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This. I would also love to know what connectors I should use for my hobby projects. I’m also designing my first PCB board and something as simple as choosing c

by kaik 7y ago

This. I would also love to know what connectors I should use for my hobby projects. I’m also designing my first PCB board and something as simple as choosing connectors is daunting...

nlfwhulsdhouv 7y ago
If it's your first project, stick with common 0.1" headers unless you need something very specific (small, high pin count, etc). You can buy locking versions if needed.
- skybrian 7y ago
  What are locking headers?
  - nlfwhulsdhouv 7y ago
    A 'header' is a board-to-board or wire-to-board connector: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/w-rth-elektronik/61300411121/732-5317-ND/4846827 https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/w-rth-elektronik/6... This is the type of connector most commonly used in hobby electronics, such as on the Arduino and Raspberry Pi. 0.1" is the 'pitch', the distance between pins. I picked a 1x4 (meaning <rows> x <pins> or <rows> x <pins per row>) version, but they come in many different pin and row counts. The version above is very simple, just bare pins that would get soldered to a PCB. There are many that come with additional 'features' that could be useful. For instance, you could get a locking header that has a tab to retain the connection against vibration or tugging. Or you can get a key or shroud that forces the connector to be inserted in the correct orientation. They also come in versions that support soldering directly to a PCB, vertically or at a right angle, or connecting to wires directly. Here is a locking header: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex/0022232041/WM4202-ND/26671 https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex/0022232041/W... If you scroll down to 'mating products' you can find wire-to-board connectors designed to mate with it.
bsder 7y ago
Through-hole .100 headers. Always. Unless you have a REALLY good reason otherwise. (weatherproofing, signal integrity, compatibility with existing solution, etc.) First, if you have a small number of pins (up to about 4-6), a 2x2 or 2x3 .100 header isn't that much larger than any alternative. Compare this: https://www.tag-connect.com/product/tc2030-fp-footprint https://www.tag-connect.com/product/tc2030-fp-footprint to a 2x2 of .100 headers. It's actually bigger, and now you need a special cable instead of that bag of .100" jumper wires you have. If you have something like 20 genuinely used pins (not 6 active and 14 unused), okay, you may need a different connector. But are you really sure about this? 20 pins communicating simultaneously has signal integrity needs and small connectors have WAY more coupling than .100" spacing. Second, through-hole is always way more stable than no-through hole. Once you give your smaller pitch connector through holes, is it really smaller than .100"? Third, manufacturers have no problems with .100" headers. Smaller pitches may increase the cost of your board. Try costing out a board that can mount and route a modern USB-C connector which has both surface mount and through-hole at small pitch. You're probably going to get a cost bump. Fourth, you can buy really long .100" headers which allow you to conect to them and put a scope probe underneath. That's really convenient for debugging. So, go through-hole .100" header until you've got a good reason otherwise.
- skybrian 7y ago
  I have a bunch of male and female header and wires, but now I'm looking at whether to buy right-angle header because I will have a couple of boards that are close together and having straight-up pins on the bottom board gets awkward. Then I start looking into various kinds of connectors, and wonder if I'm overthinking it.
- nlfwhulsdhouv 7y ago
  I agree overall but that's a weird comparison with the tag connect. It's not meant to be small, it's meant to avoid soldering a header down to the target board for programming. It's useful for Z-height or cost savings, not for XY savings.
  - bsder 7y ago

by kaik 7y ago

This. I would also love to know what connectors I should use for my hobby projects. I’m also designing my first PCB board and something as simple as choosing connectors is daunting...

nlfwhulsdhouv 7y ago

If it's your first project, stick with common 0.1" headers unless you need something very specific (small, high pin count, etc). You can buy locking versions if needed.

skybrian 7y ago
What are locking headers?
- nlfwhulsdhouv 7y ago
  A 'header' is a board-to-board or wire-to-board connector: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/w-rth-elektronik/61300411121/732-5317-ND/4846827 https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/w-rth-elektronik/6... This is the type of connector most commonly used in hobby electronics, such as on the Arduino and Raspberry Pi. 0.1" is the 'pitch', the distance between pins. I picked a 1x4 (meaning <rows> x <pins> or <rows> x <pins per row>) version, but they come in many different pin and row counts. The version above is very simple, just bare pins that would get soldered to a PCB. There are many that come with additional 'features' that could be useful. For instance, you could get a locking header that has a tab to retain the connection against vibration or tugging. Or you can get a key or shroud that forces the connector to be inserted in the correct orientation. They also come in versions that support soldering directly to a PCB, vertically or at a right angle, or connecting to wires directly. Here is a locking header: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex/0022232041/WM4202-ND/26671 https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex/0022232041/W... If you scroll down to 'mating products' you can find wire-to-board connectors designed to mate with it.

bsder 7y ago

Through-hole .100 headers. Always. Unless you have a REALLY good reason otherwise. (weatherproofing, signal integrity, compatibility with existing solution, etc.) First, if you have a small number of pins (up to about 4-6), a 2x2 or 2x3 .100 header isn't that much larger than any alternative. Compare this: https://www.tag-connect.com/product/tc2030-fp-footprint https://www.tag-connect.com/product/tc2030-fp-footprint to a 2x2 of .100 headers. It's actually bigger, and now you need a special cable instead of that bag of .100" jumper wires you have. If you have something like 20 genuinely used pins (not 6 active and 14 unused), okay, you may need a different connector. But are you really sure about this? 20 pins communicating simultaneously has signal integrity needs and small connectors have WAY more coupling than .100" spacing. Second, through-hole is always way more stable than no-through hole. Once you give your smaller pitch connector through holes, is it really smaller than .100"? Third, manufacturers have no problems with .100" headers. Smaller pitches may increase the cost of your board. Try costing out a board that can mount and route a modern USB-C connector which has both surface mount and through-hole at small pitch. You're probably going to get a cost bump. Fourth, you can buy really long .100" headers which allow you to conect to them and put a scope probe underneath. That's really convenient for debugging. So, go through-hole .100" header until you've got a good reason otherwise.

skybrian 7y ago
I have a bunch of male and female header and wires, but now I'm looking at whether to buy right-angle header because I will have a couple of boards that are close together and having straight-up pins on the bottom board gets awkward. Then I start looking into various kinds of connectors, and wonder if I'm overthinking it.
nlfwhulsdhouv 7y ago
I agree overall but that's a weird comparison with the tag connect. It's not meant to be small, it's meant to avoid soldering a header down to the target board for programming. It's useful for Z-height or cost savings, not for XY savings.
- bsder 7y ago