connectors for instrumentation

[Bob Morein]

I have an experimental rig I need to instrument with delicate strain gauge
wires and other sensors, attached to plastic pipes.
I'm looking for connectors that will allow segmenting the wiring.
They need to be balanced, ie., 2 conductor + braid, should be smaller than
XLR, and it would be nice if they were easy to wire up.

I don't think that minature 3 conductor mic plugs are robust enough for
this.

Any suggestions?

 

[CJT]

I have an experimental rig I need to instrument with delicate strain gauge
wires and other sensors, attached to plastic pipes.
I'm looking for connectors that will allow segmenting the wiring.
They need to be balanced, ie., 2 conductor + braid, should be smaller than
XLR, and it would be nice if they were easy to wire up.

I don't think that minature 3 conductor mic plugs are robust enough for
this.

Any suggestions?

I'd be concerned about thermal emf every time you change metals.

 

[CWatters]

Like this perhaps.. They have variois other ranges.

http://www.connectdsc.com/series.asp?SeriesID=by05

 

[Harvey White]

I have an experimental rig I need to instrument with delicate strain gauge
wires and other sensors, attached to plastic pipes.
I'm looking for connectors that will allow segmenting the wiring.
They need to be balanced, ie., 2 conductor + braid, should be smaller than
XLR, and it would be nice if they were easy to wire up.

I don't think that minature 3 conductor mic plugs are robust enough for
this.

Miniature DIN connectors. How much do you plan to connect/disconnect
these, and how much strain do you think they will be under?

Harvey

 

[Bob Morein]

Miniature DIN connectors. How much do you plan to connect/disconnect
these, and how much strain do you think they will be under?

Harvey

The connector should have at least passive locking, ie., a detent that keeps
it snug, since vibration could be a problem.
My experience with mini-din is that they work loose very easily.

 

[CWatters]

The connector should have at least passive locking, ie., a detent that keeps
it snug, since vibration could be a problem.
My experience with mini-din is that they work loose very easily.

I spent a long time looking for 2+E bayonet connectors earlier this year....
and couldn't find any really small/cheap ones. The best I managed were
these. links..

http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T023/V5/0169.pdf (12mm overall)

http://www.connectdsc.com/series.asp?SeriesID=by05 (13mm diameter).

The 400 Series Buccaneer range (19mm) are threaded and waterproof.

http://www.bulgin.co.uk/Products/Buccaneer/Buccaneer_400_Series.html

This site also has some small ones hidden away with the big military style
connectors.

http://www.lemo.com/

... but I expect they are expensive.

 

[Bob Morein]

Thanks. I'm thinking maybe the Hirose series of plastic connectors.
They're cheap, easy to work with, and have passive detent locking.