PCB Terminal Blocks?

[tristanplaysguitar]

Do you guys ever use PCB terminal blocks like http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/terminal-blocks/pcb-mount.html these to secure off board components? I've been thinking the it might make everything a little bit tidier if it was screw in. Then the board would be removable too. What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

For those of you that have used them, post some gut shots maybe?

Thanks,

Tristan

[armdnrdy]

I've entertained the idea of using connectors for off board wiring.

The majority of my builds, I route my own boards to fit the effect into the smallest enclosure possible. Connectors of this type and the wafer type http://www.taydaelectronics.com/connectors-sockets/wafer-housing-crimp-terminal.html take up quite a bit of room.

Another issue is that some pot or switch pads may be separated. Now I have seen small un-insulated single pin connectors used on circuit boards but I don't know where to purchase them. I've looked around the Mouser sight and if I recall correctly, I only found gold plated expensive ones.

[amptramp]

I have used something similar to this:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/622780356/U_type_electrical_PA_terminal_board.html

but mounted to the box rather than the board.  Terminal blocks take up a lot of board space.

[Pyr0]

Funny that this came up, I'm currently building a test rig so I can test boards before boxing them up.
Basic setup, old enclosure with in/out jacks and 2 stomp switches, also a couple of dpdt switches, all wired back to stripboard with these PCB terminal blocks.
The great thing about it is, if you use 2 of their DG301 3 position terminal blocks mounted back to back on stripboard it makes for an easy way to wire up pots for testing, the pitch is the same as the regular 16mm alpha pots, so you can just screw in the pot on one side, and the wires from you board under test to the other side and debug away.

I'll post some pics up when I get it finished.

[davent]

The back to back rows for pot/breadboard connections is great idea, someone posted pictures awhile back.

I use them when building power supplies and power distribution but not in pedals.

dave

[tristanplaysguitar]

It seems like the cons outweigh the pros. Especially with pads being separated (didn't even occur to me  ), the terminal blocks could be an issue.

I use them when building power supplies and power distribution but not in pedals.

Those power supplies look great! But looking at your pics I can see how the number of connections and number of terminal blocks needed for a pedal would make the enclosure size huge...

Funny that this came up, I'm currently building a test rig so I can test boards before boxing them up.
Basic setup, old enclosure with in/out jacks and 2 stomp switches, also a couple of dpdt switches, all wired back to stripboard with these PCB terminal blocks.
The great thing about it is, if you use 2 of their DG301 3 position terminal blocks mounted back to back on stripboard it makes for an easy way to wire up pots for testing, the pitch is the same as the regular 16mm alpha pots, so you can just screw in the pot on one side, and the wires from you board under test to the other side and debug away.

I'll post some pics up when I get it finished.

I'd like to see those pics, post em when you get a chance. Reminds me of the beavis board, sort of.

I have used something similar to this:

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/622780356/U_type_electrical_PA_terminal_board.html

but mounted to the box rather than the board.  Terminal blocks take up a lot of board space.

Are those the typical euro type terminal strips? Those are huge, compared to a couple of terminal blocks on the pcb or perf. Maybe I'm mistaken...



Thanks for all the tips. I think I'm going to go with no terminal blocks. Unless I can make a layout that works logically with the terminal blocks, I think its more effort than its worth. It would make the guts look nice though  If I end up using em I'll post pics

Tristan

[cpm]

you can use IDC connectors. They are sockets and headers for the parallel cables like those used on IDE hard disk and etc.

like this: