Edge connector housings

RetroHacker

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In the past, any time I've replaced an edge connector I usually wind up replacing the connector housing too. But at the moment, I've got a project and I have no spare housings - but I do have extra pins...

In this case, I've got an Atari Star Wars. The housings on the connectors look physically fine, but the pins are corroded and crummy. I'm thinking about just replacing all the pins and re-using the plastic housing.

Any thoughts?

-Ian
 
I just did this on my Tempest, but I used a new housing. I thought about using the old housing, but I didn't want to risk the pins not fitting right into the older housing. Or if the original was heat warped or the mold was broken on the inside I would never know unless I thoroughly inspected it, so I opted to go with the new housing.
 
Do you actually have pins for the AMP housings or do have molex pins?

See, that's what I'm not sure of. The pins I have were leftovers from other connector/pin sets purchased from Bob Roberts. They may be Molex brand, I don't know for sure, that's why I figured I had better check. I also am not sure if Molex pins will fit into the old housing, etc.

-Ian
 
If you bought them from bob roberts they are molex pins. They will not interchange with the amp housings. As far as I know the amp pins are no longer available.
 
If you bought them from bob roberts they are molex pins. They will not interchange with the amp housings. As far as I know the amp pins are no longer available.

True...
But to make things interesting:
AMP housings are still made, tin contacts are no longer made (Can still buy gold).
Molex housings are no longer made (recently discontinued), tin contacts are still made.

Ed
 
Ed, how much are the gold amp contacts? I wouldnt mind getting a stash of these to keep on hand for the occasional game that only has one or two damaged pins.
 
True...
But to make things interesting:
AMP housings are still made, tin contacts are no longer made (Can still buy gold).
Molex housings are no longer made (recently discontinued), tin contacts are still made.

Ed

Ed, what exactly was discontinued by Molex? All housings? Just this one???
 
Ed, how much are the gold amp contacts? I wouldnt mind getting a stash of these to keep on hand for the occasional game that only has one or two damaged pins.

Both Digikey and Newark show stock -- part number 583989-3
But, you're not gonna like the price...well over $1 each.
Newark shows the right part but the wrong picture on their website.
 
Ed, what exactly was discontinued by Molex? All housings? Just this one???

Molex discontinued the entire 4338 series of connector housings.
This includes 09-50-5065 through 09-50-5285 and 09-50-6065 through 09-50-6285.
Gottlieb System 80 pinball machines used 09-50-5245 and 09-50-5255.
Vids used smaller sizes.

Quite interesting is their 4366 series of contacts (i.e. 08-03-0304) works ONLY with the 4338 series connectors but the 4366 series contacts are still active....for now.

Ed
 
Didn't the pinball machines have those single-sided edge card connectors?

So, then, are they at least still making the standard 22/44 edge card housings for .156 split pins, as used in most video games? (Atari games, Pac-Man, etc)

-Ian
 
Didn't the pinball machines have those single-sided edge card connectors?

So, then, are they at least still making the standard 22/44 edge card housings for .156 split pins, as used in most video games? (Atari games, Pac-Man, etc)

-Ian

Pinball machines used both single and double sided edge connectors.

The single sided edge connectors (2574 series) are still made and use the common 08-52-0072 crimp contacts.

The double sided 22/44 edge connectors are no longer made by Molex, they were part of the 4338 series that Molex discontinued about two months ago. 10/20, 12/24, 15/30, 18/36, 24/48, 25/50, 28/56 and other sizes...also kaput.
There are a couple other manufacturers of 0.156" double sided edge connectors but I can't remember their names off the top of my head (other than the AMP ones already mentioned in this thread).

Ed
 
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