Help me find a certain type of connector

April 26, 2009 8:56 PM

Electronics Filter: I'm trying to source a certain type of connector for a cable I'm trying to make. Please have a look at my pictures.

I have a friend trying to source a certain type of connector for a cable they are trying to make.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7318/20090427133046.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5209/20090427133206.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4654/20090427133224.jpg

From what I can tell its a rectangular multipole connector with 4x2 pins. About 20x10x15mm.

We are in Australia if it helps point to something local, but any supplier > no supplier.

Any kind of help finding where I can get these connectors from would be great. Thanks.

posted by Coolcan2 to technology (10 comments total)

clickable:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7318/20090427133046.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5209/20090427133206.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4654/20090427133224.jpg
posted by davey_darling at 9:03 PM on April 26

Do you have its mating pair? Presumably they're square or rectangular pins. I'd carefully measure the pin-pin spacing (X and Y) and the pin size (X and Y), then just start digging through the DigiKey or Mouser websites looking for connectors that have a similar shroud/whatever the black surround is.

Also, what kind of thing does this connect to? Automotive, music, industrial equipment, computers, … ?

Once you know its part number, you might be able to find an Australia-local supplier for it— it doesn't look too exotic.
posted by hattifattener at 9:14 PM on April 26

What's it for? It looks sort of like a connector for hooking up car electronics.
posted by JuiceBoxHero at 9:15 PM on April 26

try a car stereo place, or an auto parts store. looks more like audio than anything else, but many auto parts stores have a display that has many varied connectors.
posted by KenManiac at 9:30 PM on April 26

Yes its for some car electronics.


The pins are deep in the plug, and I unfortunately don't have the proper equipment to measure them. Thanks for the idea though, I'll have alook for similar connectors based on pin size/spacing.

A guesstimate would be 1x0.5mm per pin, with spacing of 1x4mm

Here is a picture of its mate. the middle plug.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2126/20090427143818.jpg
posted by Coolcan2 at 9:51 PM on April 26

Try to get an engineer at Tyco Electronics on the phone to see if they can identify it.

They seem to have bought up AMP Inc. , who are the kings of electrical connectors.
posted by toftflin at 9:57 PM on April 26

Check out RockAuto.com and search for the connector the car model and by what it connects to- is it the speaker connector for a stereo, etc. If it's listed, then you will have a part number (and perhaps a name) that you can use to source locally.
posted by gjc at 4:32 AM on April 27

Check out Molex as well. They make lots of connectors that may look familiar.
posted by olinerd at 5:05 AM on April 27

If you are trying to make an extension cable or something, be aware that a lot of connectors like this require assembly. Each wire will have a pin or socket crimped on to it, and that will then be snapped in to the connector housing itself. So, you might have to also buy pins or contacts and also a special crimping tool.

Also, dropping an email to one of the distributors, like Allied might be a good idea. I'm not sure what the equivalent is in Australia, though.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 6:06 AM on April 27

Check your auto parts distributors for a matching "wire harness". Failing that, it is just electricity. How about snipping off the connector and patching it directly wire-to-wire?
posted by JuiceBoxHero at 7:08 PM on April 27