Square peg in a round hole (pins)

[Back2Volts]

Can you mix round and square 0.1" pin headers ?   I mean insert square pin males into round pin females and vice versa ?

[tooki]

In my experience, not really. The round male pins are too thin for square female, and male square are too big for round female.

I use square for almost everything. (Also because round don't seem to be available for cheap on eBay in right angle versions).

However, the round female are extremely good as component sockets, for example if you want to easily swap LEDs, capacitors, etc. on a PCB. And the round male pins work reasonably well, soldered to thin wire, to insert into IC sockets without damaging them.

Beware, if you insert a too large pin (regardless of shape) into a round female socket, it will ruin the contacts inside and leave it loose. [Insert juvenile joke about loose female holes here.]

[CatalinaWOW]

It frequently works once.  But the reliability is definitely lower, and the times I have seen it work weren't challenging in terms of vibration, temperature or life.

If you ever put the right shape in the hole you put the wrong shape in your chances of success are low. 

I would avoid it if there is any way you can.

[Back2Volts]

Thanks.   I had tried with loosely with two unmounted headers and it looked like it would need brute force.

Good to know.

[Brumby]

A general formula that I have observed with consistent results:

Brute Force = Damage

[CatalinaWOW]

A general formula that I have observed with consistent results:

Brute Force = Damage

True.  But a creative mind finds ways to make damage a positive.  Someone like that invented the crimp connection.  Someone else invented explosive forming of metals.

Maybe someone creative can think of something positive in this case.

[Brumby]

Maybe someone creative can think of something positive in this case.

That sounds like a challenge - and one from which I'm curious to see what ideas may surface....