Williams Board Repair - Connectors

A while back I bought these to replace the crappy connectors on a Defender boardset:

http://www.molex.com/molex/products...5_PCB_HEADERS.xml&channel=Products&Lang=en-US

The pins are too fat to go into holes. What should I have ordered instead?

Did you use desoldering braid and clean all the solder out from the holes on the board ?
I've replaced the headers on the WMS boards with square pinned headers. It's a tight fit though, but still not forced.

Unless you mean the ROM & widget board connectors ?

- James
 
Did you use desoldering braid and clean all the solder out from the holes on the board ?
I've replaced the headers on the WMS boards with square pinned headers. It's a tight fit though, but still not forced.

Unless you mean the ROM & widget board connectors ?

- James

Yes, it's the ROM board I'm working on. Holes are clear. And by your tone it sounds like they're the wrong ones!

It's a junk Defender boardset I bought on eBay a couple years back. It's in HORRIBLE condition. Like it was exposed to the elements for a while. If I'd known then what it was like I would have never bid. Luckily I didn't pay much for it.

I just hate to see it tossed. I'll call it "a learning experience."

The solder is GROSS. I'm going to have to sandpaper the whole thing just so I can resolder it.
 
Are you talking the .156 headers/connectors...or the ribbon cable/connector? Those you pictured should work on any williams connector except for the ribbon cable header.

As James stated, clean the holes out good....and gently "persuade" the new header in.

Edward
 
I'm talking about the .156" headers. That's what I linked above.

If you compare the old pins to the ones I got they're quite a bit larger. There's no way they're going in the holes without enlarging the holes. And yes, the holes are clean.
 
Just press them firmly and rock them back and forth. They will fit. I do it all the time.

ken
 
I'm talking about the .156" headers. That's what I linked above.

If you compare the old pins to the ones I got they're quite a bit larger. There's no way they're going in the holes without enlarging the holes. And yes, the holes are clean.

Any way you can post a picture of the board pointing to the specific connector just so we can all be sure we're on the same page?

The only time I have ever seen 0.156" headers not fitting properly into a hole is where there was still solder in the holes. All the big manufacturers for 0.156" (3.96mm) headers use the same post size - 0.045".

Ed
 
Any way you can post a picture of the board pointing to the specific connector just so we can all be sure we're on the same page?

The only time I have ever seen 0.156" headers not fitting properly into a hole is where there was still solder in the holes. All the big manufacturers for 0.156" (3.96mm) headers use the same post size - 0.045".

Ed

They'd fit if I really force them, but I'm afraid of tearing out the thru hole if I do.

Yes, we're talking about the same connector. Can't take a picture right now.

The board is in really rough shape. I'm trying to put it under as little stress as necessary.
 
They'd fit if I really force them, but I'm afraid of tearing out the thru hole if I do.

Yes, we're talking about the same connector. Can't take a picture right now.

The board is in really rough shape. I'm trying to put it under as little stress as necessary.


Yes, it is a danger with poor condition boards that you will rip the thru hole. I take that risk and repair with a jumper when the worst happens. Not like it is a mint condition board.

Saltbreez
 
Any way you can post a picture of the board pointing to the specific connector just so we can all be sure we're on the same page?

The only time I have ever seen 0.156" headers not fitting properly into a hole is where there was still solder in the holes. All the big manufacturers for 0.156" (3.96mm) headers use the same post size - 0.045".

Ed

Possibly the board was designed for the old, round 0.045 diameter pins...bazillions of years ago, many of the 0.156" header pins were round. Problem with the old round 0.156 connectors is they made real shitty contact with the plugs. The flat faced square connectors are much better in this respect.

The old round pins had a diameter of 0.045". The square ones are 0.045" x 0.045". This gives you a cross section between points of 0.063". The square pins are supposed to fit into 0.067" holes. If the holes were designed for the round pins, I can see your dilema.

But, this doesn't explain anything if the pins you pulled out were square as they supposedly would have had the same problem. Unless somebody filed the points off the corners.

Ed
 
The pins I pulled out were round. I hadn't realized until you posted this. Now it makes sense.

I'll give it another go after I sand the board down.
 
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