pcb headers and sockets?
2004-08-01 by tomg@fullnet.com
If this is too far off-topic, let me know (and, if possible, point me to a more-appropriate group). I am re-designing some pcbs, to make the equipment they're in easier to manufacture, and service or upgrade. The pcbs currently have quite a few wires that are soldered directly to them, that go to front-panel controls (and to other pcbs). The wires to all of the front-panel controls are also soldered directly to the solder lugs of the controls (switches, pots, etc). To make manufacturing and service/maintenance/upgrading faster and easier, I think that ALL of the wire connections to the pcbs should use removable connectors, such as pin headers on the boards and crimp sockets on the wires. Also, where desirable and logical, I think that sets of multiple individual wires should be replaced with ribbon cables, with appropriate headers and sockets. To make this possible, I think that I will have to re-design the front panel controls, to use a pcb behind the front panel, changing all of the controls from solder-lug types to pcb-mount types. That way, I can use headers, sockets, ribbon cables, etc, to connect the existing pcbs to the front panel controls (via headers on the new front-panel-interface pcb). Here's where I would like some help: I am not very familiar with the vast majority of the myriad different types of wire-to-board (and board-to-board) connector systems that are available. There seem to be *zillions* of different ones. And the catalogs, and even the manufacturers' websites, seem to assume that I already know how they're assembled and installed, etc. But THAT'S what I'm trying to find out, so I can decide which ones would be convenient and cost-effective to put into the design. So: Does anybody have any "favorite" makes and models of wire-to- board (or board-to-board) connectors? (They need to be able to handle at least 1.5 Amps and up to at least 15 V DC. And they need to be easy and cheap to assemble.) Or any least favorites? What I was also HOPING to find was someplace that sells ready-made ribbon-cable types of assemblies, in short lengths (4 to 6 inches), with versions having 2, 4, and 6 conductors, with connectors already installed on both ends. I have looked long and hard and can only find standard computer-type cables that are ready-made (i.e. either way too many conductors, or way too long). Anybody? Regards, Tom Gootee http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg -----------------------------