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Interconnects

This is a rather silly question I guess but I'm trying to find the best way to connect a control panel that I've built to a FLIP module. My control panel has 5 buttons that each contain an LED as well as three 4 digit 14 segment displays that use an i2c interface. This means I need 12 signal lines and power and ground. The 14 segment displays want to run on 5v so I'll have two power rails, one 5v and one 3.3v.

Obviously, I can just solder a bunch of wires to these devices and plug them into a breadboard along with the FLIP module but I'm trying to avoid a rats nest of wires. I'm wondering about locally wiring all of the I/O devices to a junction point and then having a single ribbon cable connect the panel to the FLIP. So my question really is whether there are any standard off-the-shelf modules that collect together a bunch of signal, power, and ground wires into a single cable. I guess what I mean is a breakout board for a ribbon cable. Is there such a thing? I couldn't find anything like that in the Parallax store.

Comments

  • Yes -- I use one for connecting a Raspberry Pi to a breadboard. If you use "ribbon cable to breadboard" as a search phrase you can find a few.

    I found the attached image in a tech forum; you can with a bit of soldering make your own.
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  • JonnyMac wrote: »
    Yes -- I use one for connecting a Raspberry Pi to a breadboard. If you use "ribbon cable to breadboard" as a search phrase you can find a few.

    I found the attached image in a tech forum; you can with a bit of soldering make your own.
    Yeah, that's pretty much what I was looking for. I found something similar on the AdaFruit site. It was a 26 pin header with the bottom pins spread apart enough to plug into a breadboard. I think I'll use one of their solder breadboards on the control panel side and a normal breadboard with the FLIP on the controller side with a 26 pin ribbon cable in between. Thanks for the suggestion!

  • I like the adafruit Silicone wire that is very flexible and easy to use. Silicone Wire.

    I then use a .1 pin header like this one. Harwin connector.

    I use a standard layout of Plus, Gnd, pin1, pin2 and so on.

    So whatever device I want to plugin I just select the voltage for that pin configuration and attach the device. Wifi Module, Temperature sensor, GPS, IMU, LEDs.

    I call it my mini plug and play.

    Mike
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    David Betz wrote: »
    This is a rather silly question I guess but I'm trying to find the best way to connect a control panel that I've built to a FLIP module. My control panel has 5 buttons that each contain an LED as well as three 4 digit 14 segment displays that use an i2c interface. This means I need 12 signal lines and power and ground. The 14 segment displays want to run on 5v so I'll have two power rails, one 5v and one 3.3v.

    Obviously, I can just solder a bunch of wires to these devices and plug them into a breadboard along with the FLIP module but I'm trying to avoid a rats nest of wires. I'm wondering about locally wiring all of the I/O devices to a junction point and then having a single ribbon cable connect the panel to the FLIP. So my question really is whether there are any standard off-the-shelf modules that collect together a bunch of signal, power, and ground wires into a single cable. I guess what I mean is a breakout board for a ribbon cable. Is there such a thing? I couldn't find anything like that in the Parallax store.

    If you post a pic there may be other ways too.
  • I found that Winford, out of MI has the biggest variety.

    Not the cheapest but they were my only solution when I needed a breakout for a 44 HD connector.
  • MJBMJB Posts: 1,235
    or this
    H0ea34b5842994931a735ac02a9a37181R.jpg
    ALIEXPRESS
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