Blaenau North - Control Panel

Frank · April 27, 2013, 21:26

Bob,

You can get things called "headers" which are the sort of plugs they put on ribbon cable - a single line of pins at 0.1 inch spacing, various lengths, and corresponding sockets. As they are a single line they are easier to solder than D plugs and I think some may have screw terminals.

Go to the Farnell website (I think uk.farnell.com but google it if you can't find it) and put "header" into the search there or go to connectors then headers.

The only problem is that they are intended for use inside cabinets eg computers so don't have covers but you may be OK with this.

Frank

Hugh Norwood · April 28, 2013, 15:00

Quote from: Isle of Stoner on April 27, 2013, 18:45
SCART plugs are the devils work and far harder to solder than a D pin because they seem to be made of very cheap plastic which melts at a lower temperature than solder so the pins just drop out or at best go wonky. Dreadful things. D pins are fiddly but at least built to a professional standard. I would advise persevering with the soldering. Lots of light and a magnifying glass on a stand with the plug firmly clamped.

John W

I haven't had the pleasure of poking my soldering iron at a SCART connector, so that's useful to know. Thanks, John.
There used to be a wider range of multipole connectors about 30 years ago, before everything got euro-standard. Many of you will (probably) remember those little shops that sold ex-MoD and ex-GPO equipment. There were all sorts of multipole connectors in use then..

O Tempora, o mores!

berryr99 · April 28, 2013, 16:11

Frank,

Thanks - I have found the website and am looking through it because I would like to try something other than D plugs

Bob

Isle of Stoner · April 28, 2013, 16:54

I'd be interested to see what you come up with because although I can solder a D plug I'd rather not.

My first real job out of skool was working in an electronics workshop and one of my jobs was making up test leads which were D plugs to DIN plugs. I think the Ds were 25 pin and the DINs, which were hellish, were 8 or 9 pin. I buggered a few of those up, I can tell you. However it did teach me to be quick and neat with the iron. I couldn't do it now as my eyes are much worse than when I was 19... some years ago now. 8)

John W

Frank · April 28, 2013, 17:23

I did think first of suggesting DIN plugs, but then thought better of it. They are not designed for easy soldering.

Frank

berryr99 · April 28, 2013, 19:21

John,

Harping back to a previous topic - your eyes might not be as good as they used to be but your legs are OK !

Bob

berryr99 · April 28, 2013, 19:23

Frank,

I had to do some din plugs for the Gaugemaster walkabout controller - it was a few years ago though - would not want to do them again.

Bob

Hugh Norwood · April 28, 2013, 21:20

"D" series connectors, which are rated at 3amps, have quite large "cups" for taking the wire-end and solder. DIN connectors have much smaller "cups" and will not take larger wires (I use 16/02 for power on my layout; over-engineering, perhaps). DIN connectors, I have found, take 7/02 wires OK.

[the wire nomencalture for multi-strand cable the number of cores followed by the wire diameter, so 16/02 is sixteen cores of 0.02mm wire - I think it's mm]

There's a definite knack to soldering wire into any connector.

B.Meldon · April 28, 2013, 23:09

We used TYCO type connectors on Pitztalbahn and Westdorf.
Each connector is soldered to the wire before it is inserted into the connector block.

One half is designed to be clipped into a rectangular hole the other half can be used with leads. We made up a small metal plate that was then screwed to the woodwork on the layout or panel as required.
We have found over the years that these work well and provided the contacts are fully inserted into the plastic connector blocks they give years of trouble free service.

Here is an example of the 15 way type:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140938481524

I they do 12, 9 and 6 way ones as well.

Brian Meldon

Hugh Norwood · April 29, 2013, 09:34

Ah yes! These are very similar to the conectors you find inside PCs. If I recall correctly, you can also crimp the wires into the receptacles if you don't feel up to soldering. (They are also rated at a much higher current than "D" connectors)
Molex make a very similar range of connectors.

berryr99 · April 29, 2013, 10:10

Brian,

The Tyco connectors look very do-able . I'll buy some and see how I get on, they look a bit easier (= bigger) than the D cup ones.

Thanks

Bob B.

B.Meldon · April 29, 2013, 13:29

I can not find a link to it now but I think there is a special tool available to crimp the wires into the connectors rather than soldering them.

I managed to purchase a box of unused superb quality gold plated 25 way connectors including cable back boxes from a boot sale for next to nothing. These were used on Westdorf and the because we knew there would be a very large number of wires we purchased the crippling tool for these connectors. As it happened it came with a separate adapter for the TYCO connectors as well.It was not cheep though, I think it was about

berryr99 · April 29, 2013, 17:16

I looked up the crimping tool but it was priced at

kebo66 · May 01, 2013, 20:37

Brian

I'm well impressed with your 'simple' wine-box control panel. The diagram is so neat and easy to follow and much better than sticking bits of tape on.
Did you use some software to produce it?. Also what are the controllers you used in this unit? I have to agree with Peter Smith, what a brilliant excuse for buying a box of wine.

Cheers, Keith

Graeme Dunbar · May 02, 2013, 08:37

Quote from: berryr99 on April 29, 2013, 17:16
I looked up the crimping tool but it was priced at