rugged connector?

[Marsupial]

I have a 1st gen Act Lab that I want to rewire in order to have the gun made removable. My idea is to have a nice n' solid connector in front of the cab to wich connect the gun when needed.

I've seen panel-mount connectors, but limited to a few connections. The act lab gun is 14 connections IIRC.

Ideally, I'd need 15 contacts on a screw-on connector; like that


I'd need both side. Problem is, the only ones I've found are military grade amphenol ones at 30$+ per connectors (often 100$/ea)

Anyone know of a good solution for such connectors?

Thanks.

[NickG]

these are cheaper, and also much easier to connect/disconnect:  http://www.mouser.com/Interconnects/Circular-Connectors/Standard-Circular-Connectors/_/N-76q5m?P=1z0wxooZ1z0j2j5Z1z0z812.

[MonMotha]

+1 for the AMP CPC series.  They're basically commercial grade versions of those milspec connectors (though not physically compatible).

You might also look at simple D-Sub connectors.  They'll be dirt cheap but not particularly rugged.  They may be more suitable for a pigtailed gun with an in-line connection rather than panel-mount.

If you want them unbelievably rugged, though, or especially if you want it to handle substantial tensional force, you'll want the mil-spec version.  Quality costs money.  Those military spec Amphenol connectors are essentially indestructible.  They use them on navy vessels.  You at least probably don't need the waterproof version.  $20-30 seems reasonable for what they are.

There are plenty of other options out there, but I can't think of any off my head that are readily available in low volume.  Open up a Digi-Key catalog and page through.  They'll have nice drawings on every page.

And any reason this is in BST?

[northerngames]

just a standard VGA male & female socket with metal housing's would be the same really.

or save the money on thesockets and put it toward a new usb act labs gun and put a female panel mount usb on the cab.

I have two usb panel mounts on each side of the 39" showcase cab for the aimtrak's and they work fine.

 unless of coarse you plan on diving over or doing the guerrilla roll behind your coach's for cover your fine  

[Marsupial]

I like those screw-in connectors! do they have the other end too?

I don't really want super rugged style, just be able to screw the gun in and leave it in the hands of my toddlers with no fear they will unplug it in the middle of the game... a normal De-15 is far from that. Unless you know of a rugged style metal housing for them.

I am thinking maybe I could get both ends of a milspec one in a military surplus store?

The idea is to make it panel-mount, on the bottom front of the cab. This way I can remove the gun for most time, and connect it only when using a gun-game. Right now the gun is "always" there... trust me its not the best idea with toddlers around.

(next step will be to change the calibration button to a physical key switch, really)

[MonMotha]

You can buy fully metal D-Sub hoods.  Even the plastic ones are fairly rugged, though.  I'd think they'd break the connector or the gun itself before breaking even a plastic D-Sub hood.

I think the biggest issue in your case would be the attachment mechanism: they'll be fairly inconvenient, even with the thumbscrew style, though reasonably secure.