3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?

timothyz · 12 Feb 2021, 20:24

I just thought I would bring/post about a connector I found that Molex makes that I think would work well for hotend connections, as well as elsewhere on my printer. What does everyone prefer to use for their hotend heater thermistor, and fan connections out by the extruder? I know the Voron guys like the microfit 3.0, and Lulzbot had the normal dupont style pins, some people use JST on daughter boards.

Molex makes some crimpable wire to wire connectors that are kinda cool (available on digikey). They call them ditto connectors since there is only one kind of crimp and one kind of housing (no male and female, but insertion is one way). Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-sWcdPl7Dc

They make 2.5mm pitch connectors, so pretty compact for what they are: https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/0368770004/WM10902-ND/5114214?itemSeq=354314114

Any thoughts? Is there any connector that is ideal that I just haven't heard about?

Thanks in advance.
-Tim

fcwilt · 12 Feb 2021, 21:39

Hi,

I've been using the "dupont" connectors for so long I really haven't paid attention to what else is out there.

Those Molex units look sensible if you can cope with the somewhat larger size.

Frederick

sebkritikel · 12 Feb 2021, 22:22

I like Molex Microfit 3.0 as well as Molex SL series for my in-line connections.

jens55 · 12 Feb 2021, 23:32

@fcwilt I find that the dupont style connector does not have enough current handling capacity for the hot end heater if it is a 12V system. The connectors in the stepper circuit seem ok but because of my experience with the heater line, I can't recommend dupont for a 12V system.
Commented only for future users referencing this post.
As always, YMMV

fcwilt · 12 Feb 2021, 23:47

@jens55 said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

@fcwilt I find that the dupont style connector does not have enough current handling capacity for the hot end heater if it is a 12V system. The connectors in the stepper circuit seem ok but because of my experience with the heater line, I can't recommend dupont for a 12V system.

It seems that heater cartridges have much longer wires than things like fans and thermistors.

I cannot recall actually having to extend a heater.

Frederick

zapta · 13 Feb 2021, 04:49

@timothyz said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

no male and female, but insertion is one way

That's not necessarily good. The gender often prevent you from connecting thing that shouldn't be connected. For example, with RC batteries you want to be able to connect a battery to load but not to another battery. Same goes for connecting two Duet driver outputs to each other.

timothyz · 13 Feb 2021, 05:42

@zapta
That's understandable, with this really being focused to the hotend, I guess I would be able to connect a fan outputs to another fan outputs if I wired them to two pin connectors. Looking at the size of everything, there really isn't much difference so I'll probably buy some more microfit 3.0 connectors (they are basically the same size as nanofit, weirdly enough).

fcwilt · 13 Feb 2021, 07:32

@zapta said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

That's not necessarily good. The gender often prevent you from connecting thing that shouldn't be connected.

You would have to use connectors with different numbers of pins for each "class" of device - not ideal.

Frederick

o_lampe · 13 Feb 2021, 07:50

I don't like crimp connectors.
You never have the right crimp tool at hand (at home) nor can be sure, the cable has the right wire gauge (AmericanWireGauge [AWG] or metric system)
I solder everything and protect it with shrinktube.

fcwilt · 13 Feb 2021, 08:02

@o_lampe said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

You never have the right crimp tool at hand (at home) nor can be sure, the cable has the right wire gauge (AmericanWireGauge [AWG] or metric system)

Look in my tool drawer - I think you will find the crimper you need - if you rummage around long enough.

Frederick

Veti · 13 Feb 2021, 08:05

@o_lampe said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

You never have the right crimp tool at hand (at home)

i can crimp nearly everything 3d printer related with the engineer pa-09

jens55 · 13 Feb 2021, 08:43

Crimp connections are more reliable if done correctly. If you can't do them right then soldering is likely better for you.

hackinistrator · 13 Feb 2021, 10:42

properly crimped connectors are better then soldered , specially on high speed moving parts like 3d printer .

i use molex and AMP connectors . for high current heaters (no longer use them , moved to mains powered) i used RC soldered connectors like XT60 and XT30 .

taconite · 13 Feb 2021, 11:02

I personally hate dupont but e.g. for stepper wires its super conveniant because you can change direction.
On heaters I use Molex Micro fit or Mini fit Jr.

Veti · 13 Feb 2021, 11:24

i use Molex Micro fit for heaters as well.

for other i use jst locking ones
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32856368582.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dyysxU1

zapta · 13 Feb 2021, 17:01

@hackinistrator said in 3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?:

i used RC soldered connectors like XT60 and XT30

I got recently this version of XT60 with the black covers and like it more than the older shrink tube version.

Other interesting high current connector are Anderson Powerpole https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Powerpole which are modular and genderless.

Apropos connectors, WhamBam came recently with an interesting 3D printer gantry connector system https://whambamsystems.com/mutant

theruttmeister · 13 Feb 2021, 20:48

@zapta said in [3D Printer Connectors - What's best for in-line connections?](/post

Apropos connectors, WhamBam came recently with an interesting 3D printer gantry connector system https://whambamsystems.com/mutant

Shame they can't design a belt drive correctly...

sebkritikel · 14 Feb 2021, 13:26

And if you don't want to crimp...

https://www.amphenol-industrial.com/images/catalogs/PT.pdf

https://www.peigenesis.com/en/shop/part-information/PT01E84PSR/APH/EACH/69387.html#mates
https://www.peigenesis.com/en/shop/part-information/PT06A84SSR/APH/EACH/72221.html

Could get worse!

jens55 · 30 May 2021, 03:14

I know this is an old topic but I have a relevant update:
I started with Dupont style connections for the hot end heater for my 12V based printer. That caused all kinds of grief fairly quickly due to overheating of the connector (40W heater). I then went to a JST style interlocking connector. That worked for a while but is again causing failures due to overheating of the connector.
Up to now, these connectors where sourced from China .... and are costing me way more in frustration and spoiled prints than they are worth.

My next and hopefully final connector style will be a genuine Molex Microfit 3.0 connection system sourced from Digikey. I just had a print abort after about 4 hours of printing and it just isn't worth the pain and suffering any more.
Even at ten times the price of the China product, it's worth it if it fixes this mess!

o_lampe · 30 May 2021, 08:47

@jens55
dc42 also suggested to use the MicroFit 3.0, but I couldn't find a reseller (accepting paypal) with all the required parts in Stock. I guess, the German/EU components-market is empty, due to the well known issues. (and the supercontainership blocking Suez-channel forever)