What's the best 2.1mm jack for pedals?

[auden100]

So I've noticed that with my first pedal build that the 2.1mm DC jack doesn't hold the plug in place too well. The slightest jiggling will make it lose connection somewhere and the effect will shut off. I've been using these from futurlec:
http://futurlec.com/DCPower-ChassisMale.shtml - (the ones on top)

Looking at the components, it doesn't look like there's any obvious fix (ie, bending the tongue inward more). I've seen these other jacks in various builds:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=666

Do these suffer from the same problem? Are there any better options? What's the word with 2.1mm jacks?

P.S. I definitely prefer panel mount.

[boogietube]

Most people use these with the internal nut:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=93

With the proper hole,it fits nice and flush.

You can get them pretty cheap on evilbay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-pcs-DC-Power-supply-Jack-socket-12-X-2-1-mm-/390213635040?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ada8b8be0

[boogietube]

The ones from Futurlec have a metal jacket which is probably the problem. Most choose the ones I showed because they're plastic and isolated.

[Akridosity]

Are you sure it's a 2.1, not a 2.5 mm hole?

[jkokura]

The 2.1 mm is the size of the hole for the plug for power, not for the size of hole you need to drill...

For what it's worth, I like using the external nut power jacks. If you have to remove the whole circuit and it's already soldered up, the internal nut jacks have to be unsoldered or cut from the circuit before you can remove it from the enclosure (for refinishing, debugging, etc.). That's just my experience though...

I've gotten 1/2 inch hole, 2.1mm external nut jacks from Smallbear, Pedal Parts Plus, Effects Connection and Ebay in the past. They all seem the same to me, and the prices have generally been similar. It always gets cheaper when you buy more, so I buy them in batchs of 10-25. One of these day's I'm going to find a deal that means I buy 200 for the same price that I usually buy 20 for and I'll have enough to keep me happy until... well, until I've built another 200 pedals.

Jacob

[Akridosity]

The 2.1 mm is the size of the hole for the plug for power, not for the size of hole you need to drill...

I'm saying he might have gotten a jack sized for 2.5 mm male jacks.

[deadastronaut]

So I've noticed that with my first pedal build that the 2.1mm DC jack doesn't hold the plug in place too well. The slightest jiggling will make it lose connection somewhere and the effect will shut off. I've been using these from futurlec:
http://futurlec.com/DCPower-ChassisMale.shtml - (the ones on top)

Looking at the components, it doesn't look like there's any obvious fix (ie, bending the tongue inward more). I've seen these other jacks in various builds:
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=666

Do these suffer from the same problem? Are there any better options? What's the word with 2.1mm jacks?

P.S. I definitely prefer panel mount.

dont use them dc sockets...they are bad..they short out on the enclosure...not isolated etc..(use on a plastic box only)..

and yes they dont fit very well either..

i used them when i first  started, and i always had problems with loose fitting and shorting...

replaced them.. then my pedals worked great...

[Beros]

Personally I like these:



Very small, and good.

[deadastronaut]

Personally I like these:



Very small, and good.

yep me too...

[auden100]

Hey, thanks for all the responses, folks! Glad to hear that there's an easy solution to this.

Beros, deadastronaut - where can I get some of those? I saw what I think are those on Mouser. That size would make retrofitting on this last pedal a little easier.

[Beros]

Hey, thanks for all the responses, folks! Glad to hear that there's an easy solution to this.

Beros, deadastronaut - where can I get some of those? I saw what I think are those on Mouser. That size would make retrofitting on this last pedal a little easier.

Here in Sweden I get them at Banzaimusic.com (which is in Germany).. Don't really know where to get them outside of europe but Lumberg makes em, so get googling.

[deadastronaut]

Hey, thanks for all the responses, folks! Glad to hear that there's an easy solution to this.

Beros, deadastronaut - where can I get some of those? I saw what I think are those on Mouser. That size would make retrofitting on this last pedal a little easier.

bitsbox in the uk...dont know where u are sorry!.......

but they will be a direct changeover..no re drilling etc.......

[therecordingart]

I'm not sure why folks say you shouldn't use the metal/non-isolated jacks. I use metal jacks, but I don't make a sleeve connection to my input/output jacks since the enclosure is my ground and the sleeve mechanically makes a ground connection just by being mounted....no ground loop issues doing it that way.

[auden100]

I'm in the US. The banzai linked helped, and I found those at Newark for $.61. Not bad. Thanks, again.

[deadastronaut]

 

[Mark Hammer]

Steve Daniels stumbled onto this one for me, when I requested a search a few years ago:  http://gb.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=163-1000-EX

It's a lockable 2.1mm jack and matching plug.  You insert the plug and give it a half twist, and that sucker is locked into place, very much like a BCN connector on a scope.  I'm impressed by the secureness of the insertion and build quality.

[Hides-His-Eyes]

I'm not sure why folks say you shouldn't use the metal/non-isolated jacks. I use metal jacks, but I don't make a sleeve connection to my input/output jacks since the enclosure is my ground and the sleeve mechanically makes a ground connection just by being mounted....no ground loop issues doing it that way.

Because centre negative = sleeve positive, connected directly through your enclosure to the ground on your I/O jacks- even using isolated jacks for audio, all it would take would be for the enclosure to touch a non-isolated enclosure like another pedal and bam.

[deadastronaut]

I'm not sure why folks say you shouldn't use the metal/non-isolated jacks. I use metal jacks, but I don't make a sleeve connection to my input/output jacks since the enclosure is my ground and the sleeve mechanically makes a ground connection just by being mounted....no ground loop issues doing it that way.

Because centre negative = sleeve positive, connected directly through your enclosure to the ground on your I/O jacks- even using isolated jacks for audio, all it would take would be for the enclosure to touch a non-isolated enclosure like another pedal and bam.

thats what i thought....i was getting confused with the out jack not being grounded...not dc jack..

tip negative..

i had that exact problem with those type..useless........

[tiges_ tendres]

I prefer this kind:



They stick out a bit more, but they also give you more space to work with inside the enclosure.

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&productId=151590&catalogId=10001&freeText=151590&app.products.maxperpage=15&storeId=10001&search_type=jamecoall&ddkey=http:StoreCatalogDrillDownView

The reason I like them is because any time I make a pedal, I usually have a dummy enclosure that is drilled accurately as a guide to work with, and then once assembled, I transfer the guts into a pedal with the artwork already completed and drilled.  

The reason these jacks work better for me is because the other more commonly available jacks have to be soldered in place and you have to clip the wires if you want to move them.  The more commonly available jacks are also prone to breaking when being resoldered, which is again why I choose this type.  They tend to be cheaper too!

[trjones1]

I'm in the US. The banzai linked helped, and I found those at Newark for $.61. Not bad. Thanks, again.

Could you give the link to the Newark page?  I can't seem to find them on there.