Wiring Headaches

[Zobeid]

Wiring up my cabinet has led to a number of problems. . .

1. Bad crimps.  I don't understand what it is with crimped connectors.  They are constantly coming loose and falling apart.  I've tried crushing them, I've tried mangling them, nothing works.  Crimps seem solid, then later they decide it's time to fall apart.

2. Getting connections into and out of my computer.  I have the startup-and-shutdown switch, 12 volt leads (for the marquee) and 5 volt leads (for the coin door lights).  I need to come up with some quick way to connect and disconnect these, so I can take my computer out of the case and put it back in without great hassles.

3. Exceedingly long USB cables.  I have two U360s, a TT2 and a LED-Wiz, and they all have USB cables, and they're all like six feet long.  I've tried bundling them up with zip-ties, but then I have a big bundle of cable knocking around in my cabinet, hanging up on the coin mechs, etc.

Any suggestions?

[Franco B]

1) What size wire and crimps are you using? You should have no problem gripping the wire if you are using the right size crimp for the wire, especially if you double over the wire.

2) Molex connector Get one larger than the 'standard' 4 pin HDD power one if you want to connect more than four wires, i.e you startup/shutdown switch? Actually I imagine one of the startup/shutdown cables is a ground so maybe you can get away with a four pin Molex? [+5v +12v Startup wire and ground?] I may be wrong on that, let someone confirm or dismiss it first!

3) Buy shorter cables or hack your present ones?

[Stub]

1) Use the right size crimps for the right wire thats the biggest issue with a lot of people. Second use a non insulated crimp even with insulated. { It looks like a moon shaped opening on your tool when closed. Last get a good tool, one you can put a good amount of leverage with, not the thin handled chhepos. You will do this a lot its worth the investment of $20.

2) I decided not to go with pc power. I bought Radio Shack AC adapters and wired them to a distro block. My PC stays on all the time. I dont want my Marquee to stay on. I am putting it on a switched power sensing strip along with my monitor and a few other things.

3) if you find 12 and 18 inch usb cables Ill buy them too. Might just see about making my own If I can buy the plugs.

[fjl]

I originally bought some cheap crimp tool from Radio Shack. Had the same problem you did. Every other crimp was either lose or fell off. Then I bought a good crimp tool, Klein Brand and man was there ever a huge difference. You could even feel it when your using the tool that it gets a good crimp. Don't cheap out on the tool or else the job will cheap out on you.

[Zobeid]

2) I decided not to go with pc power. I bought Radio Shack AC adapters and wired them to a distro block.

Distro block?  What is this "distro block" of which you speak?

[brock.sampson]

I believe they are talking about something like this http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103229&cp=&sr=1&origkw=wiring+block&kw=wiring+block&parentPage=search

[brock.sampson]

You could use one of these to get 12v and 5v power external.  You should be able to buy the connectors at radio shack to hook up your coin door and marquee ligths.

http://www.xoxide.com/pci-power-bracket1.html

[Stub]

I dont remember where I cam across these but I had them in the shop for years. It is the same thing as an earth ground block you would find in a breaker panel in you home but for smaller wire. Try an electrical supply store. They became my 5v and 12v buses.

[boogieman]

About the USB's.  Couldn't you just get something like these: http://www.google.com/products?q=nylon+wire+clamp&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1
And put the USB through (even after zip tied) and screw it to your cab?  It would keep them from swinging around.