I have purchased many PC
boards that have male headers. Most of my boards have male headers.
How does one do inter connections with headers? The tried and true
way is to just solder to the header. While this will work I am totally
into reusability.
Lets take a look a few of
the ways you can make these connections.
Single jumper Via female plug.
These are small crimp
plugs used to make larger connectors. They can be crimped or soldered.
I prefer to crimp mine as it is faster. You and use a pair of needle
nose pliers to crimp but if you are going to make more than a couple of these
pick up a crimping tool from Radio Shack.
Advantages
Disadvantages
We are going to make a
female to female connector. You will need a length of wire. I
prefer 22 gauge for this You will also need a small bit of 1/16" shrink
tubing.
Step 1.
Strip about 14" insulation
from each end of the wire.
Step 2
Crimp the plugs onto each
end of the wire.
Step 3
Insert the heat shrink so
that about 1/16 of the plug is showing. Heat it.
Step 4
If you are in close
quarters such as underneath the LCD or near the buttons you will need to bend
the jumper as shown. Be carfull not to deform the part of the plug that
connects to the header.
Step 5
Insert connector onto
headers
Multi Jumper Via female header
These are small female
header connectors that have been cut down to size then soldered to wires.
They make nice quick connectors.
Advantages
Disadvantages
You will need a length of
wire a female header connector and some 1/16" heat shrink tubing.
Step 1
Use a set of wire cutters
to cut the female header to length. Always cut one larger than the
size you need. If you need 3 conductors then cut on the fourth.
You always destroy on conductor for each cut you make. Once cut you can
clean up the excess material by making small cuts with the wire cutters.
Step 2
Strip about 1/8" off the
end of each wire.
Step 3
Solder all three wires to
a single connector as shown.
Step 4
Cut the opposite end all
flush as shown.
Step 5
Insert two pieces of heat
shrink tubing onto each wire.
Step 6
Strip about 1/8" off the
end of each wire.
Step 7
Attach the wires to the
remaining connector. Make sure you line them up so that the connections
all match.
Step 8
Slide the heat shrink to
the ends as shown and heat.
Step 9
Insert cable onto headers
Wire Jumper using shoring blocks
This is my favorite jumper
for headers. Its easy and fast to hook up and can be easily removed in a
pinch.
Advantages
Disadvantages
You will need some wire
lengths. You will need at least 22 gauge wire. Anything smaller
will not work. You will also need two shorting jumpers for each
connector you wish to make.
Step 1
Strip about 1/4" of the
insulation from both ends of each wire.
Step 2
Insert the wires into the
bottom of the jumpers as shown below.
Step 3
You need to bend the wire
at a 90 Degree angle as shown below.
Step 4
Insert the opposite end of
the jumper onto the header you want to connect.
Solder Method
Sometimes you just want
things to be permanent. In that case nothing beats soldering. You
cant beat the current transfer of a soldered connection.
Advantages
Disadvantages
All you need is the wires
some solder and a little skill.
Step 1
Cut the wires to length.
Strip about 1/4" of the insulation of each wire.
Step 2
Use a scrap piece of
header to make a form. Wrap each end of the wire around the form to
create a small loop. Remove from form. This way the
wire is all prepped and ready to go.
Step 3
Insert one end of the wire
around the header you wish to attach. Slide it all the way to the
bottom. Solder in place.
Step 4
Run the wire to the other
header. Slip it in place and solder. Repeat for each
wire.
Tip
You can use a dab of hot
glue to hold the wires in place.
There are other way to
connect to headers such as wire wrapping. If you have any ideas jut give
me a shout and I will post something on it.
