Molex alternative crimp tools

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baadc0de

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 2009
Messages
797
Location
Europe
Hi,

some of the projects that I'm working on (Mako's 1176, Fester's TG, Volker's DLA2A... i'm sure more will follow) use molex or similar pin header systems that connect signals between boards, potentiometers and other wiring ends. I am wondering what kind of tools and supplies (i.e. headers, pins, ...) should I buy if I'm budget oriented and can't afford the real tool, worth over 800€ if I checked correctly. I'm located in europe. Those are, I think, 0.1" headers, most of them, though some TG interconnects are 0.2"

Thanks,
B.
 
Ok, so it isn't 800€, bot for 0.1" and 0.2" crimping duties.. there's

http://uk.farnell.com/molex/63811-7500/hand-tool/dp/1518256
http://uk.farnell.com/molex/63811-8200/hand-crimp-tool/dp/1630513

So that makes almost 500€ with shipping. I am sure the quality is impeccable, but it is rather a lot for me to give away for two tools.. so, any cheaper options out there?
 
Ebay is your friend. These are NEW tools

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=molex+crimp+tool&_sacat=0&_odkw=molex&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313


Frank
 
I never find the need of some special tooling for those molex crimp style connectors, i solder and crimp with simple electrician crimping tool, and a small electronic plier, and that's it, never had any problem, soldering makes it better.
 
zayance said:
I never find the need of some special tooling for those molex crimp style connectors, i solder and crimp with simple electrician crimping tool, and a small electronic plier, and that's it, never had any problem, soldering makes it better.
+1 :)
 
jsteiger said:
zayance said:
I never find the need of some special tooling for those molex crimp style connectors, i solder and crimp with simple electrician crimping tool, and a small electronic plier, and that's it, never had any problem, soldering makes it better.
+1 :)

gah! You people do have to make it look obvious, don't you :) thanks for the advice and ebay link.
 
Also, banzai sell various ones all made up.

They are quite short, but I use them and extend them if needed.

The above method works great but is still a bit fiddly and time consuming.
 
Ptownkid said:
I switched to idc connectors a while ago and I'm never looking back.

are they not harder to work with?
Just asking cause I've never used them so far.
 
Ptownkid said:
I switched to idc connectors a while ago and I'm never looking back.

Very intrigued, do you have some links to which ones you would pick as usual molex 0.1" replacements? I mean, which ones are you so happy with?

Cheers,
B.
 
I use the tyco mta-100 series

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=A30835-ND

this is the tool

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=A9982-ND

they are also available in 0.156"
 
Ptownkid said:
I use the tyco mta-100 series

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=A30835-ND

this is the tool

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=A9982-ND

they are also available in 0.156"

Thanks!
 
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=A19270-ND is this also required for a good connection?
 
zayance said:
I never find the need of some special tooling for those molex crimp style connectors, i solder and crimp with simple electrician crimping tool, and a small electronic plier, and that's it, never had any problem, soldering makes it better.

I do the same. But it's very time consuming, and also sometimes pushing the crimped & soldered pin into its plastic slot fails and it bends ever so slightly and never snaps perfectly in place. I haven't found a bullet proof way of avoiding this so I just live with the connectors where not all the pins are perfectly aligned.

But I would not use a crimper tool either. I don't trust the mere push-on physical contact. The connectors need the solder because otherwise they will come loose from yanking out and moving the cabling around.

This is especially crucial in test equipment where you will be yanking out the connector often.
 
Hello there,

I have been using HE-14 connectors, and a hand tool similar to the one that Ptownkid describes, (RS 532462). However, this tool has plastic teeth, which become munted after a while. The second time this happened, I took the plunge and upgraded to the RS 1862685 tool, and the single row 1862691.
These cost quite a bit a bit more, but are much cheaper than some other alternatives. If you do enough of this, and can justify the outlay, I totally recommend these tools. These levered crimp tools work far more effectively and reliably than the hand tool, and are excellently designed. They still crimp one wire at a time, but the mechanism is really good to use. I have been using IDC connectors for some years now, and they have proved completely reliable. This tool is definitely worth a look.

All the best,
aomahana.
 
I have some crimping tools, from some for AW24 wire up to AW00 (well whats 150mm2 in AW rating?)  8)

I got also a set from ebay some time ago, with different inserts for unshielded, shielded,... connectors.

Looks like the good stuff and works like ... shit. The dies are not perfect, lots of miscrimping, sometimes the crimped connectors get stucked inside the dies and after some time the release mechanism of the crimp tool failed. Ok, was just 35-50 euros or so, but i hate to buy cheap tools (what i never do normally) just to find myself buying better ones later.

Beside these facts ... the 250 euro pricetag for some crimping tools is still a heavy one ...

Like said before .. if you just do some diy cases, take some pliers and do it by hand, finish with solder. After some time you get nice results and a good connection.
 
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