Molex connectors source in NJ

[USSEnterprise]

Does anyone know of a source of molex connectors, such as those used in the Williams System 6 interboard connector, in New Jersey. I would order from GPE, but I'd like to take care of this today if possible. When I googled, all I really found were commercial distributors, who would probably not be willing to sell to the consumer. I would also need to find the Lamp Matrix power resistors, I believe they are supposed to be 27ohm, 5 watt. The only thing I can really get at RS are chip sockets, and you pay through the nose for them there. I need them too, but I'd rather find them cheaper. I will go to Marco or GPE is I have to, but I'd like to get everything locally if possible.

[ChadTower]

I effin hate those interboard connectors.  Makes me nervous every time I have to cycle one of them.  They have such a short cycle lifespan it's ridiculous.  With the vibration in a pin I think they start crapping out at like 3 cycles.

If you work on Sys3 thru 7 games with any frequency at all you may as well just order a bag of them and keep them on hand.  You'll have to replace them in every game you shop.

[USSEnterprise]

yeah, they are a PITA. I was considering replacing it with interlocking molex connectors, such as those used to connect the cabinet components to the head, but I don't know how well they would hold up, since I would need wires soldered directly onto the driver and MPU boards to work. After reseating all connectors, I got the game working for now. I just miss playing it. I don't really have the time anymore to devote to these things, but I have some spare time coming this weekend. The way I figured, 80 solder points for the IBC, 60 for the ROMs and the RAM IC, and 200 for the rest of the socketed chips. Still need to get the batteries off the MPU too. No damage as of yet. I can get all the IC sockets at radioshit for around $20, but they definitely don't carry the resistors or molex connectors. I guess off to GPE. May as well get the caps for the PSU and sound board while I'm ordering I suppose

[ChadTower]

If you were going to reengineer it you'd want to put header pins on both boards and run a wire harness.  No hard soldered wires, that bus is too important.  It may even have timing issues if you did that, not sure if adding the latency of a wire run would do anything to the CPU circuits.

[USSEnterprise]

That would make more sense, similar to the card edge connectors on GTB sys 1, but pins instead. Would make more sense, and probably would last longer than the standard replacement. Just a matter of timing issues that could present themselves.

[ChadTower]

Plus you'd have to come up with an alternate scheme for mounting the boards in your backbox.  Might be as simple as just drilling a couple of new holes in the mounting rails, maybe a bit more.  I have thought about that before but the timing uncertainty stops me.  I just don't have enough comprehension of the design to know if that would negatively affect performance.

[modessitt]

No electronics supply stores around?

If it's an oddball size you may have to order, or scavenge.  Most electronics supply stores carry a good selection.

BTW...  Radio Shack is NOT an electronics supply store.....

[ChadTower]

It's one of those oddball sizes that may as well be custom.  It's a 40 pin interboard connector that you pretty much have to reconstruct from smaller parts.