I know a lot of the JST connectors are hard to come by these days. I recently discovered that the JST ZR series are compatible with the JST ZH ones, and the ZR ones are available in pre-made assemblies from Digi-Key.
Here's a link to them for anyone interested. They have a smattering of different sizes (2, 3, 4, 6 pin etc.) and lengths (2" - 12").
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ZH connectors can be had at Amazon for about the same price. Both genders.
Pete
The ZH connectors are readily available, look for the JST-EH if you want to see empty parts bins! 
@gunrunnerjohn posted:The ZH connectors are readily available, look for the JST-EH if you want to see empty parts bins!
Look again, Digi-Key only has 3, 5, 12, and 13 pin for ZH and they have no premade assemblies for ZH. Only ZR.
Meanwhile, they have nine different pin counts for EH housings and four premade assemblies for EHR.
John and I are trying to say you don’t need to use an alternative. You can get ZH connectors easily from many sources. I just ordered sets from Amazon to save shipping. The ZHs were actually about 10% less than Digikeys and no shipping cost.
Pete
I see JST-ZH connectors everywhere. The JST-EH are more scarce. and many sizes are out of stock everywhere.
For instance, neither Digikey or Mouser has any stock on JST EHR-3, EHR-4, EHR-5, some of the more common sizes used with TMCC equipment.
Newark Supply? Nope...
Arrow? Nope...
TLC? Nope...
I found them in a Far East shop, order quantity 240 minimum. Want to buy around 200? I'll take the other 40. 
@Norton posted:John and I are trying to say you don’t need to use an alternative. You can get ZH connectors easily from many sources. I just ordered sets from Amazon to save shipping. The ZHs were actually about 10% less than Digikeys and no shipping cost.
Pete
The ones I saw on Amazon were like a minimum buy of like 15-20 and since I needed several different pin counts it would have pushed me over $40. Additionally, some pin counts were listed with availability in the mid November timeframe.
Digi-Key had the right pin counts, premade, in stock now in the ZR type (which is IDC style instead of crimp). I’ll have them in three days.
Yuck! No wonder I never looked at the ZR, I have no desire to use IDC connectors.
I also take note of the fact that they're only rated for #28 or #30 wire! I can use down to #22 in the ZH connectors, depending on the contacts I choose. The ZR connectors also appear to be bulkier.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I see JST-ZH connectors everywhere. The JST-EH are more scarce. and many sizes are out of stock everywhere.
For instance, neither Digikey or Mouser has any stock on JST EHR-3, EHR-4, EHR-5, some of the more common sizes used with TMCC equipment.
EHR-3: https://www.digikey.com/en/pro...h/CABLE-EH03/9381896 qty: 255
EHR-5: https://www.digikey.com/en/pro...h/CABLE-EH04/9381897 qty: 307
Indeed, no five pin. But they do have 7, 8, and 9 which can be cut down in a pinch.
I prefer to not buy it for ten times the going price for the shell, I don't need the wired ones. 
As far as cutting connector shells, I'll pass on that.
When I saw many of the local places running out of the JST-EH connectors, I took the bull by the horns...
I got headers, shells, and contacts from 2-pin thru 10-pin for AliExpress. They're MIA for the most part over there as well now. Obviously, they're very well used by a host of folks.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Yuck! No wonder I never looked at the ZR, I have no desire to use IDC connectors.
I also take note of the fact that they're only rated for #28 or #30 wire! I can use down to #22 in the ZH connectors, depending on the contacts I choose.
None of the JST ZH pins I’ve seen support less than #26.
The ZR connectors also appear to be bulkier.
The ZR and ZH connectors are within 0.1mm in length, and the ZR is 0.3mm narrower!
The ZH crimp pins handle larger sizes with no issue at all, however IDC connectors will not handle larger wires without compromising the connection. Williams has been using the ZH connectors in their stuff for ages, and they use #22 wire in most of them.
In any case, I'll stick with ZH, but obviously you're free to use anything you like. 
When all else fails, Lionel has EH connectors. I have dozens of two and four pin EHs but was running low on 5,6,7,8 pins so bit the bullet and got a few from Lionel.
XH can be used with EH in a pinch but not ideal. XH kits are dirt cheap at Amazon plus I can use them on my homebrew stuff.
Pete
I use the XH on my lighting kits, and of course if I run across Williams stuff. I also use them so I have a dissimilar connector from other .1" pitch connectors.
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