Connector Plugs for Thin (Magnet) Wires

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I’m connecting some Arduino circuits using thin magnet wires. I want to be able to connect and disconnect the wires using some sort of plugs. These wires will be running under the layout.

I don’t want to solder these wires, since I may be connecting or disconnecting different wires.

Does anyone know of some good connectors for magnet wires?

2

The best connectors I’ve found for small wires are the 2.54mm/.1” Header Strips. They can be cut to any contact configuration.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Header-Strip-Connector-40Pin-2-54mm-Round-Male-Female-Single-Double-Straight-US/253823347087?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=553112779320&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

They end up about 2¢ per pin.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

3

assuming you want to connect the wire into a header on an arduino mounted under the layout.

i’ve soldered thin 30g wires to cut off resistor leads and just pushed the soldered leads into the arduino header.

4

The pin & socket that Mel showed is based on a NEM 652 which has a pin spacing of 2.54 MM. There is also a plug and socked based on the NEM 651 which has a pin spacing of 0.05 between the pins. Some DCC suppliers stock these in 40 pin single row headers which you can cut to a length you need. Much smaller than the 652.

5

I was wondering about the .05”/1.27mm header strips, have you tried any of them? I prefer the round pin .1”/2.54mm connectors mainly because you can easily swap the pins to make polarized connectors.

I do use the square pin (Arduino type) for structure lighting but really like the round pin for passenger car lighting. All of my structure lighting is incandescent so polarity isn’t important. I have cut over to LEDs in my passenger cars so polarity is important.

I have been kicking around getting some .05”/1.27mm headers and found a vender on eBay for the round pin but haven’t gone there yet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5Pcs-Gold-Plated-1-27mm-50-Pin-Male-Single-Row-Straight-Round-Pin-Header-Strip/180882874665?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D7e2d75d976cc485a80b5951044ff42f6%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D180882874665%26itm%3D180882874665%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2060778%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

6

Thanks, everyone, for your help.

I am going to order several different kinds and see which I like the best. They are all very cheap.

At times like this, I wish we still had electronics stores nearby with products that one could pick up and look at.

Thanks again.

7

Mel, that is all I use. The round pins & sockets. 1.27MM. IF I need to index- I use one pin for indexing. Cut off the pin and solder close the matching socket-

8

That’s the way I did the larger connectors until I figured out I could swap pins. I’m going to order some today.

Thanks for the info.

EDIT:

Expensive little buggars. $20.34 S&H + State Tax for 3 each, 50 pin male & 50 pin female. 6.78¢ per pin. The 2.54mm headers are 1.4¢ per pin.

EDIT 2:

There are 5 headers per package for $20.34 or 4¢ per pin.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

9

I use this company for all my connector needs. https://www.peconnectors.com/

They have a huge selection of connectors and they are pretty easy to sort through.

most ardiuno stuff is .1" (2.54mm) spacing.

Hope this helps.

10

Woodone

I received the .05” header strips yesterday, 10 days is very fast from China. I’m very impressed with the size. I was able to remove the pins for polarizing the connectors. The only things I don’t like are losing a pin for each cut and the price per pin is way up there, 4¢ per pin.

Thanks for the info! The tiny connectors will come in handy for automation projects. I think I’ll stick with the .1”/2.54mm headers for normal stuff.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.