Cannon Plugs and Deutsch DT Plugs

DesertGuy · Post by **DesertGuy** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:19 am

Looking at ways multiple wires can be terminated into "quick-disconnects" such as behind a dash or "central brain" system of a wiring project. Seems that many race cars use these types of connections. The cannon plug is "clocked" which only allows one way to connect, and some connections allow for 12 gauge wire with an 8 gauge. These are mighty nice, they have connections with 21 wire assignments which would work for me.

UPSIDE:

Looks pretty cool, allows multiple wires to be connected at one point. The DT plugs are just as sturdy as WeatherPacks, plus you can get more pin assignments than WeatherPacks allowing less connections.

DOWNSIDE:

Cost... seems to have the "cool" stuff requires the money behind it. Of course, these take a "special" crimper ($250.00) and each plug will run around $100.00 (This is for the male end, female end, and solid pin terminals).

::: One good point is that with the "special" crimper you can do the cannon plugs and the DT plugs. That way instead of having a "special" crimper for Deutsch plugs and one for WeatherPacks, if I use all Deutsch then one crimper will do all:::

Does anyone have any experience with these? Oh, did I say... they look cool

Post by **2088 bob** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:59 am

very pricey stuff have worked with it a fair bit don't use it in the cars much unless you are going to take something apart every week can hardly justify the cost

its not easy to work with but i will admit it has major cool factor ...well for me anyway ...but then i'am funny that way

helowrench · Post by **helowrench** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:13 am

my test cell at work has cannon plugs that are 3 1/2" across, something like 50-60 connections.

as big around as a coca cola can.

For cheap cannon plugs, find an aircraft sqalvage yard, call them up and very plainly state that "I do not need them certified, they are for non-aircraft use" they will go and clip the wires, and send them to you cheap. The only downside is that they are used, and you still have to purchase new pins, and a pin extracter/inserter tool (relatively cheap). the upside is that you get the cannon plug and backshell cheap.

Rob

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:27 am

Seems to me Mitsubishi cars use this stuff.. along with expensive boats..

didget69 · Post by **didget69** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:33 pm

This is the kind of stuff I sell to the military & industrial sector - when you get into some of the Mil-Spec shells & insert patterns, you can get pricey real fast. Amphenol, Glenair, Deutsch, ITT Cannon, AB - kinda hard to justify the expense, unless it's on a racecar - we sell to the NASCAR teams, & they put them to good use!

You can also look into multi-pin connectors from Tyco or Molex - You'll get plastic housings instead of metal, in most instances.

bnc

Post by **2088 bob** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:26 am

Steve if you really need some kind of quick disconnect function look at the stuff from molex not as techy looking but does the job

DesertGuy · Post by **DesertGuy** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:58 am

2088 bob wrote:Steve if you really need some kind of quick disconnect function

Hmmm, I suppose I dont "need" any, but I like all that techy stuff and thought it would be different. However, I do like the Molex MX150L stuff... let me gues, Molex connectors need "their" own crimper?

Post by **david58** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:33 am

DesertGuy you have a good idea going on. Just say you had an electrical problem down the road. Having these connectors would be a benefit in trouble shooting wiring problems.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:44 am

What about boat type connectors.. I'd bet there are boat junkyards with very common connectors.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:11 am

Most of these connectors are not really suited for automotive use.
The vast majority of automotive manufacturers...who have a track record of excelent longevity ALL...use a dual cantilever style of pin. So do most of the aircraft maufacturers now.
Do the research...Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, VW, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Volvo and Saab (before GM wrecked them)...Use the AMP designed dual cantilever connector. Molex is not suitable for automotive...and neither is any round or square pin style.
They did a vast amount of research over the last 40 years (Bosch and AMP)...and concluded that without constant spring tension...the amount of connectivity loss that is detrimental ...can happen in less than 25 cycles of plugging and unplugging...on any connector style that is not dual sprung.
That means constant spring pressure....generated by a spring....not by bending....on both sides of the blade.

The combination of heat, load, vibration etc....found in automotive connectors....far exceeds that in most control harnesses of aircraft. Most of this is also due to the extremely loose routing of harnesses to reach components.

You will notice in cars in the Junk yards...competent ones (GM need not apply...and chrysler as well until Diamler got ahold of them)...that the ONLY time NON-dual cantilever terminals are used...is when the circuit is not-millivolt sensitive. In other words....no fuel injection parts , 02 sensors or load sensitive ignition that plugs into ECU... should be connected by anything other than dual cantilevr type terminals. Anything else is good for all else.
Thesad part is that some of theGM weatherpack connectors have some of the very best seals. Molex does as well.....but the terminals themselves are not suitable for any applications other than static. Ray