How to make headers or other easy connections to the outside world?

ElectricAye

Hi all,

I would like to install headers on my project so that I can easily connect/disconnect signals, power (<1amp), etc. But I feel overwhelmed by the sheer number and types listed in catalogs, etc. And the search menus (Digikey, etc.) seem to do little to help narrow down what I'm looking for. Often, after using the search menus, I find myself looking at parts that require some fancy form of crimping, etc. whose required crimp tool costs WAY too much. Could somebody please point me to a brand name/series of header connectors that are easy to work with and require no bizzarro tooling or special skills?

much obliged,
Mark

Mike2545

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/CON-244/4-PIN-CONNECTOR-W/HEADER-.10-/-/1.html

This is a 4 pin header combo (male/female) with about a 6"·pig-tail.
They also have 3 pin and 2 pin

They are great to have around.

Mike2545

Leon

I use Molex KK connectors with a cheap crimping tool.

Leon

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Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

I did some design work for a British company once, and they insisted that I use the Molex KK connectors. It was the first time I ever had, and I have to say they were inexpensive, rugged, easy to work with, and didn't require fancy crimpers. Lately, I've switched to 2mm headers and mating connectors, since the boards I design are typically very small. The Hirose DF11 series is nice, but I leave the crimping to the experts at DigiKey and just buy pre-crimped wires.

-Phil

ElectricAye

Thanks everyone. Pre-crimped wires are a good idea and will get me through the crisis, but I'm glad you told me about this Molex KK thing, too. That looks like a longer term solution.

ElectricAye

As a follow-up,
I found the diagrams posted here to be useful for crimping:


www.marvin3m.com/connect/index.htm