A Connector for the MTH DCS AIU

This would be a nice project for printing a circuit board that could have the right angle pin header for the AIU connection and the connection of your choice for the layout wiring.

Naturally, the connections are an oddball spacing, they are .14" or 3.5mm pitch.  Neither of those are "standard" connector pitch.

I suspect that maybe a short cable from the AIU to the PCB with a multi-pin connector or a few connectors.

The company I worked for before retiring had control modules with screw terminal connections, but they could be unplugged without removing  any wires (no unscrewing the setscrews). TO change out a module you just un-plugged the terminal with the wire connections and plugged it back into the new module. It was really very easy and fast to replace something that way.

This isn't the same as they used, but they looked something like this in the picture below. And here is a link

They are available in multiple numbers of terminal/wire connections. I imagine purchased in quantity they would be fairly inexpensive as well. These would make changing an AIU very quick and easy and I would think very little cost difference from what they use now? As for the spacing GRJ mentions above, maybe that could be a problem. 

Sorry, but I don't know their 'proper name' or terminology used to properly describe them or do I know the available spacings for them? 

eBay has the right spacing.

10Pcs 3.5mm Pitch 6 Pin Way Right Angle Screw Terminal Block Pluggable Connector, eBay# 173351436909

That's 60 pins for $6.99 vs 36 pins of the wrong spacing from Amazon for $7.59.

It's still a significant job, and the PCB would not be super cheap since it has to be the length of the entire AIU terminal strip.  You'd have to have a PCB for every AIU, including your spare.

Hopefully, the AIU isn't failing often enough for this to be a factor.

John,

Hopefully, the AIU isn't failing often enough for this to be a factor.

I have 11 AIUs on my layout and 10 have been in service for almost 15 years. I use over 100 SW ports and about 50 ACC ports, without a single failure.

For me, the AIUs have proven themselves to be quite dependable.

The ones you found are more similar to the ones I was familiar with. I was just trying to show an example. The Amazon ones were all I found that were even close, probably due to my use of incorrect search terms? The ones I was talking about were designed into the modules, they were just there and very handy for hookup and replacement of the devices they were a part of. Anything to reduce labor costs, but actually a good idea too, IMO.

I wasn't really thinking of the added PCB, but you do have a good idea there! Interesting too! Once everything was in place, including your spare, it would make things much easier. And much less time under the layout in the OP's case. It would only be a one time expense too, so that may ease the pain a bit on the costs of PCBs & terminals? Probably not good for someone that doesn't like PCBs, soldering & wires though?

I was thinking for these to be practical, MTH would have to redesign the AIU to incorporate them into the unit and I certainly don't expect MTH to change anything. At least not any major changes anyway, and this might be major? More or less just thinking (or typing) out loud...

I agree an AIU is not something I would expect to be failing anytime soon after installation. If, or when I add an AIU, it's replacement will be way down on the thought list. Although, now since I have said this, mine will probably fail a few days (or hours) after installation... 

I'd rather have my switches with quick disconnects than the AIU, they'll probably fail first!

That would be good too!  They could probably be used on a select few items like that that might make sense? 

(I am not going to say anything about not yet having any switch failures, or one will fail here directly).