[sdiy] connectors for power

[TIm Daugard]

From: "Colin Hinz" <asfi at eol.ca>

> Which Molex connectors, exactly? Some of them are horrid -- single
> contact surface plus weak "springyness" in the contact means that
> with moderate vibration the connections go intermittent. I'd rather
> pay for reliable connectors than risk a botched performance.

I use the cheap .093 power connectors from AMP. The pins are less than .06 USD
and the two pin bodies are about .10 USD. This gives me a power connection on
the module and a matching power cable connector for less than .50 USD.

These are the same connectors that used to be on disc drives. I have my
synthesizer based effects rack sits on my bass rig which is a 10 inch cabinet
and a solid state amp sitting on top of a 15 inch cabinet. At one point I had a
tambourine sitting on top of my synth module rack. I was playing the tambourine
by digging in and playing a loud bass note - I think it was a low G flat  that
was getting everything bouncing nicely. I have never had problems with the power
connections.

I suppose this means that you won't think much of me using .093 inch pins and
plastic front panels as my method of connectors for patches.

The goal of my system was to build a system with no modules costing more than 5
USD. I have built somewhere over 50 modules so far and only three cost more than
5 USD. The transformer for the power supply, the switches and wood for my pedal
board, and the connectors and complex logic for the pedal board interface put
those modules over 5 but less than 10 USD.

The modular SSB radio I'm looking at building may use .063 inch connectors for
internal power. The goal is to keep the cost down, but the primary requirement
is less that 50 mA receive power (with much of that in the final audio amp) and
transmit power in the range of 1 to 2 watts. BTW does anyone no of real
inexpensive RF connectors? I may have to use 75 ohm F connectors. This will be a
pain as every dedicated RF IC I've gotten as samples is looking for 50 ohms.

Tim Daugard
AG4GZ 30.4078N 86.6227W
With all my damaged trees now on the ground. Another couple hours with the chain
saw to make large lumber small, and then drag it all to the pile waiting for
pick up.