What are good solutions for pluggable, "free-hanging" cable connections?
As simple as this question might sound, I am currently struggling in finding components that allow me to easily connect and disconnect a set of cables. This is my scenario:
I have three devices using the Modbus/RTU protocol over RS-485 three-wire cables.
I have to connect and disconnect these cables from time to time: For instance:
- I have devices A, B, and C.
- A and B can be connected together, and A and C can be connected together.
- From time to time, I have to unplug A and B and connect together A and C.
Therefore I am looking for a cable connection that allows for the following:
- Initial assembly of the cable's connector/receptacle should be easy and reversible: No fancy crimping tools, no soldering. Just screwing the cable to the plug. Or a spring-cage connection.
- Connector and receptacle shall protect against polarity mismatches (i.e., there is only one way of plugging connector and receptacle together).
- Plugging and unplugging the cables shall be easy.
By now, I have spent half a day of finding viable solutions. The only solution I have found so far is a combination of MSTB 2,5/ 4-ST-5,08 and IC 2,5/ 4-ST-5,08.
How do you connect cables together?
Best Answer
FCI, and Molex both make a line of plugable screw terminals if you want to go that route.
http://portal.fciconnect.com/portal/page/portal/fciconnect/producttype?appname=catDisplayByPath$entryPoint=adir%20%20ect$categoryPath=Product%20Type
http://www.molex.com/molex/products/family?key=eurostyle_terminal_blocks&channel=products&chanName=family&pageTitle=Introduction&parentKey=terminal_blocks_and_barrier_strips
http://www.molex.com/molex/products/family?key=mtc_multi_terminal_connector&channel=products&chanName=family&pageTitle=Introduction&parentKey=terminal_blocks_and_barrier_strips
A better idea might be to use ribbon cable with shrouded headers. The shroud will give you the polarity protection you want. You don't need any special crimping tools to make the ribbon cables they just snap together. Here are some links to examples of 6-pin cables in a 2x3 header. These are really common and come in many sizes though.
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10651
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10650
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10646