What parts do you recommend for connectors for the peek & layer fans?

[Polygonals]

I'd like to switch to using some connectors instead of a soldered connection for my peek and layer fans. I'm having some trouble finding anything, anyone have links to what you used? Thanks!

[Eric]

Look to the RC industry for ideas. Search for "RC connectors" for a starting point.

I've been using Deans connectors for my extruder heat connection. XT60 is also a popular choice.

For thermistor and fans I used JST connectors of opposite gender so I don't get them swapped. If you don't want to mess with crimping pins, you can get them with pigtails already attached or in extension cable form (cut them in half to get pigtails).

[joe]

http://www.hansenhobbies.com/

This is good place to buy small quantities of connectors. They have a great ratcheting crimper.

[DeltaCon]

XT-30 is very nice for the heater cartridge. The same specs as XT-60, but half the size

[RandomFactor]

You can find links to connectors I used in my build thread, but check out https://mainframecustom.com.
http://forum.seemecnc.com/viewtopic.php ... 293#p90670

[gchristopher]

Budget crimpers like the one from Hansen Hobbies can work great for a wide variety of crimp terminals, though there's probably a little more skill and practice involved than if you were using the matching official $300+ crimpers. The "deluxe" ratching crimper is what I have and am happy with.

I went with Mouser/Digikey as suppliers. They're both friendly to buy small quantities from and have good shipping options.

When looking for connectors, I searched for ones that were:

- Rated for the current
- Polarized, latching
- Standard and common

For the high power connections (hot end), I went with Molex Mini-Fit Jr 4.2mm connectors. They're rated for 9A. It has the added bonus of being the same connector you would use for a modular PC power supply, so you can also use them for making a custom power harness.

For everything smaller, I went with polarized 0.1" headers, because that would be the same pin headers I'd use for connecting to most header blocks on circuit boards. (RAMBo, Arduino, etc.)

Male Pin Polarized Header, pins
Female Pin Polarized Header, pins

I don't know if these are better or worse than others choices. I suspect the ones from RC or battlebot/robotics vendors are fancier and higher-spec, but I really like having standardized parts that I can reuse for a variety of electronics projects. I also like knowing that there's multiple suppliers that will recognize an order for the manufacturer part number when I want more.

For the REALLY high power-draw part (the heat bed), I went with bullet connectors meant for RC racing cars.

[mattquist]

I use micro deans and jst plugs. Both are cheap, and available through headsuphobby.com Flip around the jst plugs so the male/female ends are at opposite ends so you don't confuse them when you connect them. The micro deans are nice and small and are rated at 10 amps continuous. All require soldering though. I don't think you will get around finding a good quality connector that will handle the motion that shouldn't be soldered IMO.