Molex IDC - How do you connect them?

[Julian]

So these things are not easy to press down!

I ended up with a Tupperware lid in the palm of one hand and the Pinball Heaven IDC insertion tool in the other.

I found that the wire had to straddle the 2 'razors', but not pushed too far in otherwise I could not press it down enough due to the Molex plastic edge catching on the wire.

Any other tips from the pros out there?

 

[ronsplooter]

Buy yourself a ratchet crimp tool and replace IDC connectors with trifurcon pin Molex ones. They give a much better connection and save all the messing about This looks similar to the one I've got:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/RATCHET-CRI...r=8-3&keywords=ratchet+crimping+tool+imperial

 

[Julian]

Great advice, and using your 'trifurcon pin Molex' string I found this;

 

[Mfresh]

I'm not a pro, but found that bonking the insertion tool with a small pin hammer a couple of times rather than just pushing it down with your hand ensures that the wire is pushed firmly into the grip of the connector by the insertion tool.

 

[Paul]

Nahh... this one is perfect (used myself) and much cheaper....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120933035908

 

[ronsplooter]

this one is perfect (used myself) and much cheaper

That one also looks very similar to mine and is probably the one I've got

 

[Sgt GrizZ]

Yep. I have that one. Once you get the hang of crimping its a breeze to change connectors. I actually really enjoy it. :/ Christ this hobby can do weird things to a man. Sometimes I have flashbacks to my old life.

 

[Cryptkeeper]

That guy sells loads of headers,
say for example would these ones fit straight onto a pinball driver board?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-3-Way...591?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c1b10e227

And what about if I wanted to replace a molex that wasn't on a PCB ?
I'd need a set of headers that had a housing of there own,if you know what i mean!

 

[ronsplooter]

@Cryptkeeper just email The Legend @pinballmania for all your connector needs

 

[Cryptkeeper]

So 0.1" is the right pitch for common variety pin?
what about wire size?

 

[DRD]

I had never built a molex connector before today, and I have just successfully rebuilt 2 connectors on my Paragon to remove some old hacks/ wires soldered to pins / use of choc blocks etc

I bought the one that @Paul suggested above ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120933035908

Bought molex pins and connector blocks from @pinballmania.

Works a treat. Every pin was successful first time. Highly recommend this tool.

 

[Arv]

Yep. I have that one. Once you get the hang of crimping its a breeze to change connectors. I actually really enjoy it. :/ Christ this hobby can do weird things to a man. Sometimes I have flashbacks to my old life.

I was doing the connectors on my T2 the other night I find it quite therapeutic for some reason.

 

[RudeDogg1]

I don't mind doing em either sometimes I'll even strengthen em with a dab of solder

 

[PeteB]

The crimping tool with the trifurcon pins IS a nice way of doing connectors but it's not always convenient for every connector, and can be expensive.

Using the IDC tool is straight forward. I find this kind is the easiest to use: http://shop.textalk.se/en/article.php?id=31839&art=16437683

Just pop your wire in the connector, place it on a hard surface and align the tool, and then bang it down a couple of times until it stops. Done. I usually just do them right there in the back box, using the wood back as the surface to rest on. No fuss, no mess, no stress.

 

[Spandangler]

I replaced a connector on Friday using that tool Pete. Very easy. Think it cost either £7 or £9 from pinball mania

 

[PeteB]

I replaced a connector on Friday using that tool Pete. Very easy. Think it cost either £7 or £9 from pinball mania

Ah i didn't realise PBM had them. Could do with getting myself a smaller one for the .1 connectors.