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I am currently using two 8-wire ribbon cable to connect 2x8 pins on the Arduino to 2x8 pins on a board. This makes plugging/unplugging very tedious are the ends are not glued together like in a connector

enter image description here

Question: How can I create my own ribbon cables with connetors for 2x8 pins? After some researched I found IDC connectors somewhat suitable, but the connectors appear to have additional plastic like the clips which will obscure the 2 pins to each side of the 2x8 pins I'm plugging the cable into.

What other options do I have? I'm hoping for a 8x2 version of the following cable, what are such cables called?

enter image description here

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  • \$\begingroup\$ How are your soldering skills? Would you want to solder your own cable or you are searching to buy a ready one? \$\endgroup\$
    – alexan_e
    Mar 17, 2014 at 14:32
  • \$\begingroup\$ @alexan_e I have basic soldering skills, able to solder components to pcb boards. I'm looking to both purchase and solder/crimp my own. \$\endgroup\$
    – Nyxynyx
    Mar 17, 2014 at 14:37
  • \$\begingroup\$ Can something like this be used? Or are these for inserting jumper cables and not for soldering wires into. digikey.com/product-detail/en/PPTC082LFBN-RC/S7076-ND/810214 \$\endgroup\$
    – Nyxynyx
    Mar 17, 2014 at 15:05
  • \$\begingroup\$ The double raw header you show can be either used on a PCB or with soldered wires. There is no limitation in the way it can be used. \$\endgroup\$
    – alexan_e
    Mar 17, 2014 at 15:35

4 Answers 4

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Pololu.com sells connectors like this, and they have precrimped wires as well.

Wires.

2x8 housing.

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One possible solution is to use the 0.1" (2.54mm) double row male headers on one side.

enter image description here

and a female 0.1" (2.54mm) double row header in the other side

enter image description here

Get some multicolor flat ribbon cable

enter image description here

and you can make your own cable at any length and pin count.

If you want you can reinforce the wire/plug connection using a hot glue gun, something that looks like

enter image description here

Another possible solution may be to use your current jumper wires, just use glue or hot glue to hold them together as one piece and should be fine.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Surely you're not suggesting they solder ribbon cable! \$\endgroup\$
    – Jeanne Pindar
    Mar 17, 2014 at 19:15
  • \$\begingroup\$ @JeannePindar Why not? What great universe power prevents anyone from doing so? \$\endgroup\$
    – alexan_e
    Mar 17, 2014 at 19:34
  • \$\begingroup\$ The laws of physics? Stripped and soldered ribbon cable inevitably breaks. It's bad enough for a one-time use, and this is on a connector. \$\endgroup\$
    – Jeanne Pindar
    Mar 17, 2014 at 19:40
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    \$\begingroup\$ @JeannePindar In that case embrace the impossible because I've been using them for years i.stack.imgur.com/AnQEM.jpg . I've got longer length versions too. \$\endgroup\$
    – alexan_e
    Mar 17, 2014 at 19:43
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The connectors in your last picture appear to me to be "AMPModu" connectors, made by AMP. The housing are available in both single and double row. The contacts are crimped on the wires, then inserted in the housing.

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Make a PCB bridge

Something like this: enter image description here

Either use generic prototyping board or have a custom PCB made just for you. Then solder both male and female 8x2 header to it. Some manufacturers can also do flexible PCB boards. You can design the bridge using Eagle Cad and then you can shop for a manufacturer here.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Can the flexible ones (Eg. Asus and MSI in the photo above) be bought off the shelf? Are the headers on both end of them standard parts that we can get off Digikey/Mouser? \$\endgroup\$
    – Nyxynyx
    Oct 30, 2015 at 18:58
  • \$\begingroup\$ Those are SLI bridges. I'm sure they can be bought somewhere, but they are not exactly what are you looking for. \$\endgroup\$
    – Cano64
    Oct 30, 2015 at 19:52
  • \$\begingroup\$ I'm looking to connect two male 8x2 headers together, like 16 of the pins on the Arduino Mega, like shown in the main post. \$\endgroup\$
    – Nyxynyx
    Oct 31, 2015 at 15:36
  • \$\begingroup\$ but the arduino mega has female headers \$\endgroup\$
    – Cano64
    Nov 3, 2015 at 14:57
  • \$\begingroup\$ Sorry meant female headers on the Arduino Mega \$\endgroup\$
    – Nyxynyx
    Nov 3, 2015 at 15:13

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