Where can a guy find cheap mil-spec connectors?

[damae]

While scrounging in the junkyard, I've come across more motors and controllers than I can count that are complete sans the circular cam-lock mil-spec connectors.

I know "cheap" and "mil-spec" don't often go together, but where would I find these connectors anyway? Ten years ago, I spec'd out a few pairs of these connectors for a solar car (high school competition) and it was _ex$pen$ive!_, something like $50 per connector!

At those prices, a set of connectors (2 cables, 2 ends to each cable) could cost as much or more than the junkyard motor and controller together!

What do you folks do? When you find a motor with a mil-spec connector, do you remove the connector and solder to the leads inside the motor? Or do you shell out for a proper connector? If so, where do you get such connectors anyway?

[damae]

One other thought. I have a local Molex rep (not to mention Panasonic, AMP, and others) who visit me at work.

I thought about asking them for "samples" of certain connectors. But since there would be no hope of real business from these "samples", I thought better of it and decided not to even ask, for ethical reasons.

So I'm looking primarily for connectors that can be had at discount prices, or even retail prices if nothing else.

There really is something satisfying about the way these connectors work -- looks good, works great, and makes swapping out motors a snap. I don't mind making my own cables, I just don't want to pay $100 a set for connectors.

[Al_The_Man]

The main manuf. of MS connectors are Amp, Amphenol and Cannon, Cannon makes a 'Less Costly' version to match up the MS connector in their CA range.
If you want to replace both connector ends with a cheaper alternative the AMP CPC (Circular Plastic Connector) range is fairly sturdy and alot cheaper.
Al.

[damae]

Thanks Al!

I'm surfing through the AMP site now. Very handy to have the cad models downloadable (like Molex).

Prices, of course, aren't listed until you order or contact a rep. Have you ordered any of the CPCs? What are the prices typically like? Also, are these connectors solder connections or crimp-on pins? Do you need a special crimp tool?

Thanks!
-D

[Al_The_Man]

It depends of course what configuration, but I would say that the CPC are 1/4 to 1/3 of the price, in some cases less. I believe they are only crimp, but if you do not have a great number to do then they can be soldered.
It does pay to get the pin removal tool though.
Al.

[damae]

Good tip about the pin removal tool.

I think I'm going to do a little more research and then find out what it would be to connector-ize my whole mill. That's about 12 connectors, plus some spares.

Thanks!

[wisp]

get a catalog from digi-key.

http://dkc1.digikey.com/US/PDF/T052/Complete.html

they have EVERYHING, and much of it at a decent price. I think you can get locking connectors for about 15$, that includes the socket and the plug.

[damae]

Turns out I have a digikey catalog here on my desk, right under my nose! Thanks, now I have prices to help me pick the best combination of connectors!

[Halfnutz]

I got a pair of 900 oz/in PacSci steppers off ebay for 50.00 a couple months ago, and ended up paying about 75.00 for the connectors (Amphenol Mil specs). Oh well, they are nice, and switching them out would have cost almost as much.

[damae]

Originally Posted by Halfnutz .... and ended up paying about 75.00 for the connectors...

Yeah, I see a lot of great motors in the junkyard. Really nice motors, sometimes even with a matching controller. But I don't want to buy them unless they have the cable too.

On the other hand, it is possible, at least for some motors, to remove the connector and wire directly in. I was fortunate enough to find the paper manual for some Emerson motors I own. It contained the pin-outs and wire colors coming out of the motor. So I may be brave soon and buy some of those motor/controller sets and try to hotwire them.

Or else, I may buy the cheaper CPC connectors and replace the mil-spec connector. If I do, I'll post here and let you guys know how it works. =)

[unterhaus]

Don't you wish all those people that strip motors off of machines would take the cables too? Drives me nuts to think of the cables thrown away. And they don't end up on Ebay very often.

Digikey sells those connectors a lot cheaper in quantity, if I could only justify spending $500 I'd be set. For a while, Allied Electronics sold the 97 series guts and shells seperately. Then you could get the quantity prices on the shells and put the guts in seperately. I think they realized that it was costing them too much money and their customers wanted assembled connectors and stopped doing it that way. Too bad.

I use the AMP CPC. The series III has a solderable pin option, but of course it costs a lot more. I also use the Neutrik Speakon connectors for the power side. Lots of amperage capacity since they are build for driving large speakers. I get those from Mouser.

[Halfnutz]

Or the one I hate most is half a connector. Buy a 500.00 motor off ebay for 25.00 with half of a 80.00 connector. Then after you figure out what it is its either spring for the 40.00 mating half, or trash the whole thing and hardwire, when all they had to do was cut the cable. It makes me ill to think about the money wasted in industry. It makes me ill to think about the money I've spent on connectors this month. Probably 200.00. I just got a 500.00 glass Heidenhain scale off ebay for 100.00 and spent another 100.00 just getting it connected to the DRO. Oh well, its just money, right?