Molex punch down tool

cysnake

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What is everyone using to punch down the wires for idc connectors? And does anyone have any for sale?
 
What is everyone using to punch down the wires for idc connectors? And does anyone have any for sale?

they throw those IDC's away and crimp moles trifurcon pins on and never worry about them again...:D

i stock everything if you want to get away from those IDC's
 
Much as they can be problematic, there are some cases where it's just easier to stick with them - ie, when you've got a single wire looped through several IDC pins... I've definitely replaced my fair share of them however.
 
A lot of people here don't like the IDC connectors and believe that the crimp on are better. If you look at the data sheets only the trifurcons are as good as the IDC connectors, the reason the IDC connectors failed is because the board designers made them to be able to light 100 incandescent bulbs and the game designers put in over 100, over time the extra bulbs caused the connectors to fail. I prefer the IDC connectors because they are cheap, look the same as the originals and I can install a 9 pin connector in the time it takes to crimp one trifurcon correctly.

Rodger Kilgore
 
IDC's are fine for low current connections. Audio signals, video signals, switch inputs and drives.

High current connections, power supplies, solenoid drives, GI circuits are better off with trifurcons.
 
You could actually say that was true, but you would be wrong.
Just look at the facts:
http://www.panconcorp.com/products/part-details.aspx?i=3104
http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/ps/PS-40-02-001.pdf

I assuming a few things here.

A) you are replying to my response.
B) you are basing your response on current ratings

The spec sheets say IDC's are capable of an 8 amp draw. This would be true if the connector from the wire to the IDC was a good one but we all know damn well that the connection spot is where the breakdown starts.

In contrast to a Trifurcon connection to the wire, where its solid, grabbing hold of the entire circumference of the wire. Can even be soldered easily if you're not 100% sure of your crimping skills.

IDC's SUCK for high current connections. Period.
 
What I'm looking at is the data on the connectors for an 18 gage wire. That includes the connection to the wire. This data is only correct if you are using square pins, now if the pins are round then the Trifurcons would have an advantage becouse they would be making contact with three sides instead of just two. The old data from the round pins claims that the maximum amperage on both the Trifurcons and the IDC's was 7. I'm not trying to attack you, I just think most of the members of this forum have been misinformed and I don't know that the connection to the wire is where the breakdown starts. I only know that from what I have seen in my 38 years of professional game repair that the difference is very little.

Rodger Kilgore
 
I only know that from what I have seen in my 38 years of professional game repair that the difference is very little.

Rodger Kilgore

33 years in the same industry for me.

IDC's are not the connection of choice in high current situations, they just dont last.

They are better than a wafer with a single wipe though.
 
That would be true for both because I would hardly consider 7 or 8 amps to be high current. I was just trying to point out that the data sheets on each product make the claim that the IDC connectors are capable of carrying one more amp. When you consider that it is only a problem is when there used for general illumination it would still only be a difference of 6.3 watts.

Rodger Kilgore
 
That would be true for both because I would hardly consider 7 or 8 amps to be high current. I was just trying to point out that the data sheets on each product make the claim that the IDC connectors are capable of carrying one more amp. When you consider that it is only a problem is when there used for general illumination it would still only be a difference of 6.3 watts.

Rodger Kilgore

I agree that 7/8 amps isnt considered "high current" in the grand scheme of things.

In the 15 years or so that trifurcons have been around I have yet to see one fail, even on round pins. IDC's on the other hand... I cant even tell you how many I've replaced in my Coin-Op career.

They are garbage and I would not sure them for any substantial current connections.
 
Yes, but the games we repair have been around longer than 15 years. I have seen Trifurcons fail, but only because the person who installed them was to lazy to replace the damaged pins on the board I think he tryed tinning them with his soldering iron. It only accelerated the damage, when I was asked to repair it the 3 pins with the Trifurcons pulled right out of the board when I removed the connector.

Rodger Kilgore
 
It took a while to repair the damage.
 

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It took a while to repair the damage.

ugh, thats awful.

BTW, when I mention trifurcons, I'm talking about the female in the wafer not the male pin on the board. Are we talking about two different parts maybe?
 
You could actually say that was true, but you would be wrong.
Just look at the facts:
http://www.panconcorp.com/products/part-details.aspx?i=3104
http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/ps/PS-40-02-001.pdf

A bit of smoke and mirrors on Pancon's part. The Pancon part's current capabilities drop off fast as operating temperature increases Pancon used to have a current versus temperature chart on their website, quite drastic current drop as temp increased. Chart stopped at 105C. Strange that they no longer have that chart on their web page. This current handling spec drop off was due to the IDC connection, not the contact to pin connection.

The the Molex current capabilities remain mostly flat until 105C.

FYI - you can run up to 13 amps in the molex 0.156 connectors.
https://www.greatplainselectronics.com/Datasheets/connectors/Molex/PS-45570-001.pdf
If you really need that much current, buy the correct contacts.
These contacts fit into the same plugs as the trifurcon contacts -- the quite popular Molex 41695 series plugs.
 
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