Very small wiring terminals to fit chartplotter ‘connector’ pins

[fredrussell]

I’m in the process of fitting a shiny new Garmin plotter. I’m trying to shoehorn it into the panel aft of hatch garage. To do this, it would be useful to connect boat wiring direct to (6 of) the pins on back of plotter as seen here:


If I use the cradle supplied with plotter, that plugs into/connects to those pins, the unit becomes to bulky to fit. To make matters worse, Garmin do not make a right angled or low profile plug for this model, and the plug supplied requires an extra couple of inches clearance behind plotter, which I just don’t have.

So I’m looking for very small electrical terminals that would connect individually to these pins. Obviously I would heatshrink these terminals and take steps to make sure they’re held firmly in place. I don’t have my micrometer at boat but I’m guessing pins are 1mm in diameter. Anyone know of such a thing?

 

[Beelzebub]

Hmmm.....asking for trouble through water ingress I suspect but if you are determined to go down this route, perhaps plug/socket inserts from somebody like Farnell would do the job:-

https://uk.farnell.com/c/connectors...?MER=WI-MER-PDP-BT-RECO-ALL-con_cir-con-com_4

 

[Refueler]

We use such on our RC models in various sizes.

Just as example - here's a video showing the pins and crimper ... you can get pins / females in many sizes .. and crimpers for these are not expensive .. no need to solder ...

So what is needed is the diameter of the PIN in the unit - you want the female to connect onto. Then its just a matter of online to find the correct item.

Word of caution I think .... it looks like the amount of PIN you have in the unit to connect onto may be quite short ... so I would be inclined once all connected - tested ... to add hot glue around each pin to provide an insulating ring and secure in place. Hot glue is not hard to remove later and should not damage anything if care is taken.

Comment : I understand the problem and I only pass on the info .. its not really a way I would do it ..

 

[Jungle Jim]

The spacing looks like it might be a 2.54mm pitch that might mate with an idc ribbon cable connector like this

https://uk.farnell.com/3m/3419-6600/socket-idc-2-54mm-30way/dp/2216908

This is the only one with a decent image, there are cheaper parts with ribbon cable attached. It might be worth a go as it would be easier to secure one of those if it fits.

 

[davidpbo]

Is there any chance of getting the mating connector out of the cradle? It will either be printed circuit board mounted or have wires going to the back of it but it may be held into the surround rather than part if it.

It would help if you knew the pitch of the pins as well as their length.

Do you have any multi connector cables available that you can open up and see if there are any suitable contacts within?

I am think of old computer cables VGA, old printer cables, serial cables etc.

If there was no other way I would be thinking of soldering wires directly to the pins, but it depends on your skill and soldering iron. You will need a very fine tip
but you risk damaging to unit and invalidating any warranty it may have .

 

[MoodySabre]

Would it be possible to space the plotter out from the panel so as to leave enough room behind for the proper plug?

 

[davidpbo]

Would it be possible to space the plotter out from the panel so as to leave enough room behind for the proper plug?

That was my other thought.

 

[greeny]

Would it be possible to space the plotter out from the panel so as to leave enough room behind for the proper plug?

If it was me I'd be keen that the connections are sound and possibly the only way to do that 100% is to use the original connection bracket. Could the op use the original bracket and cut the surplus bracket bulk away to a minimum, thus reducing the space it would take up?

 

[Stemar]

Just a thought. Is there a danger that making up a home brew like that might invalidate the warranty?

 

[fredrussell]

Thanks for all replies. Fair point about the warranty, I shall proceed with great caution in that respect.

I can remove the mating connector from cradle but this will still makeunit a little too deep, especially with the ‘bulky’ Garmin cable attached. I will try this approach though.

Water ingress to unit/pins is less of a concern - it’s very dry in the position planned.

The Farnell stuff looks like it might be the way, and I hadn’t considered using modified ribbon cables from a poota- good idea.

 

[lustyd]

It looks like the original uses flat spring loaded contacts rather than a connector, so relies on pressure from the mount. I'd agree with others that 2.54mm JST connectors will probably work though

 

[jdc]

If lustyd's comment above is correct, then you can make a connector from spring-loaded flat pins and 0.1" veroboard. Pins are like this https://uk.farnell.com/mill-max/087...-pin-9a-10-16mm/dp/2751177?st=spring contacts

You probably don't need all 24 of them - which at more than £3 each would be quite expensive - but presumably power, gnd, nema_data out+ and name_data_out- is a minimum. Maybe add nema_in+ and - for AIS feed.

 

[st599]

They do look more like spring pins than something you'd put a ribbon cable too. Is it possible to get a photo of the socket they connect to and are they spring loaded?

 

[lustyd]

The picture I linked is the socket. Not a very good picture, but is is the opposite side to the original pic

 

[fredrussell]

Just to update - I purchased a 2.54 JST ribbon connector and it doesn't fit. The pitch is slightly out and also the pins are slightly too wide to fit in the JST connector block. I'll go down the individual terminals from Farnell next. Trial and error continues...Will report back again.