MOLEX interconnects

[radiogareth]

I'm hoping to do a lovely neat job of interconnecting all the Portsdown boards. I've sorted SMA plugs (crimp) and sockets, now I'm hoping NOT to have to make up the molex cables from the Filter Modulator board. Pigtails might help, or 300mm long plug to plug leads I can cut up. Drawn a blank on even eBay, but maybe my search term isn't throwing up what I expect. There MUST be something I can reuse rather than order the parts and crimp them all. I did that one when I was more agile. What have people used as their source?
Tnx
Gareth

[M0SKM]

Hi Gareth,

You can solder the Molex.

I didn't have a crimp tool either so I took a small iron bit to them. I suspect many people do.

73
Steve

[MN-tech]

There are screw terminals with the same pitch as the Molex connectors.
Farnell 3041414
Farnell 2396253

[Wolfie G8VAT]

We Solder the Molex all the time at work, you have to be really quick with that iron or the resulting blob will prevent the terminals going in the housing or bridge the latch or both.

[G8GKQ]

I've soldered all mine

Dave, G8GKQ

[radiogareth]

Ordered some up, soldering it is. I've got the screw terminals one end, as my board was ready built I thought I'd follow it through as designed.

Tnx everyone.

[M0YDH]

I have a crimping tool bought from Ebay for £40 or so. It was described as universal mini micro crimping tool molex kk zh jst xh sl amp jst engineer PA-09. Anyway it makes a very good job of fiddly Molex connections. I bought a lot from Bright Components and am running out because I've used them all over the show. The Crimping tool for Powerpoles [from SOTABeams] is also wonderful and Stripmaster wire strippers are a marvel! There's a lot of wiring in DATV.
David M0YDH

[M1ASR]

I have a pair of "Radiospares" (AKA RS Components) crimping pliers from the early 80's! I dug them out for the Portsdown Project and they work great. I aways tin the wires before crimping. I prefer crimping, as proper crimping ensures that the strain relief tags are properly done. However, given the environment in which these molex connectors are being used, soldering is more than adequate.

Graham M1ASR

[gordon]

Soldering is just fine provided that you don't use a lot of solder. I have noted also that often the latches do not engage properly and the wire will then push out when the socket is engaged. Its best to buy branded parts from trusted distributors rather than buying from Ebay shops.

Gordon, G3ZYL