I've now prototyped and breadboarded my first project. I've built a web-enabled garage door notification/opener with the Uno + Ethernet shield. I'm now looking to install this in my garage, but need some suggestions on the following.
The project includes 2 x magnetic reed switches to sense whether the doors are open/closed. These are located > 5m away from where the Arduino will be mounted and are connected via 2-conductor 22AWG. Rather than solder this directly to the PCB, I'm looking for some sort of modular connector that I could use... any recommendations out there? Molex KK series (are these purchaseable by hobbyiests?)
Wow, there are approximately 2.3 bazillion choices for connectors like this. The easiest to get started with are probably screw terminals. You have to screw each wire in individually but you only have a small number of them and it doesn't require prepping the wires. Just put in the bare wire and screw it down. Screw terminal blocks come in all shapes and sizes -- check out Digi-Key for example catalog pages:
Digi-Key (and others) will surely have your Molex KK connectors but you will have to construct a mating header with crimp terminals. Not impossible but it takes more work and crimps are expensive-ish. The only benefit is you don't have bare wires and can just plug in a cable the way you would plug in a USB cable.
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The Ruggeduino: compatible with Arduino UNO, 24V operation, all I/O's fused and protected
Where you only appear to be making 2 connections (and 2 grounds?) I personally would get some male-terminated crimp wires from pololu.com and crimp connector housings, then plug that into the female header shield and attach the other ends to your wires.
I really like the idea of the ScrewShield--as I mentioned, I'm using the Uno with an Ethernet shield stacked. It looks like there would be room on the integrated PCB to wire my basic circuit (2 x optocouplers, 2 x resistors). The only possible contention is whether there is room for this shield inside the case I got: http://www.robotshop.com/ca/box-arduino-2.html
Sure, get one of these little Really Useful Boxes from Staples, OfficeMax.
Pretty forgiving plastic, not hard & brittle, easy to make I/O holes & mounting holes. Make a series of little drill holes, then box cutter kind of knife to finish & clean up.
I've used tupperware containers found at thrift stores for project boxes. Works pretty well and can save a bunch of costs. They come in every size and shape imaginable.