Source for JST-EH connector kit

Good luck with that, it seems that the JST-EH connectors have disappeared from the face of the earth!

Here's one listing at AliExpress: 10set EH 2.5mm Pitch Connector Straight /Curved pin header Socket +Housing+Terminals

Thanks John! I am going to give those a try. I seem to be at the end of my scrap pile these days. Will probably snag a crimper too while I'm at it.

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

Thanks John! I am going to give those a try. I seem to be at the end of my scrap pile these days. Will probably snag a crimper too while I'm at it.

My go-to tool for crimping these is the Engineer PA-09 Crimp Tool.

I also have the IWISS IWS-2820m Crimp Tool, but it's harder to find nowadays for some reason.  This one has a smaller crimp range and does the 1.0 and 1.25mm connector pins.

You can get assembled JST connectors on the Bay.  At least when I purchased a year ago.

I can only find the single ended pigtails on eBay. I was hoping there was an EH kit like the PH one I bought hiding somewhere. I went with John's suggestion and should be set.

I have a big box of Lionel wiring harnesses that I cruise through when I need connector shells.  I also keep stock of reasonable quantities of stock for the JST EH, PH, XH, and ZH connector families.  I just hope the parts shortage resolves itself before I run out of stock!

Add this to one more thing to keep up with when ordering things from china.  Back in April my order from US based suppliers had been on back order for some time so I ordered a kit similar to the one Norm shows.  From the photo in the ad I could not tell that these knock off   JST-EH connectors were not compatible with actual EH connectors.  See photos,  The bright white connectors are the knockoffs as if I had to tell you.  Note how they lock into the sockets.  The lock on the actual JST-EH connectors is located on the edges of the connector where the lock on the knock off is on the back side. If you are determined you can file/sand the lock off the back and enough extra to get them to seat into actual JST connectors on TMCC boards though they don't snap in.  I hope all the chinese military hardware is as dependable as their consumer products and their zinc castings.                          j

John, check out this doc showing the different pin pitch and connector dimensions:

https://www.jst-mfg.com/produc..._e.php?category_id=1

Looks like you got the XH version, .100” pitch vs. EH having 2.5mm pitch.

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

John, check out this doc showing the different pin pitch and connector dimensions:

https://www.jst-mfg.com/produc..._e.php?category_id=1

Looks like you got the XH version, .100” pitch vs. EH having 2.5mm pitch.

Norm your right the original ad for the connectors I ordered called them EH when the connectors arrived and I tried to use them I noted the difference and complained to the seller that the connectors I received were not EH and they refunded my payment then corrected their ad.  I did not notice that when they changed the ad it also changed it in my eBay purchase history till you just pointed this out. Perhaps because I never looked, till you pointed out the discrepancy in my post. However the XH is also 2.5 pitch and with some sanding and filing I have got some use out of them. Guess I got more than I paid for.    Thanks for the JST pdf.           j

Note that there are tons of JST-XH 2.5mm connectors available, and they frequently come up with you search on JST-EH.

Sorry I mixed that up! I think that pdf covers just about all the JST you might encounter.

Nice document on the various JST connectors, I only use a handful of them, the ones that are used for model trains.

The word has gotten out that the JST-EH connectors are in short supply!   Five sets of 2-pin connectors for $8.08!!!  And, they want $3.50 shipping as well!

@Norm Charbonneau and @gunrunnerjohn, thanks for the information.

Anyone reach out to JST?
J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd. (jst-mfg.com)
Home - JST (gam-gec.com)

Guys thanks for the info on this as it is most helpful.  I had a heck of a time last year trying to find the right connecter for a PC board I was working on.  I'll keep this handy.

@Jim Battaglia posted:

Anyone reach out to JST?
J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd. (jst-mfg.com)
Home - JST (gam-gec.com)

I can't imagine JST would be remotely interested in someone asking for a couple of connectors.

My Aliexpress JST-EH order came in, should be set for life. Took me many years to burn through my now-depleted collection:

No luck on the crimper though (got the Iwiss stripper shipped to me for some reason) but I did find a US source on eBay for one.

Do they still have those in stock at AliExpress?  I didn't find them.

This is what my order looked like:

Thanks for the info, I was hoping to find a cheaper shipping option.

I found quite a few of the pigtail versions on Amazon and eBay but felt this was actually cheaper despite paying a few bucks for overseas shipping. The pigtails were sold in sets of 20 for around 7 to 8 bucks.

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

No luck on the crimper though (got the Iwiss stripper shipped to me for some reason) but I did find a US source on eBay for one.

The IWISS crimp tool is on Amazon: IWISS Mini Micro Open Barrel Crimping Tools Works on AWG28-20 JAM, Molex, Tyco, JST Terminals and Connectors

Thanks, @gunrunnerjohn; just placed my order.  ONLY 5 LEFT.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Do they still have those in stock at AliExpress?  I didn't find them.

I did a search on AliE last night for JST-EH and found more than all of us together can order. I bought fifty each of 2~10 pin.  Shipping was $5 though it was much more till the last check out step and all separate shipping was combined.     j

I did a similar thing and the shipping was $26 which I found absurd!  Exactly where did you order to get that shipping?

John it was near the last step perhaps not the very last button where you actually commit to buy. AliE has a strange check out. I think this may be the first time I  bought several similar items at one time.  I was concerned but the ridiculous first shipping price somehow fixed itself.  Attached is a pdf of the order after the adjustment shipping was $6.73 the parts were $13.90 total $20.63 .    The seller was LMX Store.          j

OK, I actually wanted to buy an assortment, so the shipping kept adding up, even though they took some off.  I looked at the store you specified, and they do back out the sky high shipping in the cart, so I'll make a nice big order.

It was an odd thing, but I did get reasonable shipping, and I bought 50 of every size as well as 50 of the matching PCB connectors and 300 contacts.  I hope they actually have all these and I get them.

If it helps, the order shows up much sooner than they project. I don’t seem to recall any issues with shipping ($7 from china seemed ok). My EH kit is now ready after a trip to Harbor Freight for some storage boxes:

I noticed that AliE is now collecting sales tax last time I ordered from them they did not. However I have a beef with everyone collecting sales tax on the WWW.  I live in a zip code that has a city which collects 3%  sales tax in addition to state and county tax though I am not in that city. EBay and everyone I order from charges me 8% sales tax though I am only obligated to pay 5% since Aug of 2019 when eBay started collecting sales tax I have spent about $11,000 on eBay plus tax. That's over $300 bucks they have overcharged me for sales tax.  That buys a lot of JST connectors.  I called eBay on several occasions and they say they can adjust two months back but so far no refunds. I bet it would take a court order to get a penny from them. It seems to me that everyone is using zip codes to determine sales tax eBay admitted they did. Zip codes are in no way accurate for assessing sales taxes.          j

What are you guys building that you need that much?  G

I found these on the bay. Smaller PH size but OK for my needs.

@GGG posted:

What are you guys building that you need that much?  G

Not sure I'll ever burn through all of these but I have been scrapping the connectors off old pigtails and harnesses in my junk boxes for years. Going forward on my upgrades, repairs, mods, etc., I'd like to have more consistent and clean efforts. The price was certainly right. I've also got a 3D printer on its way to me for fabbing up small adapter parts for mounting boards, speakers, rollers, Kadees, etc. Also designed a nice magnet chuff cam I'm anxious to print. Really looking forward to hiding out in my workshop this winter.

By the way, anyone looking for the crimpers can just search for SN-28B style. There are some cheaper and more readily available options out there.

Just a quick note, the 5 pin female connectors I received were not EH sized, but the male headers were correct. I received a refund but still need to source the correct ones at some point. Here’s some pics of the mismatch with the 4 bangers alongside for comparo:

If anyone can use the females let me know and I can mail them out.

Here’s a nice link I found that may be of some use for identifying the various connectors one might encounter in TMCC and Legacy hardware:

https://core-electronics.com.a...-Connectors.html#JST

Another nice link:

http://www.mattmillman.com/info/crimpconnectors/

@Norm Charbonneau posted:

Just a quick note, the 5 pin female connectors I received were not EH sized, but the male headers were correct. I received a refund but still need to source the correct ones at some point.

You got Molex Mini-SPOX connectors, don't know how they could confuse those with JST-EH connectors!

I doubt the order picker has any idea. I’ve only seen those connectors in some of my 3rd Rail and MTH projects, mostly 2 and 3 pin sizes.

Actually, the Mini-SPOX is used in some Lionel, almost all MTH, 3rd Rail, and I've even found them in some Williams and Weaver now and again.

I’ve seen them in Weavers.