what is this potentiometer connector wire thing?

[acehobojoe]

They look like they could be convenient.

[drea]

They look like molex connectors. This sort of thing http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/wafer-housing-crimp-terminal/serie-2500-2-54mm.html

[R.G.]

They *are* convenient.

Have you priced the tool that does manual crimping of the terminals onto the wires?   

Last I looked they were between $250 and $300 apiece. That's always what's kept me from doing this.

[pappasmurfsharem]

They *are* convenient.

Have you priced the tool that does manual crimping of the terminals onto the wires?    

Last I looked they were between $250 and $300 apiece. That's always what's kept me from doing this.

If they are similar to Mini-fit Jr. Pins then you can get decent cheap crimpers are PC MODing websites for $20-$40

Here is one at Amazon for $ 56 http://www.amazon.com/Application-Tooling-Hand-Crimp-Mini-Fit/dp/B00B888OU6

and another at MODDIY.
$39.99
http://www.moddiy.com/products/Professional-Molex-Crimping-Tool.html

Assuming they haven't updated their model in awhile the best one to get it from MDPC in germany for about 32.9 Euro / 44.30 US Dollar
http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-crimping/mdpc-crimping-tool-6th-anniversary.htm

The reason that one is best is it performs an M style crimp where the wire sheething gets pinched in an M shape by the wings of the plug. The cheaper ones generaly will just fold over and not give you a solid connection.

Also if you want to do some fancy wiring I highly recommend their sleeving.
They are the best quality in the business and their heatshrink is  4/1 shrink ratio which is reasonably hard to come by with good quality.

[Beo]

I've tried pre-crimped wires and housings from pololu. Only problem is I find the housings too long.

http://www.pololu.com/category/71/wires-with-pre-crimped-terminals

http://www.pololu.com/category/70/crimp-connector-housings

[pappasmurfsharem]

I've tried pre-crimped wires and housings from pololu. Only problem is I find the housings too long.

http://www.pololu.com/category/71/wires-with-pre-crimped-terminals

http://www.pololu.com/category/70/crimp-connector-housings

I'd recommend these RG. I doubt you'd find better quality. =)
http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-crimping/mdpc-crimping-tool-6th-anniversary.htm
http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-crimping/crimp-contacts-for-fans.htm
http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-crimping/3-pin-molex-black-housing.htm
http://en.mdpc-x.com/mdpc-crimping/3-pin-straight-fan-connector.htm

The housing and connectors might be a little "overpriced" but you get what you pay for. The crimp tool is pretty solid. Made in germany. Looks like the chinese knockoffs but I assure you its not. I still have all the stuff and yards and yards of black sleeving when I was sleeving the individual wires for my modded PSU in my Gaming PC.

[armdnrdy]

I've used the housings from Pololu as well...I didn't have an issue with the length. They measure about the same length as the Tayda housings. One nice thing about the Pololu housings....they have single conductor housings and they mate with pin headers.

I mentioned this crimping tool in a past thread as being surprisingly excellent quality and a good bang for the buck.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2054897.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X&_nkw=HT-225D+&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[Beo]

I've used the housings from Pololu as well...I didn't have an issue with the length. They measure about the same length as the Tayda housings. One nice thing about the Pololu housings....they have single conductor housings and they mate with pin headers.

I mentioned this crimping tool in a past thread as being surprisingly excellent quality and a good bang for the buck.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2054897.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X&_nkw=HT-225D+&_sacat=0&_from=R40

I just searched for US based PC mod sellers with fan type molex connectors like the germany ones linked above. Pretty expensive (59 cents per for the plug and pin, 29 cents for the header). You'd pay more for the connectors than for the pot. I like the stuff at pololu cause you can buy larger quantities for cheaper. But I do like those PC fan type connectors.

http://www.moddiy.com/products/modDIY-Female-3%252dPin-Fan-Connector-%28Molex-%232510%29-with-Pins.html
http://www.moddiy.com/products/3%252dPin-Male-Fan-Connector-%252d-Black.html

[smallbearelec]

They *are* convenient.
Have you priced the tool that does manual crimping of the terminals onto the wires?    
That's always what's kept me from doing this.

I was not aware of some of the alternates for connectors and crimping tools shown in this thread when I set out to create the Bare Box platform:



I knew that the Molex tool was expensive and Did realize that most people would not want to crimp the terminals by hand. Light-bulb moment was remembering (from long-ago jobs) that there are lots of US sources that will cut and strip wire and terminate to spec. So I had a shop make those 3.5" lengths that you see in the pic.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=1318

I now use them for all my builds. While 3.5" seems to be a good length for the typical small enclosure, I'll gladly have others made if there is demand.

SD

[pappasmurfsharem]

They *are* convenient.
Have you priced the tool that does manual crimping of the terminals onto the wires?    
That's always what's kept me from doing this.

I was not aware of some of the alternates for connectors and crimping tools shown in this thread when I set out to create the Bare Box platform:



I knew that the Molex tool was expensive and Did realize that most people would not want to crimp the terminals by hand. Light-bulb moment was remembering (from long-ago jobs) that there are lots of US sources that will cut and strip wire and terminate to spec. So I had a shop make those 3.5" lengths that you see in the pic.

http://www.smallbearelec.com/servlet/Detail?no=1318

I now use them for all my builds. While 3.5" seems to be a good length for the typical small enclosure, I'll gladly have others made if there is demand.

SD

It might be interesting to see if you can source decently priced Crimp tools to sell specifically ones that perform a solid F-Crimp
Example:


The question is how profitable would that be considering space and stock requirements.

[armdnrdy]

I knew that the Molex tool was expensive

There are reasonably priced alternatives

Did realize that most people would not want to crimp the terminals by hand.

I for one do not mind. As you have done with the Bare box, I have been doing with most of my builds over the last few years. I've moved more towards onboard pots, jacks, etc. with all other connections being connectors. I've been trying to make things a bit more modular to facilitate removal of the PC board from the enclosure/controls.

While 3.5" seems to be a good length for the typical small enclosure, I'll gladly have others made if there is demand.

I like to keep off board wiring as short as possible. It seems to me that every build is a bit different so....stock wires might be a little too short or a little too long. To me it makes more sense to make up wires for each build.

[digi2t]

Crimp tool? Bah! I simply folded the tabs over with a pair of needle nose pliers, and touched them with solder. Worked great.

But yeah... the Molex crimping tool is bloody expensive.

[pappasmurfsharem]

Crimp tool? Bah! I simply folded the tabs over with a pair of needle nose pliers, and touched them with solder.

The NASA wiring manual would disapprove. =)

[Jdansti]

A little pricey, but ready to go:

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9915

[Beo]

Could probably hack these apart. 20$ for 50 sets.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50PCS-Computer-3Pin-Male-To-3pin-Female-Fan-Power-Extension-Lengthen-Cable-Wire-/251277419003

[Ice-9]

I use these Molex fittings a lot and as R.G. said earlier I was also put off by the price of the Molex crimper £345 in th UK at the time. I took a chance and bought a cheaper one off flea-bay  which works a treat and also has the m shape crimp. It was about £25

http://www.amazon.com/Engineer-PA-09-Micro-Connector-Crimpers/dp/B002AVVO7K/ref=pd_sim_indust_5/190-1759228-8964914?ie=UTF8&refRID=1H3X3N5WPKMFD2S0N5NX

[R.G.]

I appreciate the pointers to cheaper crimping tools. The big official ones I remembered were so expensive that I just found other ways to do the job and hadn't looked them up in years. Thanks!

[Ice-9]

I appreciate the pointers to cheaper crimping tools. The big official ones I remembered were so expensive that I just found other ways to do the job and hadn't looked them up in years. Thanks!

Some of the cheaper crimping tools are ok but can be a bit fiddly to use, the correct Molex tool is much better but is it worth the times 12 price difference. If you work a lot with these then yes, if you do just a little work at a time then no.

[anotherjim]

What manufacturers are told if they don't use the suppliers official crimp tooling, is not to bother making any warranty claims against the crimps.

If the crimpers aren't already expensive enough, if the business is working to a national quality standard or making safety critical stuff, they have to be calibration lab tested at least annually.

[acehobojoe]

why not just solder into one of those little guys?