connecting wires to motors?

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Subject Author Date
connecting wires to motors? Joe Strout 09-12-2006
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Posted by Joe Strout on September 12, 2006, 6:43 pm
It's newbie-question time again!

As a learning exercise, I'm slowly building a little robot based on a
Tamiya gearbox and wheels. The gearbox comes with two small motors,
each with two little copper loops for the electrical connection.

My question is, what's the best way to connect these motors to the rest
of the circuit? I don't want to just solder them in directly, because
I want something I can easily take apart and reuse. I'm thinking
something like a short two-wire cable (per motor) with a little plug on
the end. Then I can solder a similar connector on my motor controller
or whatever, and connect or disconnect them at will.

Is this a sensible approach? Is there any particular cable/connector
that is standard, preferred, or recommended?

Thanks,
- Joe

Posted by BRW on September 13, 2006, 2:57 pm

Joe Strout wrote:
> It's newbie-question time again!
> As a learning exercise, I'm slowly building a little robot based on a
> Tamiya gearbox and wheels. The gearbox comes with two small motors,
> each with two little copper loops for the electrical connection.
> My question is, what's the best way to connect these motors to the rest
> of the circuit? I don't want to just solder them in directly, because
> I want something I can easily take apart and reuse. I'm thinking
> something like a short two-wire cable (per motor) with a little plug on
> the end. Then I can solder a similar connector on my motor controller
> or whatever, and connect or disconnect them at will.
> Is this a sensible approach? Is there any particular cable/connector
> that is standard, preferred, or recommended?
> Thanks,
> - Joe

There are hundreds of different connectors that could be used for this
job. Everybody has their own personal preferences. I suggest that you
standardize on a couple of different types of connectors for your
robotics hobby. You will be glad you did. For example, for serial
digital signals (like I2C or SPI) and low power (7A max like your
motor) I have standardized on a Molex KK connector. I like their
terminal contact pressure & low resistance and their detents. They will
never vibrate loose like a standard PCB connector. You can use them for
PCB connection or inline connection.

For higher power connections, I use Molex nylon pin & socket
connectors.

I buy most of my connectors from Newark Electronics or Digi-Key. They
both have good selections.

BRW


Posted by Wayne Lundberg on September 13, 2006, 2:59 pm
ditto!


> Joe Strout wrote:
> > It's newbie-question time again!
> > As a learning exercise, I'm slowly building a little robot based on a
> > Tamiya gearbox and wheels. The gearbox comes with two small motors,
> > each with two little copper loops for the electrical connection.
> > My question is, what's the best way to connect these motors to the rest
> > of the circuit? I don't want to just solder them in directly, because
> > I want something I can easily take apart and reuse. I'm thinking
> > something like a short two-wire cable (per motor) with a little plug on
> > the end. Then I can solder a similar connector on my motor controller
> > or whatever, and connect or disconnect them at will.
> > Is this a sensible approach? Is there any particular cable/connector
> > that is standard, preferred, or recommended?
> > Thanks,
> > - Joe
> There are hundreds of different connectors that could be used for this
> job. Everybody has their own personal preferences. I suggest that you
> standardize on a couple of different types of connectors for your
> robotics hobby. You will be glad you did. For example, for serial
> digital signals (like I2C or SPI) and low power (7A max like your
> motor) I have standardized on a Molex KK connector. I like their
> terminal contact pressure & low resistance and their detents. They will
> never vibrate loose like a standard PCB connector. You can use them for
> PCB connection or inline connection.
> For higher power connections, I use Molex nylon pin & socket
> connectors.
> I buy most of my connectors from Newark Electronics or Digi-Key. They
> both have good selections.
> BRW




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