Power connector options (please read Tim!)

[icephish]

After building several PS harnesses....(I always build out all 9 connectors so I can just drop in another pre we desired!) I was getting frustrated with the process. I proceeded to pull out my handy Mouser catalogue and peruse the connector section....hrmmm the Molex have square pins and pin spacing of 0.156"...aha!

The AMP MTA series IDC connector have square pins as well and 0.156" pin spacing! Perfect! I'll order some, along with the useful IDC punch tool and the MTA strain relief covers. I also ordered the MTA headers...but they were not needed, the Molex headers are almost identical! Even better!

I can now easily finish a full harness in 15min, without raising my voice, and the harness looks more professional. The strain relief covers are not required, but they give me piece of mind.

The wire sent with the chassis is perfect size for the 20 gauge MTA, I order them with locking ramps and without polarizing tabs to match up the Molex headers.

Part numbers at Mouser for the interested:
Price at 1 piece...better prices at 10 and 100

Mouser AMP Price
6-pin AMP MTA Connector: 571-6406006 640600-6 .34
6-pin Strain Relief: 571-6430716 643071-6 .68
T-Handle MTA Punch tool: 571-598041 59804-1 22.00


Anyway....these are my suggestion as a replacement for the Molex you have in place, and they are a drop in replacement, no wire cutting or crimping, just push the wire into the grooves, punch in with the tool, and place the strain relief on top! (hint: if the strain relief takes effort to put on, one of the wires is not fully punched!)

[sleepingtiger]

Icephish,

This is great... Thank you! I recently built my first two A12s and had a very pleasant and educational time doing so (not to mention that they are sonically out of this world...) but when it came time to crimp those wires the fun was over. I purchased extra parts and the correct tool but still... my power harness works but it looks so sad... As soon as I saw this post I placed an order. I can't wait to have a go at these. Thanks a million...

Btw, this is my first post here. Best wishes to you all. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance... Thanks for the great work Tim!

[bradb]

So with this connector situation you can plug TWO wires into the connector, punch with the tool and youre set?

Just wanna make sure it can handle 2 wires.

[icephish]

The key to this is that two wires are not needed, you just punch down in the middle of the wire so you only make one measurement the length of the entire cable assembly and tack connectors along the length. Much faster and more convient. In fact, the chassis that include wire from Tim already include 6 wires at the right length, so you just need to measure for the locations along the length to punch in. Again, no cutting required, just punch and go!

[tele_player]

Are you using solid, or braided wire?
I'd be interested in a cable like that, if you feel like making another.

I wonder how these punched connections are rated for current-handling?

[icephish]

I think the catalog page said something about 5 amps...and I use stranding wire and it seems to work well, the wire lock in place real nicely.

[tpryan]

I've considered these connectors, and I'm sure they'll work fine. You'll find them in a lot of the new UA gear, and I've seen them in everything from TVs to pinball machines. I've been reluctant to suggest them to kitbuilders, but only because they require a somewhat pricey special tool. Can someone post a photo for those who have no idea what we're talking about?

[bradb]

Yes, pics please!

[sbranco]

We just ordered two N72 kits, PS02 and a chassis kit. I am trying to line up all the supplies we will need and the Molex crimp tool seems a little expensive. Does your suggested method mean that we would not need that tool and would buy the MTA tool instead? Also, I was planning to do your idea of building out the whole power line so we can add modules when we want. How many of those parts would we need? I want to do the job right so we would also get the stress relief. So we would need 9 of the 6 pin MTA connectors, 9 strain relief covers and one MTA tool. Yes?

[icephish]

I'm getting some more parts in tonight so I will post some more pics soon!

However, I have not tried to replace the Molex connector on the power supply expect for the module harness. I already have the Molex tool and the AMP tool (I do studio tech work, lots of consoles and automation use the MTA, and lots of powersupplies use the Molex...

That is not to say it is not possible. However I would choose the the closed end type. The reason the feed through work so well for the modules is that they require not cutting or crimping, however they wires enter and leave perpendicular to the connector instead of off the rear, and with the already tight tolerences in the chassis, I'm not sure how the power connectors would work out. I'll look into this further when I order another set of MTA's, I'll get some closed ended MTAs, a single four position 18 gauge closed end, part# 571-6404264, a single four-position 20 gauge closed end, part number# 571-6404274, and a two position 20 gauge closed end 571-640427-2.

I'm concerned about the width of the insulator thinkness on the blue and brown wires included with the chassis for the power switch. They may be too wide for the 18 gauge MTA. ALso the wire bending radius will need to be considered.

Pictures will be following tonight or tommorrow. (for the module supply harness)


Sbranco: Yes you would need 9 of the 6 position MTA, 9 MTA strain relief covers, and the $22 MTA tool (which is a dinky plastic item, but it does work well, and hasn't broken with over 500 punches so far, ity must be decent.

[sbranco]

If we went with the MTA connectors, does that mean we would not need a Molex Crimp Tool? I know nothing about them but it seems that there are many different kinds of Molex Crimp tools at very different prices. it would be great if I didn't have to figure out which molex crimp tool i need and i could just go with the MTA.

[bradb]

It depends on whether you will use any molex connectors. I think icefish is now looking at replacing ALL the molex connectors with the AMP connectors and if that is feasible. Most of the discussion has been about replacing just the module connectors.

You can get away with assembling the molex connectors without using the molex tool. I also suspect you can also assemble the AMP connectors without having to use the tool.

[sbranco]

All right, I looked back at the photos of the circuit boards. Looks like the power supply uses maybe four molex connectors. One is used to run power to the pre modules. That one has only one wire originating from it. The others are smaller connectors for the power switch and light and one that is a jumper.

It will be good to have some pics. It sounds like the AMP connectors really clean up the middle connectors with only one wire versus two in the connector. At the end of the run at the Power supply and the last pre are the tricky part. Would you have to leave some wire hanging out at the ends to make sure you get a good connection?

For the jumper and small connectors it looks like Molex might be best. I am glad to hear we can probably make those connectors work without having the Molex tool. It will only be a couple of connectors as opposed to all the module connectors.

I am basing this soley on the photos. I am no electronic tech.

Am I right about the power supply molex connectors?

[icephish]

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[bradb]

great pics, thanks...

I just placed my order w/ digikey... freakin' $20 total (and NO tool)... bummer, but worth it i think..