EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Electronics => Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff => Topic started by: Cerebus on August 02, 2016, 05:44:12 pm
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I'm looking for recommendations for high quality single pin connectors for making test leads intended to be used with solderless breadboards.
All the common connectors used with breadboards (for example the ubiquitous DuPont crimp terminals) aren't really suitable for terminating standard test lead cabling. Cable that will fit the common small single pin connectors is too small to get a satisfactory connection and adequate cable strain relief on a 4mm banana plug or similar.
What I'm looking for is a connector that will neatly terminate the flexible multistrand type cable that's commonly associated with multimeter leads and 4mm test leads but has a fine enough tip to easily push into a solderless breadboard.
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My solution for this problem is to use intermediary 2 mm banana plugs.
I have made test leads from 4 mm banana plug (multimeter or PSU side)
to 2 mm male. These are in standard heavy duty silicon cable.
Then I devised several kinds of adaptors from 2mm female to either minigrip or
directly soldered a golden coated pin (used for wire wrap) in a 2mm female plug.
I can thus used all these adaptors with smaller wires for breadboard use or any time I need precise testing, or direct plug into
the breadboard.
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Male d-sub pins, crimp or solder as you prefer.
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You willing to buy a crimping tool?
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The contacts from a normal PC 5-1/4" peripheral power connector fit nicely over most test probes. Remove from shell and add heatshrink for insulation.
I wouldn't make a direct to breadboard adapter without a short flexible lead in-between as the amount of leverage the test probe or banana plug has on it would be more than enough to damage your breadboard contacts.
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Sorry, I lost this thread somewhere on the way.
Alex - Yes, I'd consider something that needed a crimp tool. In fact I might prefer it. I already own quite a collection of crimp tools and in fact I'm currently in the market for a new tool/die sets for BNCs for RG58 and RG-that-nice-thin-stuff-I-can-never-remember-what-the-number-is.
The others - thanks for the suggestions. It looks like I may have to go with a more homebrew solution like Jacques'. I was hoping that I'd missed some suitable commercial connectors in my travels that others had spotted/repurposed before me.