Inline pin connection

[dexters_lab]

i have a load of test probes from a logic analyser, they would make really nice test clips if i could find an inline wire connector to plug onto the pin on the probe.

I'm sure something would be available but i cant find anything, tbh i think i just dont know what to search for!?

it would be like a female version of a breadboard cable end

have attached pics...

[IanB]

You want a hollow pin, like a socket? Could you consider the crimp pins used in female sockets like D connectors or other types? I dare say you could crimp a wire to them, then enclose the pin in shrink wrap.

[Alana]

Do what they did - get some of those connectors, attach a wire and shrink wrap them.
http://www.centralcm.com/catalog/js-1142.php

[dexters_lab]

yes indeedy! have found something similar at rs. will give them a try thanks!

[dexters_lab]

thanks for the tips everyone, works perfectly and also plug onto breadboard jumper wires too

i soldered the wire rather than crimp, i dont have the right tool and soldering is better anyway.

Connectors are 576-1215 from RS

[Monkeh]

i soldered the wire rather than crimp, i dont have the right tool and soldering is better anyway.

Soldering is far more likely to fail.

[dexters_lab]

i'm sure my soldering will last for many many years thanks, if one breaks i could spend all of ooh 2 mins making a new one

dont see the point spending £££ on a crimp tool to make some worthless (yet useful) jumper wires 

[Monkeh]

i'm sure my soldering will last for many many years thanks, if one breaks i could spend all of ooh 2 mins making a new one

This is true.

dont see the point spending £££ on a crimp tool to make some worthless (yet useful) jumper wires 

I don't disagree.

Neither of these points makes solder joints better in this application.

[IanB]

Soldering is far more likely to fail.

Why do you say that? The wire in the second picture is crimped over the insulation for mechanical support and soldered for electrical continuity. I see no reason why it would be any more likely to fail than a fully crimped connection.

[Monkeh]

Soldering is far more likely to fail.

Why do you say that? The wire in the second picture is crimped over the insulation for mechanical support and soldered for electrical continuity. I see no reason why it would be any more likely to fail than a fully crimped connection.

Because the solder can very easily wick up the individual conductors and create a failure point. There is a reason they are crimp connectors.

[IanB]

Because the solder can very easily wick up the individual conductors and create a failure point. There is a reason they are crimp connectors.

OK, but that's a process problem rather than a design problem. QC standards for soldering stranded wire reject any joints where the solder has wicked up under the insulation.

Similarly crimped connections can also be done badly. So many times I see the bare wire folded back over the insulation and crimped down on top of it.

[Monkeh]

Because the solder can very easily wick up the individual conductors and create a failure point. There is a reason they are crimp connectors.

OK, but that's a process problem rather than a design problem. QC standards for soldering stranded wire reject any joints where the solder has wicked up under the insulation.

And they would also reject a crimp connector being soldered together with the reasoning 'soldering is better anyway'.

[Mechatrommer]

There is a reason they are crimp connectors.

no need soldering, which is of higher quality albeit slow and tedious process not suitable for profit based job. crimp is fast but less reliable (assuming both soldering and crimping is done by competent personnel) ymmv.

[Monkeh]

There is a reason they are crimp connectors.

no need soldering, which is of higher quality albeit slow and tedious process not suitable for profit based job. crimp is fast but less reliable (assuming both soldering and crimping is done by competent personnel) ymmv.

Crimp joints are quite reliable. They also take up less space.

We can argue crimping over soldering all day long, but the fact remains: In this application a solder joint is in no way superior to a crimp joint, not least because it is designed as a crimp joint.

[Alexei.Polkhanov]

I think you guys trying to argue but from wrong premises - those connectors should not be soldered because liquid solder can easily leak into the tip of the connector thus preventing mating pins  from going all way in and thus making connection unreliable. I have seen similar connectors with cups for soldering instead of crimps used in car electronics or anywhere were humidity is an issue. Obviously cups are more expensive because you cannot make them by stamping out of sheet metal. Solder cups are hard to inspect since you cannot see if wire is going into a cup deep enough and for that reason some of them have tiny holes at the end so that you can check if wire is all way in.


This one is $2.50 / piece at Digikey. I often solder "probes" to the pins on board instead of using hooks and I use similar connectors on another end to plug them into grey box where logic analyzer's probe transceiver is.

[Monkeh]

And that one is actually a crimp!

[strangelovemd12]

This thread led me to this article:
http://www.esatinc.ca/News_Letters/Crimp_or_solder.pdf

It's not 100% pertinent, but I found it interesting.

[Monkeh]

This thread led me to this article:
http://www.esatinc.ca/News_Letters/Crimp_or_solder.pdf

It's not 100% pertinent, but I found it interesting.

Unfortunately, despite the correct information he received on terminations, he hasn't got a damn clue what he's on about.

[Alexei.Polkhanov]

And that one is actually a crimp!

Hmm, was listed as crimp/solder. I found that "Solder cup" usually looks same but with cut at the end like on this photo. I guess cut is important to make it easier to solder but not essential?

[Monkeh]

And that one is actually a crimp!

Hmm, was listed as crimp/solder. I found that "Solder cup" usually looks same but with cut at the end like on this photo. I guess cut is important to make it easier to solder but not essential?

Cups always look like that, it's the only way to observe the solder joint. The connector you found is most assuredly a crimp termination, and the hole is there to ensure the wire stayed inserted during crimping. With a solder cup, you just hold it there until the solder sets almost immediately after you remove the source of heat, and then inspect the fillet.

[strangelovemd12]

Unfortunately, despite the correct information he received on terminations, he hasn't got a damn clue what he's on about.

Please elaborate?  (In a PM if necessary; not sure what the thread hijacking rules are like around here.)

[Monkeh]

Unfortunately, despite the correct information he received on terminations, he hasn't got a damn clue what he's on about.

Please elaborate?  (In a PM if necessary; not sure what the thread hijacking rules are like around here.)

Eh, it's thoroughly hijacked already, and it's informative.

I assume the hottest part of the wire is the outside perimeter, since that carries the current.

DC or low frequency AC, no skin effect..

I don't know about the relative resistance of steel in the crimp compared to solder

Crimps are plated copper, not steel. Unless you got the wrong ones in a big way..

but it is conceivable to me that the relatively sharp edged taper of the solder might make a sharper corner than the looser fit of the crimp

It's the physical change in the material, not how tight or loose the fit is.