Female quick disconnects vs. soldering microswitches

[MichaelA]

Wondering which is the better way to hook up microswitches, advantages or disadvantages of either?

[Ginsu Victim]

Quick disconnects are the best way to go, especially if you like to change stuff out a lot. Soldering is a bit more permanent.

[methodical]

Quick disconnects are easier to put on than soldering, aren't permanent, and they are a solid connection. Definitely the way to go.

[drventure]

+1 on the disconnects, unless you just love the smell of burning solder 

[severdhed]

quick disconnects are the way to go.  soldering is very solid, but if you need to make any changes, it is much more inconvenient.  if you are doing to crimp on a ton of connectors, do yourself a favor and get a pair of crimping pliers.  i used to use a cheap pair of wire stripper/crimpers that suck.  after about 15 connectors, my hand would be so sore.  i bought a pair of crimping pliers at harbor freight for about $6 and they were so awesome.  they have long handles and they crimped those connectors so nicely.

here is the product on their page..this is a set (the one on the right is the one i'm talking about) but i got them by themselves in the store.

http://www.harborfreight.com/linemans-pliers-and-crimping-tool-36760.html

[darcyp]

i like soldering. very solid, and not permanent at all, just heat up the solder and move it somewhere else.
that being said, i have never used quick disconnects. i already had all the soldering tools, and didnt feel the need to buy stuff for the disconnects.

[shfifty]

Quick disconnects FTW. Even if it just a simple task like replacing a broken button, it makes it soo much easier.

 

[Ginsu Victim]

i like soldering. very solid, and not permanent at all, just heat up the solder and move it somewhere else.

Never said permanent. I said a bit more permanent than quick disconnects (because once I've soldered something, I don't want to change it anymore).

Depending on the control panel, de-soldering can be a PITA.

[CheffoJeffo]

I use QDs for microswitches (unless they are an odd size and I don't have a QD handy) and solder leafswitches.

[Ginsu Victim]

I use QDs for microswitches (unless they are an odd size and I don't have a QD handy) and solder leafswitches.

Exactly as you should.

[bkenobi]

Soldering isn't permanent (as has been mentioned), but it's certainly slower.  It takes a little longer to solder in the first place, but if you need to make a single change, you have to wait for the stupid iron to heat up.  Oh, and then you get to burn yourself on the wire/solder when you pull the wire out.  

Maybe that last part is just me.  

[Ginsu Victim]

Then you accidentally touch something with the side of the iron and melt it....

[bkenobi]

Then you accidentally touch something with the side of the iron and melt it....

I've done that too.   

[MichaelA]

Thanks for all the opinions and advice, I am going to give the disconnects a try

[Blanka]

Soldering is faster and cheaper than quick disconnects. Its easier to solder than too clamp an insulated disconnect on a cable. And they can be pretty expensive too.
But the best: buy a harness for your controller. Let the Chinese do the work . The harness is already cheaper than cable + disconnects, and does not need any additional work too!

[severdhed]

Soldering is faster and cheaper than quick disconnects. Its easier to solder than too clamp an insulated disconnect on a cable. And they can be pretty expensive too.
But the best: buy a harness for your controller. Let the Chinese do the work . The harness is already cheaper than cable + disconnects, and does not need any additional work too!

that depends on how good you are at soldering.  i've soldered lots of things, but i am still pretty clumsy at it.  either way you have to strip the wire, personally i think it is quicker to slip a quick connect on and crimp it than it is to solder.  however you are right, they are expensive.

[releasedtruth]

I soldered the common in a right nice circuit, then used disconnects. Worked out pretty well, until I decided to take my control panel apart. Still not sure why I was that stupid, but disconnects definitely take more space while adding flexibility.

[JODY]

Just make sure you have the proper crimper for the disconnects.  Bad crimps will result in wires falling out or bad connections.

[DillonFoulds]

I solder anything and everything I can....

...

...EXCEPT MICROSWITCHES!

If you're really worried about saving the cost of crimper + QDs then by all means go the solder route. But as with most things, you're better off spending a couple more dollars and buy new. Buy QDs and MATCHING WIRE! I've gone with cat5e and QDs, cat5e and soldering, and in the end, i think the best wiring method was brand new 22awg wire, with all new 18-22awg QDs. If you go much bigger than the lowest gauge your QD accepts, you'll have a messier time when you're daisy-chaning the ground lines.

[CheffoJeffo]

I think the wire gauge comment is a particularly good one to make.

I've got tons of Cat3 and Cat5 cable lying around and won't ever use it to wire up controls because, while you can make it work and it can neaten things up, it isn't worth the time.

[Q*Bert_OP]

Soldering is the way to go. It's much easier for me and I don't change things unless they break...and seriously, when's the last time you had to replace a microswitch on a game in only home use? If you have had to, it was probably a poor quality knock-off switch.

Soldering is also much cheaper, and stronger...

If you choose to solder, never buy lead-free solder(unless outlawed in your country). Lead-free has other metals in it to replace the lead, which require more heat to make a connection, which increases the chance of damaging the parts being soldered, and the other metals aren't any safer, as long as you wash your hands after handling leaded solder...the lead in leaded solder stays in a solid state...the smoke that comes from soldering is the flux or rosin in the solder(still avoid breathing in the fumes whenever possible). Also, buy a temperature-regulated iron...one that shows temperatures on it, not just a scale from orange to red. The most efficient soldering irons have a tip that slips over the heating element, instead of having the tip touch the heating element at the base. I personally recommend Hakko brand soldering equipment.

[bkenobi]

...which require more heat to make a connection, which increases the chance of damaging the parts being soldered...

Which is why soldering isn't universally better than QD's.  If you have to completely disassemble a joystick to hook it up, how is that better than just plugging in the QD's?  Buttons aren't a big deal, but not all joysticks are easy to work with once installed in your panel.

For example, my LS-30's are installed in a 3/4" MDF panel.  The only way to make them work is to have them installed in a mounting plate that's routed into the TOP of the wood.  If I had to solder onto those QD posts while installed, I'd melt the stick, burn the wood, or destroy something else.  In truth, I soldered a lead of wire with QD's on each pin and it works marvelously!

[Ginsu Victim]

I don't change things unless they break...and seriously, when's the last time you had to replace a microswitch on a game in only home use?

I'm fickle. I'm always changing out buttons and sticks, or just making new panels altogether. QDs are the only thing I'll use. I soldered my very first CP and I regretted it.

[shfifty]

qd's really  aren't that expensive. I paid around $10 aud for 100 which was enough for my panel with leftovers. Should be plenty for your average 2 player panel. Considering how much money ive already sunk into this thing, another $10 really didnt hurt.

[EwJ]

Thanks for all the opinions and advice, I am going to give the disconnects a try

Just make sure you have the proper crimper for the disconnects.  Bad crimps will result in wires falling out or bad connections.

See this thread for some crimping info...mixed in with a healthy dose of asshattery. 

[JustMichael]

I would go with quick disconnects.  Why?  They are fairly cheap.  Easier to change a switch out if it goes bad.  Looks better (IMHO).  No chance of accidentally melting/burning something else in there.  Also no chance of damaging the switch (especially the spring) from the heat of a soldering iron.  If you are worried about a bad crimp on a quick disconnect and the wire slipping out, solder the wire to the quick disconnect (while NOT connected to the switch).

[Blanka]

Considering how much money ive already sunk into this thing, another $10 really didnt hurt.

That's why 17$ is not too much either
It saves you on cable, on hurt hands, on time, on clamps (the nice gold plated with transparent silicon sleeve ones used here are totally expensive to buy separate) and on crap or too expensive tools.
Quote your time at 50$/hour, and you can never beat this 17$ DIY.