Looking for Panel Mount Prop Plug Connection Ideas

Duane Degn

I have several projects where I need a way of updating a Propeller's program. The Propellers in these cases are inside enclosures. I've looking for a clean looking and reliable way of connecting a Prop Plug to these Propellers.

So far, the only way I can think of that seems reasonable is to cut a rectangular hole in the enclosure and have a small section of perf board that is held the appropriate distance from the panel. I'd have four male header pins soldered to the perf board with wires running from each pin to the appropriate connection on the Propeller board (most of these are Propeller Proto Boards).

Any other ideas?

Any ideas on how to attach a piece of perf board to a panel (plastic in this case). I'm wondering about using standoffs but then I'd have extra screws on the panel to hold the standoffs in place. I could live with extra screws but I think I'd prefer a cleaner solution.

I have at least one project that uses two Propellers so I'd want to have a double row of headers with which to use Prop Plugs (preferably both at the same time).

Anyone done something like this?

Duane

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

Why not use a right-angle header soldered directly to the main PCB? If the edge of the PCB comes right up to the panel, all you need is a small rectangular cutout for the Prop Plug.

-Phil

Tubular

Duane, there were a few ideas in this thread:-
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?109517-Suggestions-needed-for-interfacing-a-Prop-Plug-to-a-metal-enclosure

kwinn

I would suggest a 4 pin female-female jumper cable rather than the male pins. One end plugs into the propeller board and the other end can be epoxied to the panel so it fits flush with the outside face. All you need then is a 4 pin header with the longer pins to connect to it.

localroger

They make some very nice panel mount USB connectors. You could always take one of them and repurpose it for the PropPlug, and make an external USB-header adapter for the PropPlug itself. Since the "usb port" won't be supplying power no harm will come if someone plugs an actual USB device into it. Check out L-Com part # ECJ504B-UA for an example.

Duane Degn

Wow, lots of ideas fast.

@Phil, The PCBs don't come to edge of the enclosure (at least not the edge I want the connector on). I do use the right angle header idea on many of my projects.

@Tubular, Thanks for the link. Reading the thread rang some bells. I'm pretty sure I've read it before. It did have some good ideas.

@kwinn, I like your idea. I think it's now in my top three to choose from.

@localroger, Also a good idea. The parts you mention aren't very expensive. I've been surprised at how often the "panel mount" connectors cost so much more than pcb mounted connectors.

I think I have some panel mount PS/2 connectors (I think they were expensive). I might use those since I have them on hand. With six pins plus the grounding shield I could use one connector to connect two Prop Plugs. I kind of like that. I still like kwinn's idea though. Nice and cheap too.

Thanks all.

Duane

kf4ixm

You could try something like this...

kwinn

Duane, glad you like the idea. I have done that on several projects and it works very well. Most of the time the connectors came from obsolete PC's that were being scrapped and when they are mounted flush with the front of a black panel they blend in, look very nice, and are inexpensive. Part of my Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle effort.

BTW, I prefer to consider them thrifty - never cheap.

idbruce

Duane

Here are a few links that might interest in this quest:

http://www.datapro.net/products/coupler-panel-mount-usb-a-f-f.html
http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=6650168
http://www.blackbox.com/Store/Detail.aspx/USB-Type-A-Type-B-Panel-Mount-Couplers-Black/FMT1050

Another alternative is to go serial instead. Use a cheap DB9 connector from radio shack and wire your board according to http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/SerialtoPropeller.pdf

Bruce

Duane Degn

@kwinn, My apologies. I like your thrifty and environmentally friendly idea.
Back when I was taking driver's training in high school (over 30 years ago) I called the different schools in the yellow pages looking for the best price. The school I with the lowest price didn't like be called "cheap" either.)

I often use these containers as enclosures (style FT-104). At $1.55 each they're pretty thrifty (a Propeller Proto Board fits nicely in them). For this project I splurged and purchased one of these $8 real enclosures from MPJA (they have lots of thrifty stuff (and some cheap stuff)). I don't want to spend more on a connector than an enclosure (I'd prefer not to spend anything). I want to mount the Prop Plug connector to one of the blueish grey end panels. There will also be a switch, some sort of power connector (I have a couple of panel mounts), an antenna, two sets of wires to control relays (to turn ovens on and off) and a couple of thermocouple wires coming out of the same panel. With all this stuff coming out of the same panel (preferably), I'd like to keep the Prop Plug connector small. As I write this, I realize that one panel is going to be crowded. I might put the PP connector on the other panel.

@kf4ixm, That looks like a nice connector. I think it's overkill for this project. Thanks.

@Bruce, Those are also nice connectors and relatively small. They aren't very thrifty though. I think the thriftiest one is $7 and the least thrifty $13, ouch. Thanks for posting the links. I'll keep them in mind.

The project I'm working on is an oven controller. I have a couple of toaster ovens I use with my lab. The ovens will generally be set to 104 degrees C to dry soil (actually leonardite) samples and to dry glassware. The ovens are in my basement and not many people will see the controller but I'd still like it to look nice.

Thanks again for the ideas.

Duane