What's the best pin connector for my wiring harness?

[626Pilot]

I'm looking for a pin connector solution that will let me plug my hot end and effector toys into a cable harness without stupid problems cropping up days or weeks later. I've tried pin connectors from Amphenol / TE Connectivity (apparently the same company), but they both seem like they have problems where eventually the crimps will start working loose. Their pin connectors are advertised for a certain AWG range, but even if you stay inside that range it's still possible that a couple weeks down the road one of the pins or sockets will start getting flaky.

Frankly, I think wire crimps are less than ideal on anything that has to move around a lot. Solder joints with heat shrink seem more solid. But, there are times when I need to remove the print head so I don't want to do that. Is there some kind of connector that works with screws or clamps or something that isn't these stupid annoying pin crimps? Or maybe a vendor that does crimps "right?" This always happens two hours before a deadline and I have to waste at least 20 minutes redoing all the pins. I got some connectors from Monoprice that clamp the wire in place using screw threads and friction plates, but those are too big for this application.

My harness "system" requires six pins for the hot end and four pins for the platform (+5, +12, GND, Z probe.) The connectors have to be separate since the platform must be wired independently of the hot end. So the little two-pin connectors they use on RC cars are not going to work for me, and I can't just get a big 10-pin connector. The wiring is 16-gauge stranded speaker wire (heat) and 22-gauge solid wire (everything else) from Cat5 cable. I had thought to just use RJ45 connectors, but that would leave out the hot end heat.

[cope413]

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__ ... 20pc_.html


not totally sure what youre looking to do, but have you looked at these?

I like the connection and they take solder really well
]

[cope413]

http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__ ... 20PC_.html

these are for smaller gauges...

[Batteau62]

http://www.molex.com/molex/products/gro ... l=products

If you don't want to use hobby grade, maybe something from molex (link above)

[Eaglezsoar]

Deans connectors or JST connectors.

[cope413]

I prefer xt90 to deans, but they aren't that great for smaller gauges...

[geneb]

No crimped connector will last long if it's moved a lot. That's why all my hot end wiring (2 fans and the lamp) have so much extra slack - it prevents them from being drug around.

g.

[626Pilot]

http://www.molex.com/molex/products/gro ... l=products

If you don't want to use hobby grade, maybe something from molex (link above)

What's hobby grade? What's pro? I just don't want to be thinking "alright, awesome, I'm gonna get this stuff done by the deadline" and then suddenly I notice my hot end fan won't spin anymore. (Last week it was the LED ring. Next week, something else I'm sure.)

I think what I'll do is get some Molex connectors, tin the wires, then crimp and reflow the solder afterwards. Maybe that will give me the best of both worlds.