Best place for PWM cables

[MaddyW]

Wheres the best(Cheapest) place to get PWM extension cables from?

[SpaceOsc]

Originally Posted by MaddyW

Wheres the best(Cheapest) place to get PWM extension cables from?

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/mark...onnectors.html

http://www.ifirobotics.com/accessories.shtml

look to spend from 4-6 bucks on each

Check local Hobbie stores, since pwms are used in most RC stuff

dont count out those Y cables they gave you too (Yellow, Red, Black) if you cut off one leg of it its and normal pwn cable, i personally i like using them to connect sensors that need pwms on them, cutting the big pwm cables (White, Red, Black) feels like a waste

[Josh Hambright]

You can save some money and construct your own, and make your own custom lengths and custom sensor wiring as well.

All you need is some 3 pin molex connectors, some male and female pins,and maybe the pin insertion tool and crimping tool. Beyond that you just need some ribbon cable and your on your way to making PWN cables.

I know Digikey and alot of other places sell the tools/parts you need.

[Gary Bonner]

We made our onwn last year. All just the right length, no need to find a place to stash the extra cable, and five pin connectors for the encoders. We got ours from: http://hansenhobbies.com/products_connectorparts.html

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Josh Hambright

I know Digikey and alot of other places sell the tools/parts you need.

The one thing Digikey does NOT sell is the correct cable; you need 24 gauge wire (see R85) - best source I have found is eBay, search for HiTec Servo Wire, about $15 for 50 feet.

The 3 pin Molex connector bodies are on Digikey catalog page 110, as item WM2801-ND, but they are costly. I suggest buying the 7 pin bodies instead (WM2805-ND) and cutting them into two 3-pin pieces (sacrificing the center cavity).

Don't forget that you also need pins and sockets (like WM2512-ND and WM2515-ND), it would be a good idea to get a crimper (WM9999-ND) and perhaps an insertion tool (WM9911-ND).

Don

[Dillon Compton]

Anyone know of a good source for male-to-female adaptors for PWM Cables?

[DonRotolo]

I recently found that All Electronics sells PWM extension and "Y" cables at reasonable prices. Go to their web site and search on Servo Extension. From their catalog:
CON404 4" $2.60
CON406 6" $2.75
CON412 12" $3.25
CON418 18" $3.65
CON424 24" $3.95
CON436 36" $4.50
CON412Y 12" Y $4.50

They also offer quantity discounts for 20 or more of any one item, about 10%

Have fun,
Don

[Doug G]

Originally Posted by Gary Bonner

We made our onwn last year. All just the right length, no need to find a place to stash the extra cable, and five pin connectors for the encoders. We got ours from: http://hansenhobbies.com/products_connectorparts.html

We bought some cable, connectors and the economy crimping tool. I must say it is very time consuming to make your own cables, but now at least we have the ability to fix up the 20 or so broken old cables that are just sitting around. Our "Economy Crimping Tool" is pretty basic and you still have to "clean-up" the crimp with some needle nose pliers each time. Does anyone have experience with the "Deluxe Crimping Tool"?

We got a bunch of CAT 5 plugs, so for this coming year we're going to use that to run 2 pwms across the bot. It'll save wiring management, space, and time. Plus, it makes it all a bit more modular. So you may want to consider this as an option.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by 114ManualLabor

We got a bunch of CAT 5 plugs, so for this coming year we're going to use that to run 2 pwms across the bot. It'll save wiring management, space, and time. Plus, it makes it all a bit more modular. So you may want to consider this as an option.

I'm not sure the legality of this, but couldn't you take the 5v and signal from each PWM, and then have a common ground between three and hook that up to the breaker?


Also, doesn't that seem rather unnessacary? Most likely your controller and electrical panel should be near each other so it seems easier to just use PWMs rather than convert two PWMs to Cat5, then convert them back. It makes sense for something like the camera & servos, but overall it seems easier to just use PWMs.

[yongkimleng]

Originally Posted by 114ManualLabor

We got a bunch of CAT 5 plugs, so for this coming year we're going to use that to run 2 pwms across the bot. It'll save wiring management, space, and time. Plus, it makes it all a bit more modular. So you may want to consider this as an option.

you mean cat 5 cables with rj45 heads? How do you manage the RJ45 sockets?
If +5v and GND can be shared, you can actually get 6 PWM signals across!

[The Donger]

Just get servo wire, it's the exact same stuff.

http://www.servocity.com/html/servo_wire__bulk_.html

[SuperJake]

Jameco is the best if you are looking to make your own servo wires. They are like the McMaster-Carr of hobby electronics - Digikey doesn't seem to have the hobby stuff. Enjoy.

http://www.jameco.com

[BrianBSL]

We used to use the Molex connectors from Digikey, but last order I got the no-name Jameco ones. I prefer the Jameco ones as the pins are the correct length and not too long like the Molex ones. The Jameco pins/sockets are a bit more expensive (as the only option is gold plated) than the tin plated Molex pins/sockets, but the Jameco housings are cheaper.

We've always used 2 or 3-conductor 22ga Belden wire from Jameco (not twisted pair nor ribbon cable). A 100ft spool goes for $15 or so IIRC. There should be no noise issues as neither the 5V(Digital/analog)/7.2V(PWM) or GND have any AC component to them.

I suggest you do get the write crimper, as its less than $50 (and there's a cheaper one with fewer sizes for less than $20 IIRC), either way not too bad (compared to a $150 Anderson crimper). Crimping these with pliers won't create a reliable connection and soldering can cause issues with mechanical hard points.