Plug and stay – reliable connector wanted

Comments

• mctrivia Posts: 3,772

  2009-09-09 14:26 edited 2009-09-09 14:26

  mini usb has tendency to fall out easiyl after repeted inserts.
  pc molex are not always eawsy to insert but tight and do not fall out
  rj11 and rj45 are very easy and reliable as long as tab does not get broken off and i have seen water tight connectors
  
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• Beau Schwabe Posts: 6,572

  2009-09-09 17:03 edited 2009-09-09 17:03

  vaclav_sal,
  
  How many conductors? If it's just two, then I would consider a standard RCA Phono Plug for the job.
  
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  Beau Schwabe
  
  IC Layout Engineer
  Parallax, Inc.
  
• Manetheren Posts: 117

  2009-09-09 17:36 edited 2009-09-09 17:36

  for a reliable 2 or 3 conductor you could use BNC as these are only 1/4 twist. They last for lots of connections and disconnections.
  
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  Tia'Shar Manetheren
• Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514

  2009-09-09 17:57 edited 2009-09-09 17:57

  vaclav_sal,
  
  25-30 matings/unmatings per day? That's a lot, so let's back up a little bit. (It's always useful to examine one's premises in a case like this.) It there any reason you can't just leave it connected and switch the power on and off?
  
  -Phil
• vaclav_sal Posts: 451

  2009-09-09 18:49 edited 2009-09-09 18:49

  Guys - many thanks for replies.
  The intended project is a small remote device running on battery which lasts approximately 10 minutes.
  Therefore the battery needs to be removed / disconnected / replaced to keep the device in service for full shift. The 25 to 30 disconnect per day / shift is just a rough estimate.
  I did not think about the RCA plug, they seem to be reliable but little bulky.
  However, I will definitely stay·away from anything phono mini or·sub mini or USB.
  I have a fairly expensive ham radio rig with some phono plugs are they are a big headache.
  Cheers Vaclav ·
  ·
  
  
  ·
• Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514

  2009-09-09 19:29 edited 2009-09-09 19:29

  For reliability in hostile environs, I'd settle for nothing less than a cordset/receptacle pair from Turck.
  
  -Phil
• W9GFO Posts: 4,010

  2009-09-09 19:41 edited 2009-09-09 19:41

  I'm just putting this out there because it's the first thing that came to mind, you'd have to make it yourself (unless they are commercially available?).
  
  Two pair of 1/8" neodymium magnets. One pair molded into the end of the cable, the other on the device. The magnets make the electrical connection and a good mechanical connection that breaks free without damage.
  
  Rich H
  
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• Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514

  2009-09-09 20:43 edited 2009-09-09 20:43

  Rich,
  
  Hmm, interesting. And if they have opposite poles facing outward, you can't connect them wrong! Can you solder to them, though?
  
  -Phil
• W9GFO Posts: 4,010

  2009-09-09 21:14 edited 2009-09-09 21:14

  I think they are typically coated in nickel, and they lose their magnetic strength at high heat so soldering directly probably wouldn't work well.
  
  Rich H
  
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  The Servo Boss, a 12 channel servo tester kit from Gadget Gangster.
• Tubular Posts: 4,728

  2009-09-09 21:47 edited 2009-09-09 21:47

  Rich, that's a really good idea.· I like the inbuilt polar repulsion "feature" if you get them around the wrong way.· Plus they would self align...
  
  You can buy these in pairs for under $2 with wires already welded
  http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=P9192
  
  and smaller
  http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=P9190
  
  Vaclav, I'd imagine you'd be able to find them locally; if not I could send them (if·you want to use this appoach)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Post Edited (Tubular) : 9/9/2009 9:54:30 PM GMT

  

  

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• Timmoore Posts: 1,031

  2009-09-09 22:21 edited 2009-09-09 22:21

  Magnets are used for battery connections on microfliers http://www.microflight.com/Online-Catalog/Batteries-and-Chargers/LP90-FR-Bahoma-Cell-with-10mm-Bahoma
  sparkfun has some magnetic connections for the lilypad stuff. http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8682
• vaclav_sal Posts: 451

  2009-09-09 22:46 edited 2009-09-09 22:46

  I was actually thinking about a spring-loaded arangement (similar to the old fashioned AA /AAA battery holders) and I like this magnetic approach better.
  It would greatly simplify the battery exchange process and maybe the process could be automated.
  Build some kind of docking station where the magnetic connection could be demagnetized and the battery would then drop out automatically and the fresh one inserted by reversing the process.
  But I am getting ahead of myself here.
  Thanks to all who contributed so far to the discussion.
  ·
• Peter Jakacki Posts: 10,193

  2009-09-09 23:28 edited 2009-09-09 23:28

  Vaclav, I'm more concerned with the 10 minute battery life and the constant vigil required to swap over battery packs. Can't you use a bigger battery, or change the design to draw less power? What's the problem here or would you care to elucidate us on the application here?
  
  *Peter*
• Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514

  2009-09-10 02:34 edited 2009-09-10 02:34

  I'm with Peter — back to examining premises. Not that we don't want to help solving the stated problem, but it seems that there's a much larger, underying problem that demands even greater attention.
  
  -Phil
• vaclav_sal Posts: 451

  2009-09-10 15:03 edited 2009-09-10 15:03

  I am not ready to "go public” with details of the application.
  Sorry.
  I am stuck with strict specifications.