Crimping female dupont connectors

[Terrypin]

I've done the RTFM stuff. Many online instructions and videos. But I'm about to give up in exasperation as 90% of my attempts fail for one reason or another. Failure rate drops to maybe 50% for the male connectors, as for those I don't have the major hassle of avoiding damaging the female socket end of the connector, and that's just about tolerable.

Are there secrets to success that other hobbyists can recommend please?

Maybe I should be using other types of connector than the popular dupont brands?

Or other approaches that don't involve a crimping tool at all? I usually end up soldering and adding a bit of heat shrink anyway...

[domenecs]

There's a cool topic where they show you how to do a bunch of stuff. It's called "Share tips you have come across". I got this from there:

FYI Making DuPont jumper wires.

I thought others might be interested in this discussion making DuPont jumper wiring. Attached is a PDF file for the discussion. . [1.png] Making DuPont jumper wires.pdf (1.24 MB)

[J-M-L]

from JST

[markd833]

@Terrypin

I'm about to give up in exasperation as 90% of my attempts fail for one reason or another

That was my experience as well, until I realised I had slightly the wrong crimp tool! I bought a no-name starter kit out of China and it had the wrong crimp tool (or wrong jaws) in it. Which tool are you using?

EDIT: The original kit came with an SN-48B crimp tool. What I actually needed was an SN-28B tool.

[LarryD]

Keep the carrier strip attached until the connector is fully crimped !

See these:

Share tips you have come across

Dupont Connector Crimping This was covered a while back and is now duplicated here. My favourite crimper is: Platinum Tools 16801C Open Barrel Contact Crimp Tool Clamshell [image] [1] [2] These are what I use with percentage of times I use them: [3] First crimp the conductor [4] Finally crimp the insulation [5] You might have to remove some insulation with flush nippy cutters and tune the crimp shape with needle nose. The Platinum Tools 16801C Open Barrel Contact Crimp Tool…

3ee2dd7711bd7c7ae07838b46b296b43c6a070c7.pdf

[Terrypin]

Thanks, but that's for spade type connectors, not our Arduino types like dupont.

[runaway_pancake]

Not so.
You've dismissed it because it doesn't show exactly your connector type.
It details the important aspects of what makes for a solid crimp of this sort generally.

[Terrypin]

No, it's because I have no problem making that substantial type. I think it was clear from my post that the issues arise because of the tiny and flimsy nature of dupont connectors. Do you have any experience with them you can share?

[Terrypin]

@domenecs, @LarryD:

Thanks both, those look helpful, studying now.

Two immediate points from your comments and the PDF:

1. Size of connector seems critical. See my screenshot.

2. Type of tool critical. I'd naively assumed a standard! Mine was from ebay in 2019 but 'All Purchases' only shows 2021. I'll take a photo of it and perhaps we can compare critical dimensions. Even the generic type are not cheap, so I'm wary of getting another until I'm confident.

[J-M-L]

Is this what you call a DuPont female connector ?

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Édit
I had not seen your other post

This connector seems small indeed

[LarryD]

I’ve not had any issues with crimping either size of crimp pins.

100% success rate here.

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In the past you can get these:

Pololu - Female Crimp Pins for 0.1" Housings 100-Pack

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The less expensive, shorter versions from China work too.

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You can strip 4mm of insulation off, then use nippy cutters to cut the appropriate stripped end wire to length.

The male crimp pin stripped end can be longer.

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It’s the stripped wire for a female crimp pin that is critical.

[Terrypin]

I think so, but there are apparently so many types, all looking broadly the same to me!

For instance, I’ve just come across this site:

https://www.mattmillman.com/info/crimpconnectors/#:~:text=let%20me%20know!-,CGrid%20III%20(Molex),than%20genuine%20Mini%2DPV%20connectors.

[Terrypin]

Could you post details of the tool and the female connectors you’ve been using with 100% success please?

[LarryD]

Typical female examples from eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/381374735401?

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The yellow tool is what I use 98% of the time.

Share tips you have come across

Dupont Connector Crimping This was covered a while back and is now duplicated here. My favourite crimper is: Platinum Tools 16801C Open Barrel Contact Crimp Tool Clamshell [image] [1] [2] These are what I use with percentage of times I use them: [3] First crimp the conductor [4] Finally crimp the insulation [5] You might have to remove some insulation with flush nippy cutters and tune the crimp shape with needle nose. The Platinum Tools 16801C Open Barrel Contact Crimp Tool…

https://www.amazon.com/Platinum-Tools-16801C-Contact-Clamshell/dp/B000CSC4W2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ACQ7OLY5704Y&keywords=Platinum+Tools+16801C&qid=1684769410&sprefix=platinum+tools+16801c%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

[LarryD]

BTW

This is a good price for silicone insulated wire, different gauges available.

Share tips you have come across

The best price I’ve found, 500 feet for $28.50 [image] BNTECHGO 28 Gauge Silicone Wire Kit 10 Color Each 50 ft Flexible 28 AWG Stranded Tinned Copper Wire $37.00 for 26AWG (30 strand ), 500 feet. [s-l1600] Another chart: [image] Another chart: [2022-07-18_16-51-41]

https://www.amazon.com/BNTECHGO-Silicone-Wire-Spool-Color/dp/B09W2KH8SQ?th=1

Silicone insulated wires as mentioned

• 28AWG 16 strands
• 24AWG 40 strands
• 20AWG 100 strands

[runaway_pancake]

@Terrypin

Could you post details of the tool and the female connectors you’ve been using with 100% success please?

Pololu's work for me, their ratcheting crimper, too. They make note that it's not perfect, they have to be tweaked with the needle-nose (noted previously).
Molex C-Grid using the Molex ratcheting crimper do come out perfect.

[Terrypin]

Thanks for the helpful follow-ups.

After a few hours of forensics in my shed workshop I've identified the cause of my problems. The 'dupont' connectors in the kit I bought from ebay four years ago (see screenshot) are much too small in length for my crimping tool.

This prompted the question: what exactly is the connector type used in the familiar jumper wires used for Arduino boards and breadboards, commonly referred to as 'dupont'? So I dismantled one to check.

I also found a few of another type of crimp connector in my stocks and was easily able to crimp it and insert it into its shroud.

I note how loosely the term 'dupont' is used. (Rather like we used to call all vacuum cleaners a 'hoover'.) This comprehensive article shows the bewildering options.
https://www.mattmillman.com/info/crimpconnectors/dupont-and-dupont-connectors/

BTW, after viewing scores of sellers' web pages I've not found one that specifies the crucial dimension of a connector, its length. Same applies to crimping tools, whose 'widths' are not shown (7 mm in my case).

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So I need to decide what connectors (and their holders/shrouds) to buy now!

[LarryD]

That’s why I avoid the all at once crimper option.

This modified tool will work with many types of crimp pins, but it is a 2 step process as mentioned above; it has worked flawlessly for me.

[UKHeliBob]

Those white housings do not look like Dupont fittings to me

[Terrypin]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162766705165?hash=item25e5a6d20d:g:4TwAAOSwsE1aE9OI&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0NjVAhSLQbsJVS6L3jEKo17wYoDV0efKQTn3jfwe6yQOo9NqAsfG8Y1zN%2FM0MyMNjRKbQvK%2BAA%2Bn5I%2F4FdQ9yTSCpFrO96i7JQX%2F%2BIoxCY%2BmwaWPutGQ%2FymIi7K8SAVLFHgRYsHp%2Fov6F3jMK5zgL730HbDpTsp9BB7lUROn7hEaWS69DFHEoK%2Fc0abqNYr9p6x3wejDJnqvYG2fNqg9uTr0Nt%2BmWLk7wkX8teB20qzGDyr4m1XEEwhkXwW2s4EJ2Tqha2bPHuamTUqqFVvWMB0%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8TT29iIYg

This was the kit I bought. Says ‘DuPont’, but…

I suspect that ‘HL’ might be significant, but have not been able to find anything about it.