Source of good quality edge connectors

edited October 2014 in Hardware
I've been buying edge connectors from China using eBay now for a couple of years.
They've been cheaper from eBay then at regular suppliers.
And until a couple of months ago, I never had problems with them.

Here is an eBay link of this moment:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50pcs-Card-Edge-Slot-Connector-Socket-31x2P-62P-PC-XT-pitch-2-54mm-31x2-/140675695848?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c0ecc4e8

I prefer these ones, as they fit easily on the ZX Spectrum.
Here's a photo:
edge_std.jpg

Last year I bought a batch of 500 of these.
But I started using them a couple of months later, as I was using old stock first.
I found out a lot of these connectors had pins that bend easily, even on clean ZX Spectrum edge connectors.

When carefully testing all connectors, I had to throw away about 40%.
Unfortunately I even had some interfaces returned which had bent pins lateron, so I need to test better and throw even more away.

I searched for an alternative, and found these 'industrial quality' connectors:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50pc-Industrial-Card-Edge-Slot-Socket-Connector-31x2P-62P-2-54mm-0-1-3A-/130805326761?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e749ae3a9

These fit tigher around the boards edge, but are not easy to use with smaller interfaces.
Here's a photo:
edge_ind.jpg

But now it seems even these connectors have pins that bend quite easily.
Although the problem is not that large compared to the 'standard' quality ones.

I thought it's time to share my experiences.

And I like to ask: do any of you know a supplier with reliable connectors for a good price?
Post edited by bverstee on

Comments

  • edited September 2014
    bverstee wrote: »
    I've been buying edge connectors from China using eBay now for a couple of years.
    They've been cheaper from eBay then at regular suppliers.

    Right there is the problem. You only get what you pay for.
    Oh bugger!<br>
  • edited September 2014
    DEATH wrote: »
    Right there is the problem. You only get what you pay for.

    Maybe, but that's not helping me ;)

    I've looked for good prices in the past, but it's hard to find prices anywhere near those on eBay.
    And these parts have suited me (us!) well for years.
  • edited September 2014
    The last time I needed some, I bought some of these. I have had no problem with the ones I got, but it was around two years ago and I have only used a small number of the 20 or so that I bought.

    Mark
    Sinclair FAQ Wiki
    Repair Guides. Spanish Hardware site.
    WoS - can't download? Info here...
    former Meulie Spectrum Archive but no longer available :-(
    Spectranet: the TNFS directory thread

    ! Standby alert !
    “There are four lights!”
    Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb!
    Looking forward to summer in Somerset later in the year :)
  • edited September 2014
    1024MAK wrote: »
    The last time I needed some, I bought some of these. I have had no problem with the ones I got, but it was around two years ago and I have only used a small number of the 20 or so that I bought.

    Mark

    I've been using these ones from maplin too with no problems. I was suprised at the price, everywhere else I looked was very expensive. They are described here as gold plated contacts but the ones I got aren't.
  • edited September 2014
    Something like this? Cutted, with pin, give me offer ;)
    4d42f643bf4f973fm.jpg
  • fogfog
    edited September 2014
    not had any complaints for the ones I sold, with divide kit etc. but the 1 thing I don't like is the length of the pins with all the newer ones. as older spectrum interfaces uses rather long pins compared.

    not sure if anyone like RS / Farrell sell something similar ?

    it's a pity sinclair didn't go with a better solution than the edge connector (like the bbc micro)
  • edited September 2014
    zaxon wrote: »
    Something like this? Cutted, with pin, give me offer ;)
    4d42f643bf4f973fm.jpg

    I'll have 10 or 15 off you. How much?.......where are you located?

    Ian.
  • edited September 2014
    bverstee wrote: »
    Here's a photo:
    edge_std.jpg

    These fit tigher around the boards edge, but are not easy to use with smaller interfaces.
    Here's a photo:
    edge_ind.jpg

    The second one is better quality. I had same problems of bending with the first ones using with my ZX80/81 hardware. The second is not easy to bend. When I prepare the connectors (cut them to length) I put them a few times carefully on a pcb which wides the contacts a little bit and reduces problems with bended contacts.

    I buy them from here, in the meantime they are present in the Netherland as well.
    http://www.reichelt.nl/Plug-in-Slots-Board-Connectors/2/index.html?&ACTION=2&LA=3&GROUP=C1B7&GROUPID=5218&START=0&OFFSET=16&SHOW=1
  • edited September 2014
    The problem is not so the female connector quality, but the male slot of ZX,s, the tinning going dirty and bad connection.
    A fresh re-soldering with special type solder is the best solution.
  • edited September 2014
    Anemos wrote: »
    The problem is not so the female connector quality, but the male slot of ZX,s, the tinning going dirty and bad connection.
    A fresh re-soldering with special type solder is the best solution.

    Worth noting that Pcb abrasive blocks clean up the edge connectors very well. Be sure to rub in both directions (x & y) for best results.

    Ian.
  • edited September 2014
    Anemos wrote: »
    The problem is not so the female connector quality, but the male slot of ZX,s, the tinning going dirty and bad connection.
    A fresh re-soldering with special type solder is the best solution.

    The problem described from Ben is bended contacts when connecting it to the pcb - not problems with electrical contact. If you press the connector onto the pcb some contacts may be bended and this is quite hard to repair. The second connector has better contact springs that are not that easy to push into the connector.

    I have some experience with this issue and even repaired one or two connectors but decided to use the second type only in future. This issue doesn't came back since more than one year for sure.
  • edited September 2014
    I agree there is a difference between of the metal pins connectors.
    Also the poor quality steel softens easily after the soldering temperature.
    However, the problem of dirt from the ZX connector is the most common of the edge connector.
  • edited October 2014
    bverstee wrote: »
    I've been buying edge connectors from China using eBay now for a couple of years.

    And I like to ask: do any of you know a supplier with reliable connectors for a good price?

    Neither as inexpensive nor an exact replacement for your needs as they're suited for through-hole assemblies on flat PCBs, but you might consider these:

    http://it.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=15001&langId=-4&urlRequestType=Base&partNumber=1568678&storeId=10165

    I just bought 10 of these for servicing Opus Discoveries.
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