I'm doing a project that needs to be a bit prettier and more robust than average -- it's still based on solderless breadboard and breakout boards, but some of the connections require longer than average jumpers.
So rather than stringing together M/F jumper cables, I'm prepared to cut / strip / crimp custom wire lengths to make bespoke jumper cables. In essence, we want to make custom-length versions of:
So, my question for the collective wisdom of the forum: what are the right part #s for:
male jumper pins (and plastic housing)
female jumper sockets (and plastic housing)
a semi-pro crimp tool
(Extra points if DigiKey sources these items...)
About the crimp tool: we'll be making a bunch of cables, so we're looking for one of those ratcheting crimp tools that delivers the right amount of force to make a reliable crimp. (Life is too short to debug faulty connectors...)
Screw that. Use CAT5 Strip the outer insulation and separste the wires.
You can still use any connectors yiu want but CAT5 allows you to make cables anh length ( within reason) I have one of those crimping tools. It's a cheap Taiwnese clone of the crimping tool for crimping gold RC servo ribbon cables . It works perfectly but has no Make ir Model # becausd it's a clone. The gold connectofs slide into the three pin black connectors that plug unto RC receivers, like the ones on RC servos. I buy tge connectors at the RC hobby store (Brand is MPI). . I don't order tgem from Digikey because the stire is on the way to work and I don't have to wait.. I could give you the MPI part # if you want look it up. I'm pretty sure the CAT5 wires will fit in the connectiors.
You might consider some type of insulation displacement connector (IDC). Here's a sample Digikey search for IDC termination connectors. Basically you're just pushing the wire into the slots on the back side. You do need a simple punch down tool to do this; could probably fabricate one out of a flat screwdriver. The wires can be discrete or you can use ribbon cable.
Like DrAzzy mentioned it's a real pain in the butt if you choose a connector that requires crimping pins.
Like DrAzzy mentioned it's a real pain in the butt if you choose a connector that requires crimping pins.
I can only say that if you know how to crimp and you have done it enough times it becomes second nature and is not much of an inconvenience UNLESS you have A LOT wires to do and then it can be pretty tedious. I wouldn't wish it on a newbie but I think calling it a "pain in the ass" is a very subjective statement. It does however require having the CORRECT crimper for it to work. I have done hundreds of crimps with no problem but in all honesty it is not fair to use my personal experience as an example because I have been a technician for over 30 years. I do understand that for some people it truly is a "pain in the ass".
The biggest problem I've had with crimping the Dupont style connectors is using too much force. Once I learned to stop as soon as I hear the ratchet on the crimp tool disengage I've had excellent success rate. The other thing that was causing me a lot of problems is when I'm doing a cable with a lot of wires the ones in the middle would have slack and the ones on the outside would be taut. I had to get a feel for how to cut each one at a different length so that they all end up even once inserted in the housing.
I still greatly prefer using the IDC connectors because they're so much faster but sometimes there's no choice but to use the Dupont style connectors.
I have had a proper crimping tool for eons and can say that I would not want to use anything but the proper tool. It takes a little time to become proficient but its easily learned. A pro in no time.
pert:
The biggest problem I've had with crimping the Dupont style connectors is using too much force. Once I learned to stop as soon as I hear the ratchet on the crimp tool disengage I've had excellent success rate. The other thing that was causing me a lot of problems is when I'm doing a cable with a lot of wires the ones in the middle would have slack and the ones on the outside would be taut. I had to get a feel for how to cut each one at a different length so that they all end up even once inserted in the housing.
I still greatly prefer using the IDC connectors because they're so much faster but sometimes there's no choice but to use the Dupont style connectors.
The ratchet tools are all adjustable. You should adjust it so that it doesn't over-crimp. The reason for using those tools instead of pliers is they make it impossible to over- OR under-crimp the connectors when adjusted correctly.
Lots of great information (and opinions! ) here, but biggest thanks to CrossRoads for his pointer to actual suppliers (I'd almost forgotten Pololu!) and especially LarryD for his masterful and detailed tutorial on how to crimp like a boss!
For all the "why not let someone else do it?" comments, the answer is that we're iterating quickly through a set of prototypes where the mechanical form is frequently changing. We want to get the wires dressed well in each one.
And, for what it's worth, I used to wire up mixing consoles ("desks" to our UK friends) and patch bays in recording studios. I'm used to do a lot of cutting, stripping and crimping. I trust that this -- like riding a bicycle -- is a skill that one never really forgets. I'll know in a couple of days!
While this thread is quite old, but, as a total noob to the world of Arduino and similar, I've spend hours googling and searching forums for this basic information. While most peoples here just do know this type of information, noobs like me just don't know this information, and it's not easy to find.
Information such as;
if I want to make a jumper, what termination do I use?
what are Arduino board terminations standards?
how do I order termination pins and sockets, if I don't know what to order?
how do I terminate the pins and sockets to the conductors (wires)?
what size of conductor (wire) do I need?
what do I order for termination shells, blocks, headers?
is there a standard for wire colors, if so what is it?
and other questions I should know to ask, but don't know to ask yet about Arduino header, connectors and interconnection hardware standards...
Other words, be nice if this information was sticky'ed.
Thanks CrossRoads again!!
I've spend hours googling and searching forums for this basic information. While most peoples here just do know this type of information, noobs like me just don't know this information, and it's not easy to find.
) here, but biggest thanks to CrossRoads for his pointer to actual suppliers (I'd almost forgotten Pololu!) and especially LarryD for his masterful and detailed tutorial on how to crimp like a boss!