crimp-style db25 question

[GaryMcT]

I bought some male and female db25 connectors at RadioShack that use crimping instead of solder (since my eyes suck bad enough that soldering is nearly impossible) along with a tool to crimp.  The tools says that it works with three different sized pins (20, 24, 28), but the connectors don't bother to mention what size the pins are.  Any ideas?

Here's the crimper:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103683

female connector:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102865

male connector:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102864

Thanks!
Gary

[Havok]

That should work fine. I forget which size to use, but just try and crimp one connection and see if it's tight enough. If it isn't, go on to the next smallest.

You do have to remove the pins to crimp one at a time, so you should pick this up:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102600

And this when you're done:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102869

[MonMotha]

The numbers listed on the crimper are in AWG (american wire gauge).  The contacts are likely good at either size.  Basically, the smaller section is for 24-28AWG, and the larger section is for 20-24AWG.  24AWG can go in either size: you pick which one based upon insulation thickness.

I've never been a fan of the crimp style.  I usually have at least wire on a 25 pin connector break off (either due to being overcrimped or undercrimped or just getting unlucky), and it's extremely difficult to back the contact back out for replacement.

[GaryMcT]

Ugh, having a terrible time with this!  Soldering was a bug giant fail since everything is so small on the db25.  The pin things tend to break. . . I think I'm going try again and just get a couple db25 cables, cut off the ends, label the individual wires, etc.

What I'm trying to do is to basically have a db25 coming out of a i-pac4 with the 24 (+ground) most important connections so that I can build multiple control panels to go with it.  I'm also building a converter from a Defender control panel harness to db25 as a tester.  Hopefully cutting up an existing cable will work just fine . . hopefully they are fully populated.  I'll stop by vetco tomorrow and see what they have.

Thanks!
Gary

[GaryMcT]

If all else fails, I'm going to get one of these for the ipac 4 side:

http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk25.php

[HaRuMaN]

Juts get DB25 cables and cut them in half.  Monoprice has them for cheap.

[GaryMcT]

Juts get DB25 cables and cut them in half.  Monoprice has them for cheap.

Thanks!  I finally figured that out last night and ran by Vetco on the way to work and picked up a M/F fully populated DB25 cable.  Excellent!

I've sworn to avoid trying to solder anything that tiny anymore.