E24 connector

[1956Porsche]

All

I know there is a 53953 ESU adapter available, but was wondering if anyone has wired a Molex 5050702442 (E24) connector for a ESU LokPilot 5 Nano DCC decoder? 

Joe

[peteski]

Yes, and no.  Well, I tried but  the pins are so small and so close together that it is basically impossible.

The "yes" is because I was successful soldering just  few very thin wires (single strands, just a bit thicker than human hair, taken from a stranded wire) to few of the pins.  I needed to take some voltage measurements of certain signals on the connector and that was the only way I could accomplish that.

But for real-world applications (as in creating a wired decoder without the bulky and thick adapter) it is not realistic.  It isn't just soldering skills or precision soldering iron (I have both). It is that the pins are so small and so close together that even 36AWG "decoder wire" would be so thick that it couldn't be soldered to single pin without bridging to another pin.  ANd I have not even mentioned how delicate those pins are.

[peteski]

Here was my attempt to solder wires directly to the E24 connector.  The outside diameter of those magnet wires is only 0.004".  For size reference I also included a piece of white 36AWG stranded wire.

I also had to use thin strips of Kapton tape to prevent the solder from wicking onto the contact mating areas.

[robert3985]

Here was my attempt to solder wires directly to the E24 connector.  The outside diameter of those magnet wires is only 0.004".  For size reference I also included a piece of white 36AWG stranded wire.

I also had to use thin strips of Kapton tape to prevent the solder from wicking onto the contact mating areas.

An easier way to make sure solder doesn't "wick" is to create a barrier marking the metal surface with an HB pencil.  For these, I would have pressed hard, made a few "marks" on both top and bottom and on the edges.

Solder won't cross pencil lead.

I use this technique when building turnouts too.  No solder on the inside surface of PCB ties at the throwbar, and on the outside surface of PCB throwbar that slides under the adjacent stock rails...no solder and lubrication too...and the point rail toes fit flush against the adjacent stock rails with no excess solder needing to be removed since it won't cross the pencil lead marks.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[peteski]

These are way too small for that technique, which does work on larger items.  While I worked as a computer tech I used Kapton tape as a solder resist when soldering on gold plated pads. It was also used to protect gold-plated edge connectors during wave soldering of the components on the board. Kapton tape has a high temperature silicone adhesive and  that is one of its uses.

[robert3985]

These are way too small for that technique, which does work on larger items.  While I worked as a computer tech I used Kapton tape as a solder resist when soldering on gold plated pads. It was also used to protect gold-plated edge connectors during wave soldering of the components on the board. Kapton tape has a high temperature silicone adhesive and  that is one of its uses.

I haven't seen one of these in the flesh, so...I assume the close-up photograph doesn't convey the actual small size.

I'll have to remember that about Kapton tape.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[peteski]

Yes, the close-up photo does not convey the actual size.  How about this: