Definitive answer on edge connectors sought

[51fordf2]

Hi, all.

I have seen many posts on what to use for the connectors between Frank's panels. One post with a vid from youtube, showed some connectors from Digikey that were used on an interactive panel from elsewhere, but I never saw a definitive answer on something that worked, other than the header pins, soldered together with wire, such as resistor cut-offs. Has anybody found something that works perfectly, a male and female? The interactive one looked nice, because it looked like the panels just slid together, just right, and were easy to take apart.

What are you using, and how does it compare? I hard-wired mine for testing with solid Cat5, and that didn't last more than a couple times turning it over for checking. Would be nice to have something better, when I go to install it semi-permanently...

Numbers and suppliers (even pics!!) would be great.

Thanks in advance,

Roger

[JEEPGUY]

Roger,

I have had that same question running through my head and was on Mouser yesterday, poking around for connectors. I ordered some and I let you know if they worked.

[scorpia]

I hard wired mine, but i also mounted the boards on a wooden frame to stop them moving.

so its nice and sturdy. if a little heavyer than it needs to be.

i just used some of the legs from the led's and did a hard wire jumper between the boards.

Peter

[51fordf2]

Roger,

I have had that same question running through my head and was on Mouser yesterday, poking around for connectors. I ordered some and I let you know if they worked.

Thanks! I'd appreciate knowing what kind of luck you have.

I know about the hard-wiring, but I will be packing mine away, between Christmas', so being able to take it apart, if I want, is what I would like to do.

Thanks,

Roger

[dirknerkle]

It might be convenient to use IDE hard drive ribbon cables to connect boards if you need a lot of channels. At 40 connectors per cable, these can handle low-voltage signals with ease. They're generally quite flexible and yet sturdy.

It's also relatively easy to strip IDE connectors from old PC circuitboards (or Mouser has them pretty inexpensively, too.)

In place of IDE, old floppy disk controllers used ribbon cables, too, although they were fewer channels (can't remember whether it was 25 or 32...)

-d

[pete]

Could always use RJ45s

[ranger_391xt]

I am going to use the 8 row breakaway headers, and make up jumpers using the KK crimp terminals and 8 position housings I picked up from Action Electronics.

They should be here the middle of this week, so hopefully I'll have my first set of 3 panels up an going by the end of the week, including Triks-C.

Chris

[synnie]

I have been thinking of IDC connectors to run cables out to a bank of SSR's,and if possible getting hold of some 12-24 twisted strand cable.Thats harder to find at present.Futurlec have 26pin IDC connectors, which will do 24 channels and one lead for power and one for the ground.I have 30 metres of 50 strand ribbon cable which might get used....
Synnie

[51fordf2]

I am going to use the 8 row breakaway headers, and make up jumpers using the KK crimp terminals and 8 position housings I picked up from Action Electronics.

They should be here the middle of this week, so hopefully I'll have my first set of 3 panels up an going by the end of the week, including Triks-C.

Chris

Chris - did you ever get it done and working? I have my Triks-C put together, just waiting on a programmer, to get it all together. I'm a little intimidated by it, as I can't find any real hard-core instructions, just the software, and bits and pieces here and there, of how to get it all working together. Seems like a lot of it is software, and that's my weak point. Very weak!!

I mounted my panels on a piece of Lexan, so it's pretty rigid. I will have to use a piece of charcoal, or smoked, for the front, as my LED's are so bright, and should have done it like that first, but don't know how far it will have to be from the LED's, and will have to make stand-offs when I do. So for now, it's just about 1 1/2" off. Once I get it all working together, I'll button it up. I'm going to use RJ45's, I guess. I was thinking I might have to have the side connectors, because of a rigidity problem, but once in a frame, this will be plenty solid.

Thanks,

Roger

[ranger_391xt]

Got two panels put together and working. I made my jumpers using KK crimp terminals and housings. I used 20 AWG hook up wire on the first set which was pretty stiff. For the second set, I used some 24 AWG wire that I had stripped out of an old set of Christmas Lights.

I went with the headers and connectors (vs soldering directly) so that I can replace a board quickly if needed. I originally had planned to use the RJ-45 connectors and small patch cords for jumpering between boards, but then decided that was overkill.

Chris

[JEEPGUY]

Chris,

Can you give me the part numbers for the kk crimp terminals and housings you used? I just got my Mouser order in finally and the 5.08 mm shunts work great( I only ordered a few) but at .39 ea, 64 of them will cost a lot. Do you have a pic of what they look like?

[ranger_391xt]

I ordered these from Action Electronics, mainly becuase they had an economically priced crimper:

The part number for the 8 circuit housings is PP-BLS-8 (50 PC/Pack, $6.35/ pack)
The part number for the pins is PP-BLS-PIN/F (100 PCs/Pack, $2.49/Pack)
The part number for the crimper PP-PHT-DS-STMP ($17.25)

Here is a link to all of it: http://www.action-electronics.com/molex.htm#Bls

I think mouser carried the same type of stuff, but the crimpers were just too expensive.

Chris

[51fordf2]

Wow, I already have the crimper, and didn't even know it!

Of course, I just soldered mine up, for cat5's between the boards, this morning before work...go figure!

:(

R