[sdiy] PCB connectors

[Neil Johnson]

Doug, Paul,

> I have seen more bad connections and intermittants with Molex type
> connectors than anything else.

The AMP MODU series are somewhat better, having two sprung contacts (on
opposite sides of the pin) per connection.  I've seen them used in medical
products, so I'm quite happy to use them in my synth projects when I'm not
hacking stuff together.

Soldering wires to boards can be ok if there are not that many wires, and
you take care to strain-relief them somehow (as Paul does in the MOTM
modules).  But if more than a few I'd go with a connector, as otherwise
doing a board swap is a nightmare, and the chances of getting wires
crossed is very much higher.  Just take a look at the insides of a Yamaha
CS-80 for an example of a nightmare.

_If_ reliability is such an issue (as it is in medical gear) then go with
gold-plated connectors to minimize oxidisation.  In this situation you
should be prepared to spend the extra, otherwise you're in the wrong job.

Neil

--
Neil Johnson :: Computer Laboratory :: University of Cambridge ::
http://www.njohnson.co.uk          http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~nej22
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