A teardown video from Electronupdate:
The CMOS version of the commercially significant 6502: a processor architecture which launched the personal computer era.
This particular version was plucked off of an embedded industrial controller… a place where this processor still finds design wins.
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week:
Some stuff:
We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.
Kerry Wong published a new build:
A flat bed scanner typically uses three rows of CCD sensors (RGB) to capture images placed directly on top of the glass bed. When the CCD array scans from one end of the image to the other, the digitized color image is formed. So with a similar approach, we could use just one photosensitive device to capture the entire image one pixel at a time via raster scanning. Now that I have an HP 7044A X-Y recorder I could use it’s X/Y servo mechanism with a suitable sensor to build a single pixel scanner.
The simplest sensor would be just a photodiode or a CdS photocell. For capturing grayscale images, either of these sensors could be used. To capture color images though, we would need a sensor that is capable of discerning the RGB components of each pixel. For that I used an inexpensive TCS34725 based color sensor module.
More details at Kerry D. Wong blog.
Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “Building a single pixel scanner”
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB. You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another! Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:
Another app note from Fairchild Semiconductors on USB Type C to USB legacy design considerations. Link here (PDF)
When designing hardware systems with type C connectors, a designer also has to consider all legacy, standard, and nonstandard specifications that exist in the USB connector eco system. With the introduction of the Type C connector and the Configuration channel (CC Pin) new challenges occur trying to ensure overall system robustness. This note addresses some of the concerns with the CC pin in a robust system environment.
Type-C USB cable adapter design consideration app note from Fairchild Semiconductors. Link here (PDF)
USB is a ubiquitous connector that is used by many customers and in many different applications. With the official release of the USB Type-C connector, many companies are racing to implement this new connector and the supporting infrastructure. The early adopters of this connector will be faced with many challenges as different vendor’s release products that are either non-compliant or designed to earlier versions of the specification.
One specific challenge is with USB Type-C adapter cables and how they are implemented. The adapter cables are critical for new designs because they allow backward compatibility to the existing USB infrastructure. Vendors are making a wide range of adapter cables which can cause detection issues which need to be considered. This application note describes these considerations and possible solutions to the problems faced.
Speaker power controller made with a RADAR module from Scott Harden:
I just finished building a device that uses RADAR to toggle power to my speakers when it detects my hand waiving near them! I have some crummy old monitor speakers screwed to a shelf, and although their sound is decent the volume control knob (which also controls power) is small and far back on my work bench and inconvenient to keep reaching for. I decided to make a device which would easily let me turn the speakers on and off without having to touch anything. You could built a device to detect a hand waive in several different ways, but RADAR (RAdio Detection And Ranging) has got to be the coolest!
Project info at swharden.com.
Check out the video after the break.
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:
Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”
Andy Brown designed and built this relays and triacs controller board that he could use to automate his homebrewing process:
The heaters, fridge and fans that control the temperature in my brew fridge need to be switched on and off and that’s what this board is designed to achieve.
As you can see from the diagram the main features of the board are:
- Three relays for basic on/off switching. To solve one of the issues with the STC-1000 controller I will use 16A, name brand relays for maximum reliability.
- A triac. This will give me the ability to do phase-angle ‘dimming’ control and will be used for proportional heater or fan control.
- USB connectivity to the host PC via a USB-to-UART IC.
More details at andybrown.me. Firmware source code available on github.
Yahya Tawil posted a detailed how-to on writing ULP’s for Eagle CAD:
In this tutorial, you will learn how to write your first ULP in Eagle CAD to add a new capability to your CAD tool.
User Language Program (ULP) is a set of extensions for Eagle CAD users to either facilitate a routine job in an automated way or do a job that can’t be done without a ULP’s help. For example, the only way to import an image to your PCB design is by using the command import-bmp ULP. Auto-placement, exporting BOM, and renumbering parts in a schematic are all routine jobs with which ULP can help.
More details at allaboutcircuits.com.
Via the contact form.
Kenneth Finnegan built this YouTube channel IoT view counter, inspired by Becky Stern’s IoT counter:
I’ve wanted an Internet connected read-out for some time now, inspired by the awesome shadow box IoT projects Becky Stern has been doing (weather, YouTube subscribers). I’m certainly not to the same level of packaging as her yet, but I’ve got a functional display working with a Hazzah and an eBay seven segment display module.
Project info at Kenneth’s blog.
Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “YouTube channel IoT view counter”
Dallas Semiconductor DS1284 die decap from Electronupdate:
The Dallas Semiconductor DS1284 (and related DS1286 which integrated a battery and crystal in the same package) found lots of use in industrial control and test equipment.
30 years ago processor chips contained not much other than the processor. Utility functions such as real time clocks, non volatile ram and watchdogs were always external.
Dallas semiconductor was quite successful in creating some of these utility chips which put a number of functions into a single device. The company was eventually acquired by Maxim in 2001.
More details at Electronupdate blog.
Check out the video after the break.
Continue reading “Dallas Semiconductor DS1284 die decap: A look at a 30 year old design”
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week:
Some stuff:
We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.
Kai Bader writes, “I’m currently working on a custom development board, based on a quarter of a century old microprocessor, the Sharp LH5801. This microprocessor is the heart of the Sharp PC-1500(A) Pocket Computer, also known as Tandy TRS-80 Model II.”
More details at Kai Bader’s blog.
All in one motor control MCU HT45F3630 from Holtek. Link here (PDF)
Aimed at the motor speed control product application area, HOLTEK has developed the HT45F3630, which is commonly used in electric drills, electric screwdrivers, lawn mowers and other similar product applications. This MCU provides a group of PWM high voltage and large current output pins which can directly drive Power MOS transistors to reduce their switching losses. Additionally, the device includes integrated over current protection and detection functions and an amplifier which allows the input signal to be amplified by 51 times, requiring a lower value current sense resistance value which will increase the overall efficiency and extend the operating time. When an over current event occurs, the PWM switching will be shut off by hardware to achieve immediate protection.
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:
Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”
Kerry Wong published a new build:
I had wanted to make a spot welder for a while. Most of the DIY spot welders use a momentary switch the primary side of the microwave oven transformer (MOT). Due to the simplicity of this design, it is very simple to make. This design however, has some inherent safety issues as the momentary switch is typically within reaching distance of the operator (unless a foot switch is used) and inadequate insulation could increase electric shock risk. Further more, the current flowing through the primary winding can significantly exceed the current rating of the switch and cause the switch to fail. Due to the inductive nature of the winding, the switch can sometimes arc over and pose significant risk to the operator.
Project info at Kerry Wong’s blog.
Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “Dual purpose spot welder with pulse duration control”
Dirty Cables is a drag and drop cable builder that gives you access to cheap custom cable services from China. Build a custom cable, get an instant quote, and checkout. Your custom cables should ship in 3 to 7 work days.
Huaqiangbei is full of cheap custom cable vendors with a big pile of samples on their booth. We tried to put the pile online so you can get cheap cables without making a trip to China!
We excavated the cable sample piles to see which connectors are common, cheap and readily available in the Chinese market. We bought bundles of everything and identified 17 common cable-to-cable and cable-to-board connector families to add to Dirty Cables. Read more about the different cable families here.
Cables are probably best understood by touching them yourself, so we put together a Dirty Cables Sample Kit that includes examples of each cable and connector. The kit is available in the store for $9.95.
In the coming weeks we’ll document a few more common and cheap connectors that didn’t quite fit in the first sample kit:
Dirty Cables is highly experimental. If pricing seems way off, if you find bugs, or if we’re missing your favorite connectors, please give us a shout in the comments or through the contact form.
In the bustling Huaqiangbei market, custom cable manufacturers tout their wares in massive piles that serve as a live catalog of the connectors available within the robust Chinese manufacturing ecosystem. Just like the way the best online casinos display their most popular games front and center, these piles indicate what’s standard and in demand. For project managers and developers, taking a cue from this market can be a strategic move. Just as a company blog by najlepsze kasyna online might highlight the importance of choosing a well-reviewed game provider to avoid technical issues, sticking with common connectors can avert sourcing headaches and keep production on schedule.
We grabbed a sample of every cable from the piles in the SEG and HQ Mart markets, then verified the actual model against datasheets. In this post we look at the common connector families available from multiple manufacturers. Sometimes market traders call the connectors by an unofficial part number, we’ve included these to help you communicate with Chinese vendors.
Continue below for an overview of the 17 most common cable and connector types from the Chinese market. Try out Dirty Cables to build your own custom cables, and grab the Dirty Cables Sample Kit to explore these connectors with your own hands.
Parts of a cable
Crimp housing
A crimp housing holds the metal crimp contacts and cable wires, and mates with a PCB or cable mount connector. The most recognizable measurement of a crimp housing is pitch, the distance between pins. Common crimp housing pitch ranges from 1mm to 4.2mm.
Crimp contacts
Crimp contacts are the metal bits that mate cable wires to connectors. Crimp materials and coatings vary, which impact the maximum power rating of the cable. Nickel plated crimp contacts are by far the most common default option. A few connectors, mostly IDC, generally have gold plated contacts by default.
Reels of crimp contacts and wire load into a crimping machine. The machine strips the wire, attaches the crimp contact, and cuts the wire to length. Specific tooling is needed to attach and cut each type of crimp. Manufacturers can’t attach a crimp without the right tooling for their crimp machines.
Wire
Cable wire is generally multiple strands of copper wire that have been tinned with solder and coated in insulation. Common colors are available: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown, white, gray, and black. Wire size effects the maximum voltage and current a cable can carry, common cable wire sizes range from 32AWG to 16AWG (smaller AWG = bigger wire).
Some connectors use flat ribbon cables, generally with gray or rainbow colored insulation. Common sizes:1.27mm, 1mm, and 0.635mm.
PCB mount connectors
A connector mates a cable to a circuit board or another cable. Connectors may be polarized so the cable only fits one direction, or have locking features to keep the cable from coming loose. Cables may attach to the PCB from the top (top entry) or the side (side entry).
Cable to board connectors
Most cables in the market connect to a circuit board (cable to board), some connect two cables (cable to cable). A few will do both. First let’s look at the common cable to board connectors.
CRHO
Let’s call this the simplest cable in the market. It mates directly with standard 2.54mm (0.1”) pitch pin header. It’s the only connector we found that isn’t polarized, it can attach in any direction.
Frequently called a DuPont connector, even in Chinese, but the current common version seems to be compatible with TC Connectivity’s AMPMODU IV series. We’re going to call it CRimp HOusing (CRHO) because it’s the most bog standard thing in the market. CRHO is borrowed from the amazing and unloved OOMP project.
Pin header PCB mount connectors are available in through hole (PTH) and surface mount (SMD), as well as various colors.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRHO | 2.54mm | 1-40 | 28-22AWG | 250VDC | 3A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| CRHO-xx | HDR-2.54-xxX1P | HDR-2.54-xxX1P-RA | HDR-2.54-xxX1P-SMD | HDR-2.54-xxX1P-RA-SMD |
KF2510
KF2510 is basically a keyed CRHO style housing. It mates with 2.54mm (0.1”) pitch keyed board mount connectors. It also fits on 2.54mm (0.1”) pin header, but without the polarity protection of the keyed connector.
The crimp housing and board connectors come in beige and white, which may have different maximums and tolerances so be sure to consult the datasheet.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KF2510 | 2.54mm | 2-16 | 30-22AWG | 250VDC | 3A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| KF2510-xxY | KF2510-xxA | KF2510-xxP | — | — |
SH 1.0mm (JST compatible)
A 1.0mm pitch cable compatible with the JST SH series is the smallest we found in the market. At over 1 RMB per sample it was also among the most expensive cables.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SH | 1.0mm | 2-20 | 32-28AWG | 50VDC | 1A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| SHR-xxV-S-B | — | — | BmxxB-SRSS-TB | SmxxB-SRSS-TB |
51021 1.25mm (Molex compatible)
This one is hard to tie down, and it seems to be a widely confused part. Chinese market traders and most of Taobao call this “SH 1.25”, as in a 1.25mm version of the JST SH 1.0mm connector above. We’ve also seen it called A121-xxY/A1251-Hxx, which may be a duff manufacturer part number.
This is actually a Molex 1.25mm “PicoBlade” 51021 compatible part. It’s no wonder Molex parts get nick names. Molex has a knack for making really crappy part numbers, and has even “upgraded” to new numbers that are worse than the old numbers.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51021 | 1.25mm | 2-15 | 32-28AWG | 125VDC | 1A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| 51021-xx00 | 53047-xx10 | 53048-xx10 | 53398-xx71 | 53261-xx71 |
ZH 1.5mm (JST compatible)
A 1.5mm pitch cable compatible with the JST ZH series. A vendor said this isn’t a commonly requested cable type, but there isn’t a shortage of suppliers in the market or online.
The through-hole mount connectors come in two versions for different PCB thickness. Use BxxB-ZR-3.4/SxxB-ZR-3.4 for standard 1.6mm thick PCBs, or BxxB-ZR/SxxB-ZR for thinner 0.6-1.2mm thick boards.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZH | 1.5mm | 2-13 | 32-26AWG | 50VDC | 1A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| ZHR-xx | BxxB-ZR(-3.4) | SxxB-ZR(-3.4) | BxxB-ZR-SM4-TF | SxxB-ZR-SM4A-TF |
PH 2.0mm (JST compatible)
2.0mm pitch cable compatible with JST PH series. 2.0mm saves a bit of space over standard 2.54mm pitch connectors, but is still easy for most people to hand solder.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH | 2.0mm | 2-16 | 32-24AWG | 100VDC | 2A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| PHR-xx | BxxB-PH-K-S | SxxB-PH-K-S | BxxB-PH-SM4-TB | SxxB-PH-SM4-TB |
XH 2.5mm (JST compatible)
A 2.50mm cable compatible with the JST XH series. 2.50mm != 2.54mm, pitch is actually 2.50mm. Many suppliers incorrectly list this as 2.54mm part. Despite the size difference, the connectors will generally still fit 2.54mm breadboards and pin headers.
An SMD top entry PCB mount connector is not an official part in the JST datasheet, but it’s widely available in the Chinese market. We named this connector BxB-XH-SM4-TB following the JST part numbering system, but note that it is not an official part number.
There are two oddities in this family. An XHP-20 crimp housing and connector exists with 20 pins in a 10x2P configuration. The through-hole side entry PCB mount connector also comes in a short shroud (7.2mm) version (SxB-XH-A-1). These specialty options don’t seem to be available in the Chinese markets.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XH | 2.50mm | 1-16 | 30-22AWG | 250VDC | 3A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| XHP-xx | BxxB-XH-A | SxxB-XH-A(-1) | BxxB-XH-SM4-TB | SxxB-XH-SM4-TB |
CH 3.96mm
A 3.96mm pitch nylon connector that the market vendors call “CH”. Heavy duty crimps and heavy duty connectors make this a good choice for power connections. It has a retention “bump” that helps secure the connection. The retention bump also helps polarize the connection, but nylon is flexible and the connector could be installed backwards with enough force.
This part is not from JST, despite a similar part number. Some duff manufacturers list this as 2139-xxY, similar to a Molex part number, but that isn’t an exact match for the board mount connectors. We use the market vendor name “CH”, short for CHina connector.
There are two versions of the side entry connector. 2139-xAWG has a 4.3mm extended length pin. This version is listed at several Taobao shops, but it was always out of stock and all our orders were eventually canceled.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH | 3.96mm | 2-16 | 24-18AWG | 250VDC | 7A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| 2139-xxY | 2139-xxA | 2139-xxAW(G) | — | — |
VH 3.96mm (JST compatible)
A 3.96mm pitch locking connector compatible with the JST VH series. This is another connector with heavy duty crimp contacts and connectors that is ideal for power supplies. Keyed to protect polarity, locking to secure in place.
The datasheet lists an -M version with a safety retainer. We could not locate this part in the market.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VH | 3.96mm | 2-11 | 16-22AWG | 250VDC | 10A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| VHR-xxN | BxxP-VH(-FB-B) | BxxPS-VH | — | — |
Insulation Displacement Connectors
Insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) are a cable to board connection system that doesn’t use crimp contacts. Teeth in the connector cut through the insulation of a ribbon cable and make contact with the wires inside.
These connectors have been around forever, but there doesn’t seem to be a solid part numbering system. Generally the displacement connector part number is FC. The PCB mount connector is DC3 (DC2 and DC4 are variants with locks and wings and such). We created our own part numbering system based on this convention that takes into account newer, smaller 2.0mm and 1.27mm pitch IDC versions.
IDC 2.54mm
Bog standard 2.54mm IDC and mating shrouded header. It has a polarizing key that only fits one way, but there’s no retention mechanism aside from the friction fit. Fits 1.27mm ribbon cable.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC | 2.54mm | 6-64 | 1.27mm | 100VDC | 2A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC connector | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| IDC-FC-2.54-xx | IDC-DC3-2.54-xx-PTH | IDC-DC3-2.54-xx-RA-PTH | IDC-DC3-2.54-xx-SMD | — |
IDC 2.0mm
Smaller. An even metric measure. What’s not to love? 2.0mm IDCs save a bit of board space, but are still easy to hand solder for most people.
Slightly more expensive than common 2.54mm IDCs. Fits 1.0mm ribbon cable, rainbow color may not be available.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC | 2.0mm | 10-50 | 1.0mm | 50VDC | 1.5A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC connector | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| IDC-FC-2.0-xx | IDC-DC3-2.0-xx-PTH | IDC-DC3-2.0-xx-RA-PTH | IDC-DC3-2.0-xx-SMD | — |
IDC 1.27mm
1.27mm pitch IDCs are the smallest available in the market. Fewer manufacturers and suppliers than 2.0mm and 2.54mm IDCs means they’re more expensive and harder to source. The right-angle through-hole connector was only available as a special order of MOQ (200 pieces).
Fits 0.635mm ribbon cable, rainbow color may not be available.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC | 1.27mm | 8-80 | 0.635mm | 50VDC | 1A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDC connector | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| IDC-FC-1.27-xx | IDC-DC3-1.27-xx-PTH | IDC-DC3-1.27-xx-RA-PTH | IDC-DC3-1.27-xx-SMD | — |
Cable to cable connectors
Some cables connect to other cables. These are common in hobby R/C batteries and wiring harnesses for panel mount switches, lights, and connectors.
If the cable connects to another cable the common terms plug and receptacle seem to be used. Manufacturers use different criteria to distinguish a plug and receptacle. A JST receptacle holds male crimp pins, while the JST plug holds the female crimp sockets (see datasheet excerpt above). Molex, however, calls the male crimp housing (with female crimp sockets) a receptacle and the female crimp housing (with male crimp pins, same as PCB mountable connector) a plug.
RCY 2.5mm (JST compatible)
2.5mm (not 2.54mm) JST RCY series compatible connector. Commonly used as a battery connector and only available in a 2 pin version. Market vendors simply call this “JST 2P”.
Always red. A white version exists in the datasheet but has not been spotted in China.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCY | 2.50mm | 2 | 28-22AWG | 250VDC | 3A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptacle | Plug | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| SYR-02T | SYP-02T-1 | — | — | — | — |
SM 2.5mm (JST compatible)
2.5mm (not 2.54mm) JST SM series compatible connector. High pin count cable to cable connector with polarization key and retention lock.
An 18 pin version exists in a 9x2P configuration that is not available in the market.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM | 2.50mm | 2-12 | 28-22AWG | 250VDC | 3A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptacle | Plug | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| SMR-xxV-B | SMP-xxV-BC | — | — | — | — |
Cable to cable & cable to board
Molex 5557 and 43025 series power connectors have mating cable mount plug connectors and PCB mount connectors.
5557 4.2mm (Molex compatible)
Molex 5557 4.2mm “Mini-Fit” compatible connectors are familiar from ATX power supplies and computer motherboards. The crimp receptacle is 5557-xxR. It mates with cable to cable plug 5559-xxP, and through-hole PCB mount connectors 5566-xxA and 5569-xxA.
The datasheet lists black crimp housings (5557-xxR-BL,5559-xxP-400), but they’re not common in China.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5557 | 4.2mm | 2-24 | 16-28AWG | 600VDC | 9A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptacle | Plug | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| 5557-xxR | 5559-xxP | 5566-xxA | 5569-xxA | — | — |
43025 3.0mm (Molex compatible)
3.0mm Molex “Micro-Fit” 43025 series compatible connector. This is a smaller 3mm version of the 5557 series above. In fact, Market and Taobao suppliers call this “5557 3.0”.
The crimp receptacle is 43025-xx00. It mates with cable to cable plug 43020-xx00, and through-hole PCB mount connectors 43045-xx12 and 43045-xx00. Through-hole PCB mount connectors are widely available in the Chinese market. Molex sells a surface mount version too, but we can’t find cheap domestic production so we’re not including it here.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43025 | 3.0mm | 2-24 | 20-30AWG | 600VDC | 5A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptacle | Plug | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| 43025-xx00 | 43020-xx00 | 43045-xx12 | 43045-xx00 | — | — |
Debug connectors
Temporary connectors like test probes, alligator clips, and pin header fall into this category.
CRHO-M 2.54mm
A male pin crimp contact that fits into the standard CRHO housing, we’re calling it CRimp HOusing Male (CRHO-M) for short. Useful for breadboards and temporary connections to female headers.
In theory these could be made for any number of pins supported by the CRHO cable to board family, but in practice we only found single pins in the market.
| Series | Pitch | Pins | Wire Size | Vmax | Amax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRHO-M | 2.54mm | 1 | 28-22AWG | 250VDC | 3A |
| Mating Connectors | Through-hole | Surface Mount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimp Housing | Top Entry | Side Entry | Top Entry | Side Entry |
| CRHO-M-xx | FHDR-2.54-xxX1P | — | — | — |
Note on cable maximum, tolerances
Most of the connectors we found are compatible with popular designs from Molex and JST, but we assume they’re made by secondary manufacturers (duff manufacturers). In this post we list specs from the original manufacturer’s datasheet where available. Tolerances and rating may not be the same for the duff parts from the market. Be sure to leave wide safety margins for current and voltage when working with no-name Chinese cables, and inspect the final cable to ensure it’s properly suited for the intended load.
Dirty Cables: Get your own custom cables
Get cheap custom cables for your project, direct from Huaqiangbei. Use the Dirty Cable creator to drag and drop wires and connectors into a cable and price custom cables from quantity 100. The example shown here is a 4 pin 1.0mm SH compatible connector broken out to 4 single pin 2.54mm CRHO-M connectors, only $0.23 each at quantity 100!
Touch it yourself: Dirty Cables Sample Pack v1.0
Need to get up close and personal with all these cables and connectors yourself? The Dirty Cables Sample Pack has all of the cable types covered in this post, plus all mating cable and PCB mount connectors. Grab it in the store for $9.95.
Taking it further
In the coming weeks we’ll cover three more categories of less common cables and connectors: crimp terminals, coaxial power connectors, and LED strip sockets.
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