BINGO! Cheap servo connectors!

[Gary Warner]

I knew it... someone had to have these things at a better price then hobby suppliers.

Connectors, pins, crimpers, etc. (http://www.action-electronics.com/molex.htm#Bls)

3 pin headers: <.06 cents ea. (@ 50 piece order)

Gold plated female pins: <.03 cents ea. (@ 100 piece order)

Up to now, I've paid .15 cents for the headers and .10 cents for the pins. With tax that's .3788 cents for each header made. That's about 250% savings over a local surplus supplier and over a 600% savings over a well known discount hobby supplier.

I ordered enough to make 300 connectors (I use them in stuff I sell). Shipped to my door price of .1371 cents each for both pins and headers. I only use two pins per three pin header. Three pins per header would have been .1620 cents each.

The $9.10 shipping is steep if all you want is a few of them. Get with your friends and make it worth it.

[BushmanLA]

I love you man.

[Chippie]

Its a real big shame that they do not ship overseas...
( where's the 'sad' smiley? )

[Gary Warner]

I love you man.
I'm touched, though a simple thank you will do. :D :p :D :p

[Tomapowa]

:D Too bad these are not "keyed" like the Futaba-like connectors.

Also, do these need a little "shaving" on one side to make them fit in JR receivers? (I think so as they do not appear chamfered on one end).

I buy my connectors (Futaba or JR style) from a fellow in China (Ebay actually). A 30" peice of multi-colored wire is already crimped and tinned on the other end. I think I get them bulk (100+) for under 50 cents each (granted, not 18-20 cents each but still worth it as I only need to solder them on).

".15 cents"... etc... ?? :confused:
I think you meant "15 cents" (decimal not needed & confusing... but still cheap! :D )

[Steve Guinn]

Do you want Action or Climax? :D
http://www.climaxelectronics.com/molex.htm

[BlazerB52]

Could someone tell me the part numbers so i don't make a mistake when ordering 3 pin housing and male and female pins?

BlazerB52

[Tomapowa]

Could someone tell me the part numbers so i don't make a mistake when ordering 3 pin housing and male and female pins?

BlazerB52

These are "male" type connectors. I can not find female (receptor) types on Action... although they do sell standard .1" spaced headers for PCBs, etc....

Shells :
# BLS-3 3-Circuit KK. 50 Pack $2.85

Pins:
# BLS-PIN/F (0.025 Pins 100pack) $2.49

[BlazerB52]

I was getting my stuff from www.hansenhobbies.com product link on top of page.

I was buying the cheap xtra long ext. leads, cutting them to length then applying connectors to one end for custom length extensions.

Blazer

[BlazerB52]

Hansens has the outer sleeves for the connectors,also the Futaba bladed male conn., seems better to get the pins from above.

Also, If I don't plan on disconnecting the ext. leads. I will just push the male end in the other connector and use heat shrink to secure it with out using an outer sleeve.

Blazer

[dc812]

Which pins and which crimper do you use for Hitec Servos?

[AndyOne]

The whole subject of crimping your own servo connectors is IMO a mine-field. I've seen servo connector crimping tools sold by so-called reputable outlets that didn't get any where near doing a proper job. I bought two of these from different suppliers and neither of them would crimp tight enough to produce the "cold weld" necessary for the kind of reliability needed for R/C flying. One of them left the conductor so loose that were it not for the insulation grip it would have fallen out under its own weight. I finally bought a non-ratchet tool (not the best option) as I selected it as the only one suitable for the kind of safety factor I need.

My method of testing a crimp, albeit destructive, is to make off the crimp then very carefully remove the insulation grip. Then I pull on the wire and see if it breaks or pulls out of the pin. If it pulls out, it's no good.

My 2 pence worth.

Andy.

[Peter Seddon]

Andy,

I bought one of these http://www.ashtekelectronics.com/shop/servo-crimp-tool-p29855.html and followed Ash's instructions as to how to use it to crimp servo leads. I am please with the result and the wires don't pull out. The tool has adjustable pressure.

regards Peter

[AndyOne]

Peter,

I had one of those from Ashtek ( to be more precise the replacement blue handled type) and had the opposite conclusion. On closer inspection of the jaws I noted that they were quite crudely cast not machined as you might expect. There wasn't the definition to the crimp as a result of the jaw profile the wires would pull out of the pins no matter where I set the adjustment.
I should add that all other products I have had from Ashtek have been good and to his credit Ash did tell me that the crimp tool was a budget one and refunded the cost with no argument.

Andy.

[Gary Warner]

I'm making 100 battery holders today. I'll mess up maybe one pin out of two hundred. Practice makes perfect. Unfortunately, most hobby guys don't have extra pins lying around.

My hand will be sore tonight. Is it heat or cold for this kind of sprain?

[Steve Guinn]

:cool: Cold for the first 24 hours, then heat.

[Gary Warner]

:cool: Cold for the first 24 hours, then heat.
Thanks! Last time I did this my hand hurt for weeks (old injury).

[mike50]

The whole subject of crimping your own servo connectors is IMO a mine-field. I've seen servo connector crimping tools sold by so-called reputable outlets that didn't get any where near doing a proper job. I bought two of these from different suppliers and neither of them would crimp tight enough to produce the "cold weld" necessary for the kind of reliability needed for R/C flying. One of them left the conductor so loose that were it not for the insulation grip it would have fallen out under its own weight. I finally bought a non-ratchet tool (not the best option) as I selected it as the only one suitable for the kind of safety factor I need.

My method of testing a crimp, albeit destructive, is to make off the crimp then very carefully remove the insulation grip. Then I pull on the wire and see if it breaks or pulls out of the pin. If it pulls out, it's no good.

My 2 pence worth.

Andy.
I've had similar experiences with crimping connectors. I think I have bought at least 3 or 4 crimping tools and could never get good crimps. But I have bought the last one I will buy. The "deluxe" crimping tool I got at Hansen Hobbies works perfectly. I actually enjoy making connectors now! I had previously bought the "economy" crimping tool from Hansen, but the "deluxe" tool is more than worth the extra money.

Mike

[XJet]

This might be an even cheaper (and easier) option:

300mm extensions $0.53 each (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11985)

__________________
When I'm not here I'm at RCModelReviews

[BushmanLA]

This might be an even cheaper (and easier) option:

300mm extensions $0.53 each (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11985)



I just discovered that site as well....
All those cheap products are going to make me go broke :D

New toys for my guns too!

[XJet]

I just discovered that site as well....
All those cheap products are going to make me go broke :D

New toys for my guns too!

True, but those prices are even *better* when you consider that there's *no* shipping charges!

How do they do it? I have no idea but so far the stuff I've bought from them (over the past 6-months or so) has generally been pretty good value (providing you realize that we're talking *cheap* here).

[TheSteve]

Buy 10 sets and the price goes down to 4.48 for each 10 pack.

[Tram]

Nice thread.. :)

Thought I'd bump it for anyone else looking to get into the "roll your own" game..


Jeff
www.CommonSenseRC.com

[tomahawkflier]

I'm making 100 battery holders today. I'll mess up maybe one pin out of two hundred. Practice makes perfect. Unfortunately, most hobby guys don't have extra pins lying around.

My hand will be sore tonight. Is it heat or cold for this kind of sprain?

Cool to deal with the swelling, Then anti-inflammatory cream to improve circulation to aid with muscle repair.

[Gary Warner]

Cool to deal with the swelling, Then anti-inflammatory cream to improve circulation to aid with muscle repair.

It's been a while since I posted this, but my hand now seems to be better, just through repetition. I made 60 in one sitting last week and no pain. I guess I just needed to push through the pain and stop being a baby about it. ;)

[Steph280]

I wished I had discovered this thread sooner. I just bought some from another place for over double the price. And this Action electronics is only 15 mins from where I live! :(

[FlyAndy]

Does anyone know a part number for the male servo pins? I have looked through all the 0.1" pitch crimp pins on digikey and mouser, but have not found the exact pin - does anyone know who makes them?

The female plugs can be made very cheaply, it would be nice if we could identify a source for the male parts.

[Andrew0820]

Jameco Electronics (www.jameco.com)

Male pins: Jameco Part No.: 145358
Female pins: Jameco Part No.: 100766
3 circuit non-polarized housing: 157383

Catalog 292; page 69

andrew

[dmccormick001]

I get all my servo connectors, wire, etc. from Hansen Hobbies. Good prices, great service, and quick. Here are the male connectors, be sure to check out the site for all the other stuff Chris sells.

http://www.hansenhobbies.com/products/connectors/servoconnectors/pt1in_mt/

[Andrew0820]

I get all my servo connectors, wire, etc. from Hansen Hobbies. Good prices, great service, and quick. Here are the male connectors, be sure to check out the site for all the other stuff Chris sells.



That's good pricing in the pins --- plus they're rated at 3A. Do you know if they ship loose or on a roll.

Thanks, David

andrew

[dmccormick001]

Chris ships them loose in a small plastic baggie. He's recently added several different types of servo wire, including some heavy-duty twisted wire for digital servos that pull a lot of current, as well as some smaller gauge extremely flexible wire for things like navigation lights and such.

[Tomapowa]

Figured I'd pass on this pretty good deal... a decent pair of D-sub male/female servo pin crimpers (ratcheting even) for $20 (not sure on S/H).
I have a very similar pr. ($20 @ Harbor Freight last year.. they no longer stock it unfort.) and they work great!

http://servocity.com/assets/images/Crimpers_1.7.jpg

http://servocity.com/html/pin_crimpers.html

[Ron W3FJW]

Now that's a great deal. Tried HF yesterday hoping there might be some old stock hanging around but no joy to be had..... :(