:
These are a bit kludgy, but I have a project with a separate cover and base where I don't want to solder the wires between them. They are rated for wires from #28 to #14 so it's quite versatile.

Looks good, I've been thinking of these. But maybe I'll use the thinnest wires, so it may be too heavy.

MarkT:
Sometimes I make a sort-of-plug using a row of male headers soldered to wires, and female header
row on the module/pcb. Hot-melt glue can be used to robustify such a plug.

That was something I had in my mind. Thanks!