Plugging in

[mlabbee]

After dealing with the last rat's nest of hookup wires, I started wishing for a more organized way of dealing with hookups.  One thought was to use those little plugs, kind of like Graphtech.  I've been through the Mouser catalog, but was completely overwhelmed and couldn't figure out what was what.  Has anyone used sockets soldered into a board with plug in cable harnesses? If so, any suggestions on what products work best?

[niftydog]

linking to my local mega-distributor... but you get the idea!


These headers and their matching crimp terminal housings are good, cheap, basic.

These ones are more common in professional gear; more sturdy, really stong locking action...


there's also the screw terminal variety, which can be linked together to form
long strings of screw terminals. Also come in 3 ways; quite handy!


Also, a "connectorised" version of the screw terminal type.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

I've used "box headers" with "IDC connectors" on ribbon cable to join the 2 boards inside my fx. And, I've never had a problem (hundreds of these out in the field, or on stage, or wherever). It is a bit tricky at first clamping on the IDC things.
The idea is, you have one board with the pots on, and a cable goes from this to the other board with the power supply and jacks on. Probably not right for a small fx, but for anything getting to Lovetone size, makes life easier.

[Peter Snowberg]

I've used literally tens of thousands of units of the types shown in the last two pictures and had wonderful experiences with them. They're very user friendly as long as you have a screwdriver that fits perfectly in the slots.

Watch the pin spacing on these units(!).

There are lots of ready-made cable assemblies available. The downside to making your own is that with most connectors you need a real-deal crimper for the connector you're using (as in specified by the manufacturer). Lesser crimpers just don't cut it.

[Ansil]

i use simialr connectors for my tube sockets

[Jered]

i use simialr connectors for my tube sockets

 Man, seems to me your flirting with disaster using these in a tube amp. As reliable as these connectors are they do come apart/fail occasionally, especially if you don't use the proper crimping tool.
 The wrong one comes apart in a tube amp and poof....no more amp. They are plastic and tube amps get pretty hot, enough to melt plastic easy.
 Point to point and circuit boards is the way to go me thinks.
 Jered

[Ansil]

i use simialr connectors for my tube sockets

 Man, seems to me your flirting with disaster using these in a tube amp. As reliable as these connectors are they do come apart/fail occasionally, especially if you don't use the proper crimping tool.
 The wrong one comes apart in a tube amp and poof....no more amp. They are plastic and tube amps get pretty hot, enough to melt plastic easy.
 Point to point and circuit boards is the way to go me thinks.
 Jered

notice i said similar i appreciate the concern but however what i use is actually high temperature Molex connectors  run after about 4 inches of wire and going to the board. its quite well done and at a melting point of around 300 degree's i fear for the tube and the rest of the parts inside before i fear for the life of the connector.  i only use them on one amp as its a pain to wire with steep sides due to an art deco type chasis and cabinet [slant sides] and since i have gotten a run of bad tube sockets its alot easier to just slide this in for a replacement than to rewire everything

but thanks for the concern  

[Arno van der Heijden]

I've used literally tens of thousands of units of the types shown in the last two pictures and had wonderful experiences with them. They're very user friendly as long as you have a screwdriver that fits perfectly in the slots.

Watch the pin spacing on these units(!).

Peter, could those be used on a breadboard? That would make connecting pots and jacks much easier!!!

[Peter Snowberg]

All the units I've used had pins that were far too large for a breadboard, but you could always hard-wire jumpers from the breadboard to the terminals to make changing out parts easier.

[niftydog]

I've used the screw terminal variety on breadboards.

[chokeyou]

can somebody help me find these in mouser's parts catalog? the picture links are down and i cant find anything for the life of me  :?

I just need anything from 4-12 connectors with decent sized wire that i can attach to pots/jacks.

THANKS!

[chokeyou]

^
please?