Electronics > Beginners
Connector recommendations
vmallet:
I am looking for recommendations for common connectors to make it easy to tinker with simple projects. I've tried browsing Mouser but not knowing what to look for made it a bit daunting.
I'm hoping to get connectors for things like signals, sensors, low power input; pcb mount (ideally protoboard/breadboard friendly through-hole) and wire mount. Nothing fancy, just basic connectors.
I understand this is super vague but I think that's my problem, I don't really know what I need other than to connect/disconnect things.. For example I installed my first project in a nice little box mounted in the dash of a car; I've used screw terminals on the board to connect power, relay, sensor, switches. I've already had to remove / reinstall the box a few times to make some changes and the screw terminals were really annoying to deal with. Some simple connectors with a good positive connection would have made my life simpler.
mariush:
Look at sites like Digikey
Product Index > Connectors, Interconnects > Rectangular Connectors - Headers, Receptacles, Female Sockets : https://www.digikey.com/products/en/connectors-interconnects/rectangular-connectors-headers-receptacles-female-sockets/315
Product Index > Connectors, Interconnects > Rectangular Connectors - Headers, Male Pins : https://www.digikey.com/products/en/connectors-interconnects/rectangular-connectors-headers-male-pins/314
Product Index > Connectors, Interconnects > Rectangular Connectors - Board Spacers, Stackers (Board to Board) : https://www.digikey.com/products/en/connectors-interconnects/rectangular-connectors-board-spacers-stackers-board-to-board/400
Product Index > Connectors, Interconnects > Rectangular Connectors - Board In, Direct Wire to Board : https://www.digikey.com/products/en/connectors-interconnects/rectangular-connectors-board-in-direct-wire-to-board/317
(and other categories)
Filter by the pitch you want ... you probably want 2.54mm (0.1") for breadboard friendly projects, 2mm for connectors that are still hobby solder friendly but using less space .. maybe 3.96 mm for higher currents
On Digikey you can also see what's more common just by clicking on a pitch size or a value in another section ... you'll see the number below near the "Apply Filters"
For example for the first category I linked to (receptacles, female sockets), you see:
1.00mm : 4,009 results
1.27mm : 29,105 results
2.00mm : 53,624 results
2.54mm : 121,227 results
For the 2nd category , headers - male - pins you have
2.00mm : 31,549 results
2.54mm : 216,576 results
Then maybe order by the amount of units in stock, with the idea that what's stocked in higher quantity is probably what's ordered more often, more popular
For example, sorting the 2nd link after selecting only 2.00 and 2.54mm pitch, i get this: https://www.digikey.com/short/pzc54z
JST PH and PA seem to be stocked in 300k+ quantities, so i guess must be something good about those series if they keep so many in stock
Then you may want to look into connectors that have retention mechanism or not, or if they're friction lock or not... you'll see lots of Chinese products that use cheap connectors and then use thread lock to lock them in place... just because for them it's cheaper than buying a connector with retaining mechanism or for some other reasons (like buying a pump or something from another supplier and that device comes with a connector already installed)
vmallet:
Thanks mariush, I had tried to do something similar on mouser but one can't sort by availability which is not as helpful.
I was hoping however that maybe someone would have some "favorite connectors" that they always use for their projects. For example, basic diode? 1N4001. Basic optocoupler? PC817. Connectors? ..... :)
Thanks
miceuz:
I really like IDC connectors for tinkering around if you don't have size constraints. You can solder individual wires to pads/holes easily if needed and crimping is a nobrainer (use a small vice, not pliers)
Ysjoelfir:
I have found Hirose *Bee connectors to be slightly more expensive but super robust and reliable. I have made a small study with a whole bunch of those connectors in harsh environments while designing a new product at work. After that I decided to use those in my private hobby, too, as they... well, they just work. You can find them for high power connections (Called "EnerBee": https://www.hirose.com/product/en/pr/enerbee/) as well as for signals and data (SignalBee: https://www.hirose.com/product/en/pr/signalbee/).
Recently I have discovered a series called "SnapBee", which could be usefull for some applications, but those I haven't used myself yet. https://www.hirose.com/product/en/pr/snapbee/
However, for everyday tinkering, prototypes and everything I will most likely fiddle around with a lot I tend to use just simple Faston connectors for higher currents and 100mil flat cable connectors from various manufacturers for data.
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