??? better components & wiring solutions

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hydrophyte
 
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Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:52 am

??? better components & wiring solutions

Post by hydrophyte »

I am most definitely NOT an engineer and I'm here with some very basic questions.

I've started a project with a few of these wall-mount digital clocks...
15-IV-21-bark-clock-III.jpg
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I'm trying to optimize the components with better solutions for wiring and connections. Here's a view of what I have so far with. I squeezed the parts into the case with just the flimsy jumper cable connections and with the controller and RTC on a little mini breadboard...
IMG_9148.jpg
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The USB A male connector passes through the frame and is held more or less sturdy with a small wedge of pine...
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IMG_9150.jpg (326.37 KiB) Viewed 87 times
I just wanted to get an idea of how it would look in operation.

I would be interested to hear any general tips, but I also list a few specific questions here...

1. Board + RTC connections - these parts go together OK on the mini breadboard, although there isn't much room for much else in that space below the clock module. Should I just join these on a little piece of perfboard with soldered connections and mount with standoffs, or is there some other solution? There is only 1.5" of space between the inside of the case and the wall, so parts including header pin connections need to be able fit in there.

2. USB power - the male USB works OK positioned like this, although the way it sticks out of the bottom of the case is awkward. A female socket USB A flush with the bottom face would be better. Should I just use this kind of manufacturer cable with a female A to micro USB connection, or is there a better way to situate a USB port flush with a wood case?

3. Wires - five wires run from the board to the clock display. Should I just use a female 5-pin jumper connector? Would this one I see at Sparkfun (sorry) work OK? Is the pin spacing correct?... https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/9917 I guess those connections could just solder into a perboard, although maybe this kind of terminal block would be preferable... https://www.adafruit.com/product/2139

Thanks for considering all this!

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: ??? better components & wiring solutions

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

The headers and jumper connectors take up a lot of space. For prototyping, it is nice to be able to disconnect and re-arrange things. But for a permanent installation, you can make it more compact by eliminating the headers and just wire everything directly with 22AWG hookup wire. https://www.adafruit.com/?q=22awg&sort=BestMatch

For the USB connection, there are a number of panel-mount options for a cleaner look: https://www.adafruit.com/?q=panel+mount ... =BestMatch

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hydrophyte
 
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Re: ??? better components & wiring solutions

Post by hydrophyte »

Thanks. Yes, I was going to get some 22AWG wire with my next order.

I think I do want something more tidy-looking than soldered wires just sprawling out of perfboard. This terminal block is probably the right choice for the wire connection to the clock display.... https://www.adafruit.com/product/2139 That looks compact enough to fit inside the case. Unfortunately the 5-pin version is sold out.

I had already seen those panel-mount USB connections, but none of them here look like the right combination. The best solution might be a simple female-to-female connector to nest in a groove in the plywood and flush with the case bottom... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J4 ... =pd_gw_unk That one has nice straight sides for a pretty good tight friction fit and then I can just add a machine screw with washer to hold it in.

For the clock display connection I might just replace the header pins with these right angle headers... https://www.adafruit.com/product/1542?g ... gIoCvD_BwE That way a regular 5-wire jumper will probably fit OK and then I can just strip the wires at the other end for the terminal block connection.

You all should design a board special for clock projects with controller, RTC, display wire connections, maybe push buttons and some extra pinouts. I would buy a dozen.

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adafruit_support_bill
 
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Re: ??? better components & wiring solutions

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

I think I do want something more tidy-looking than soldered wires just sprawling out of perfboard.
Clean point-to-point wiring can be quite tidy and neat - in many cases neater than connectors. But if you prefer to use connectors or terminal blocks, a 0.1" pitch works with most of our boards.
I had already seen those panel-mount USB connections, but none of them here look like the right combination.
Any of the Micro-B options would work with the Metro Mini you are using,
For the clock display connection I might just replace the header pins with these right angle headers.
These can save some vertical space. Soldered connections would be even more compact.
You all should design a board special for clock projects with controller, RTC, display wire connections, maybe push buttons and some extra pinouts. I would buy a dozen.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will forward it to the design team. Note that some of our processor boards (e.g. the M0 based boards) have an integral RTC.

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