small electrical connectors

[JoeW]

Hi Gang
I am hoping some of you might share some recommendations for small and sub-miniature electrical connectors.  Something you might use for low voltage animation projects. street and structure lighting etc.
As always I appreciate the experience and well thought out comments I get.  Thank you 

[Lemosteam]

Digitkey sells male and female micro USB connectors. I have used them in steam locos for two function decoders to disconnect tenders.  They're cheap too.  A little shrink wrap makes a nice safe robust connection.

[central.vermont]

Digitkey sells male and female micro USB connectors. I have used them in steam locos for two function decoders to disconnect tenders.  They're cheap too.  A little shrink wrap makes a nice safe robust connection.

John,
Do you have a specific part # for this? I went to Digikey's site but was unsure as too which one. Had about 500 to choose from!!


Jon

[SkipGear]

50 pin .050" pitch edge card connectors. Get both male and female. Cut off as many connections as you need for the plug to create your own custom plugs. These also happen to fit the connectors inside Bachmann tenders.

The street lights on this HO layout use a 2 pin male female set to power and locate them. If you bump one when cleaning the layout, the fall over and you just plug it back in. Same goes if a bulb fails. I have a dozen or so made up, ready to replace if need be. The only challenge are the ones with signage mounted on them.

[JoeW]

Digikey's selection can be overwhelming sometimes, that is why I brought the question to the group.  I was hoping to narrow down the selection.  Tony's recommendation helps to start the parsing process.  Tony in case you come back to this post, is the .05 referring to the spacing the distance between pin and socket or does it represent some other specification?

[C855B]

Yes, 0.05" is the pitch, or pin spacing. Tony will have to get back to us because I also starting looking through both Digikey and Mouser and ran into a brick wall on .05-pitch pin header systems.

[SkipGear]

I honestly gave up trying to find them in Digikey also. Found them on Ebay for $1 each. I bought 10 male and 10 female to last me for a while.

[SkipGear]

A quick search to show you what they look like.

Here is a 50pc bundle of males 40 pins for $5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50PCS-2-54mm-40-Pin-Male-Single-Row-Pin-Header-Strip-GOOD-QUALITY-/300807444359?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4609855787

[C855B]

Oops... Tony, those are 0.1"/2.54mm pitch. I was unable to find the 0.05 pitch on eBay, but probably didn't have the right keywords to get it.

Well, I did find a 40-pin 0.05 two-row header at Digikey: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/M50-3502042/952-1387-ND/2264368

And here's a corresponding socket: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/M50-3002045/952-1369-5-ND/2264350

Basically, these two-row headers or something similar are what I've been contemplating for mounting/connecting signals. I'm still trying to think through how to do it without ballast fouling things.

[SkipGear]

Here we go.  1.27mm pitch = .050"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-Gold-plated-copper-Pitch-1-27mm-50-Pin-Male-Single-Row-Pin-Header-Strip-/160976935736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257af91b38

[C855B]

1.27mm. Of course.

A corresponding socket: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-PCS-50-pin-1-27mm-Single-Row-Female-Header-Socket-New-/181488150963?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a418969b3

Great finds, Tony.

[peteski]

I'm also a long time Digikey customer.  The selection can be overwhelming (especially on the website).  I preferred their phone book size printed catalog.  I haven't received one for a while but I think they still print it (and send it for free if you request it).

Here is a small 9-pin connector I use (male and female):
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?x=0&y=0&lang=en&site=us&keywords=609-1570
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?KeyWords=609-1588&WT.z_header=search_go

I am also a big fan of the 0.05" pitch headers and sockets others have mentioned.  I buy both single and double ones then cut off as many as I need to make a multi-pin connector.
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?KeyWords=ed8250
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?KeyWords=ed8450

and double row
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/853-93-100-10-001000/ED85100-ND/279662
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/852-10-100-10-001000/ED83100-ND/279660

[JoeW]

Alright just got back to check on the post.  Wow I really appreciate the links and part number references 'especially' to the Digikey product line.  Thanks Peteski you always come through for me.  Mike thanks for clarifying the specs on the connectors Tony recommended.  Tony thanks for coming back and posting the links to the ebay supplier.  I put a Digikey order together for some soldering tips and cleaner to freshen up my old trusty Weller.  I ordered some male and female .05 connectors and shrink tubing.  Looking forward to getting them.  Thanks again gang you've saved me some time.