Main > Main Forum
Network cables for wiring
<< < (3/5) > >>
Nephasth:

--- Quote from: wcndave on October 20, 2012, 03:56:46 am ---Thanks really for some very good detailed replies, and to you too Nap ;-)

--- End quote ---

I'm assuming I'm "Nap"...

I prefer to build my own harnesses. If you do, you aren't limited by the number of wires present in the cable you're trying to hack. I like to use Molex Micro-Fit connectors for most of my custom harnesses. With only about $38 in "special tools", you can make the appropriate crimps on the terminal pins for most types of connectors.

Here's my LED harnesses for one panel finished before installation:


A closeup of my favored connectors:


Here's a few harnesses installed in one of my panels:


Better? ;)
wcndave:
Sorry Nep!

Great pics.  Question: How do you connect the ground wires in the Molex Block? or do you have 2 wires for each element from the block and then deal with that at the other end? ie where you connect those molex blocks to.

Looks very organised! mine is a birds nest at the moment.  I have gold leaf switches with tiny connectors, so planning on soldering them on.

One thing  found with Molex is that on motherboards they require some fore to to get in/out.  One of my reasons for considering network cables was that they are so easy to plug, however don't fall out.
wcndave:
Wow, looks like it could get expensive, Molex site doesnt have crimpers and first 5 or so google results took me to things like this: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/connector-tooling/0501061/?origin=PSF_348497|acc £200 ($300).

Did you get some kind of kit or something?
Nephasth:

--- Quote from: wcndave on October 20, 2012, 12:50:50 pm ---Question: How do you connect the ground wires in the Molex Block? or do you have 2 wires for each element from the block and then deal with that at the other end? ie where you connect those molex blocks to.

--- End quote ---

Those "blocks" are male connectors. They connect into female connector housings installed on the ends of the cabinet harnesses, the cabinet harnesses run to the encoders/controllers. Ground is just one wire running through the harness per encoder/controller.

Took me a lot of digging, but I found some amazing deals on tools and parts for Molex stuff. A lot is hidden in plain sight...
yotsuya:
On Neph's advice, I bought a Molex crimper. Besides my router and table saw, it's been the best investment for this hobby that I've made.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page

Go to full version