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Get your cable and connectors here!

6127 Views 42 Replies 18 Participants Last post by rschultz101, Mar 21, 2011

piesoup

Discussion Starter · Jan 6, 2010

Right, after searching high an low I have finally found suitable cable and connectors.
I had looked at the Binder 720 and 620 series. The 720 was a bit big at nearly an inch in dia. The 620 seemed perfect except I could not find anyone to sell them to me in the UK, other than batches of 100. Per component!

Hirose H30 also looked good but again, couldnt find a seller. Rapid, RS and Farnell sell then, but not enough to make a set. Cant understand that

So, I found Switchcraft EN3 series. Not expensive, small and waterproof. They can handle 7A, enough for us. You will need a female socket (battery cable end) and an inline male (light end) You can also get a panel mount one to put directly onto the light body. There is a compatability guide on the data sheet. Check it before you buy! I didnt and realised two inlines will not connect together :madman:

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1685952
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1685938

The cable I found is nice and flexi, even in freezing temps. Like in my shed, which is currently -1.2 C, brrr!
It is 5.4mm OD and can take 3 amps. Cheap and available to buy per metre.
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1387667

I got all this at Farnell as the postage is free and come the next day!

I hope someone finds this useful and saves them from trawling the net for hours searching for a damn connector!

1 - 20 of 43 Posts

Itess

· #2 · Jan 6, 2010

piesoup said:
So, I found Switchcraft EN3 series. Not expensive, small and waterproof. They can handle 7A, enough for us. You will need a female socket (battery cable end) and an inline male (light end) You can also get a panel mount one to put directly onto the light body. There is a compatability guide on the data sheet. Check it before you buy! I didnt and realised two inlines will not connect together :madman:

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1685952
http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=1685938

Looking at SWITCHCRAFT - EN3L2M-F - INLINE CONNECTOR, EN3, 2 PIN, MALE in the right column you can see: "Customers Also Bought" and there are links to the females: INLINE CONNECTOR, EN3, 2 PIN, FEMALE and SWITCHCRAFT - EN3P2F-F - SOCKET, PANEL, 2WAY. Hope that helps

BTW, thanks for the tips!

mtbikerTi

· #3 · Jan 6, 2010

They are good connectors, I've been using them for a while.

They are available in the US from Digi-Key and Mouser, though last time I checked Mouser was the only one that sold a two conductor (they were also cheaper...)

Madmusk

· #4 · Jan 6, 2010

I recently went on a 'best cable/connector' search for my current project and while doing so I came across this ebay listing:

http://shop.ebay.com/220121629262

Could be an excellent deal as a group buy. Could keep several light builders supplied for a long time. These are small sized, industrial, IP67 (68?) rated, locking connectors. I was lucky enough to find a few individual cables of this type that were quite cheap and I love them.

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 6, 2010

Madmusk said:
I recently went on a 'best cable/connector' search for my current project and while doing so I came across this ebay listing:

http://shop.ebay.com/220121629262

Could be an excellent deal as a group buy. Could keep several light builders supplied for a long time. These are small sized, industrial, IP67 (68?) rated, locking connectors. I was lucky enough to find a few individual cables of this type that were quite cheap and I love them.

That lot looks impressive! I did look at Turck connectors. About £60 for a cable assy and not able to get the seperate sockets. Now if there are a few of us interested in this.....

Finished a light today that uses the Switchcraft connectors. Will post pic of them later or tomorrow.

jbflyfshr

· #6 · Jan 6, 2010

a day too late! Also I don't live in the UK.

Still need a good wire source here for 18/2 silicone multi-strand....

allport

· #7 · Jan 7, 2010

piesoup said:
The 620 seemed perfect except I could not find anyone to sell them to me in the UK, other than batches of 100. Per component!

You can buy the binder 620 from RS Components.

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 7, 2010

allport said:
You can buy the binder 620 from RS Components.

Yeah, they have been out of stock for ages. When they get some in I will more probably go with them. Bit more expensive though. Binder for MY lights, Switchcraft for everyone elses!

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 7, 2010

jbflyfshr said:
a day too late! Also I don't live in the UK.

Still need a good wire source here for 18/2 silicone multi-strand....

I think Farnell have offices in the States. You are from the States arent you?!

allport

· #10 · Jan 7, 2010

piesoup said:
Yeah, they have been out of stock for ages. When they get some in I will more probably go with them. Bit more expensive though. Binder for MY lights, Switchcraft for everyone elses!

LOL, They don't carry any stock of the 620 they order them when needed, so just order them. It my take an extra day.

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 7, 2010

allport said:
LOL, They don't carry any stock of the 620 they order them when needed, so just order them. It my take an extra day.

You are sh1tting me?!!! :madman: :madman: :madman:

I saw them there when I first started looking and thought, if they are out of stock I'll have to wait ages. Then I bought the SCraft ones. Arrghh!!!
Back to Binder then!
Thanks man :thumbsup:

Giant-Lander

· #12 · Jan 7, 2010

What about these: http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p18396_Y-Adapterkabel-fuer-Karma-Powerled.html ?

1 Euro per connector and waterproof. Might not be super-bling but you need Euro 10 for a pair of the others.....

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 7, 2010

I'd still need to get the other half of the plug to fit on to my battery cable. Also they look a little small. The cable I use is 5.4mm OD. And they are sealed, so no hope of taking them apart to solder them neatly.

I made a light for my old man using a nokia charging cable and the socket out of an old phone. I know we dont need 100% waterproofness (is that a word?!) in the plug but the dirt and grime, mixed with the water is really good at corroding the contacts. Only lasted 6 months commuting in Glasgow.

Giant-Lander

· #14 · Jan 7, 2010

Actually it doesn't show in the picture but the female part sleeves over the plastic part of the positive side, so it's fairly weatherproof! The plug is standard power adapter sized and i guess that since it's ok for sigma, it's ok for me!
Moreover, you only need the three Euros kit, you can use the positive one on the battery and the others go to the charger and light engine! And you can even find some matching positive plugs on your local electronics store.

bncrshr77

· #15 · Jan 10, 2010

Piesoup....Do you have the pic with the switchcraft connectors available? Thanks

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 11, 2010

bncrshr77 said:
Piesoup....Do you have the pic with the switchcraft connectors available? Thanks

Do you want one of them made up on the cable??

bncrshr77

· #17 · Jan 11, 2010

That would be great. Maybe with something else like a penny in the pic as well so I can get some sort of size comarison. Thanks!

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 11, 2010

bncrshr77 said:
That would be great. Maybe with something else like a penny in the pic as well so I can get some sort of size comarison. Thanks!

I'm on it! UK penny or something from The United States of Americaland?!

bncrshr77

· #19 · Jan 11, 2010

Whatever you got buddy!!!

piesoup

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 11, 2010

Here ya go!
I dont know which country you are from so I thought I'd chuck in a few coins! Norway, South Africa, EU, UK, United States of Americaland and Croatia!
The cable dia is 5.4mm.

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