Connecting boards at right angles

I'm currently working on a circuit that has two design issues that loom large for me at the moment. First, it needs to be in a small space, and second, due to connector limitations, it needs to have a small circuit board that sits at right angles to the "main" 2-board stack.

Just to add a fun constraint, some of the signals involved go from 0 to

200V, so really tightly-packed connectors are a no-go.

I'm currently talking to a PCB house that does flex-rigid PCBs, just to get an idea of price, but I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on whether there are compact alternatives to this -- for instance, are there reliable board-to-board connectors that are compact, rated for 200V pin- pin, and right angle?

If you have any thoughts, I'll entertain them.

TIA

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Tim Wescott 
Wescott Design Services 
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Tim Wescott
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Use a more conventional board-board connector and skip some pins where there is HV.

200 is not very HV.
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John Larkin         Highland Technology, Inc 
picosecond timing   precision measurement  
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Reply to
John Larkin

Questions are: how many pins and how much current on them?

Reply to
edward.ming.lee

And what size is "compact"?

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Rick
Reply to
rickman

Standard 0.100" headers with, as John pointed out, pins removed between circuits. If you have Niagra Falls behind it, then something else would be needed.

Cheers

Reply to
Martin Riddle

40 x 80mm boards, stuffed to the gills. Some traces will be 200V with 100mA on them, most everything else will be no more than 5V with 10mA.
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Tim Wescott 
Wescott Design Services 
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Reply to
Tim Wescott

I'm asking what size do you want the connectors to be. How much room do you have between gills?

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Rick
Reply to
rickman

I have used the Teknoflex SMD jumper

Surface mount, pick and place with both PCBs in the panel. When reflow soldered, break the PCBs apart, so no cables to handle etc

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Has 200V rating

Cheers

Klaus

Reply to
Klaus Kragelund

Search for:

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Reply to
Klaus Kragelund

If you use an SMD connector and the alignment is important, use one with guide pins.

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Rick
Reply to
rickman

Am 15.01.16 um 20:15 schrieb Tim Wescott:

d

[...]

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I have no suiting connector type at hand, but a hint: Don't trust datasheet-values for voltage ratings of connectors! I had several cases, where a connector was rated for e.g. 500V DC. The result of deeper inspection was: The connector itself complied -- air gaps and leakage distances of the connector itself were adequate -- as long as you don't solder it onto a PCB. If you do so, you are lost. You need solder pads for the pins, and you cannot layot them in any way that allows for the voltage rating specified by the datasheet. Always take into consideration, which size of solder pads you need, and how much they cut off of the pin spacing.

Best regards,

Reply to
Günther Dietrich

As compact as possible, without being more challenging for the assembly house than 0.5mm pitch ICs.

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Reply to
Tim Wescott

Any idea what the cost is of those things? As you say. those would go well with V-groove and routed PCBs.

--sp

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Best regards,  
Spehro Pefhany 
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Reply to
Spehro Pefhany

But you choice of connectors are limited by the 200V/100mA signals, not exactly small signals. With a 0.1" header on 80mm, you have less than 30 pins at most and with minimum of one empty pin on either side. How many 200V signals?

Reply to
edward.ming.lee

Well, yes.

16 -- eight independent power/return pairs.
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Tim Wescott 
Wescott Design Services 
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Tim Wescott

I guess I don't get what you are having trouble with. If you are happy with 0.5 mm pitch, that's pretty small. Are you saying you can't find any right angle connectors that small? Or are you looking for recommendations of parts people like? The voltage rating depends on the pin spacing, but as some have said, you can skip pins. I use regular friction pins and sockets now, the miniature versions of 0.1" headers (because my customer required it). In the past I have used Conan (not sure of the spelling) by... Amp maybe? I think they were bought by someone else but I'm sure these are still made. Nice snap lock... but no right angle.

I find connectors to be supply problems. Lately I've been using Sullins because if no one has stock, I can get them in 1000 piece reels usually in 30 days. Several distis stock them including Digikey, just not always in stock.

The exact models will depend on your exact needs. If all else fails, go to Samtec to select parts, then check around to see what the rest of the world sells like them.

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Rick
Reply to
rickman

I wouldn't use 0.5mm pitch header with the 200V/100mA signals. And with 8 pairs of them, there's not much room left even with diagonal spacings.

01 -- 05 -- 09 -- 13 -- 17 -- 21 -- 25 -- 29

-- 04 -- 08 -- 12 -- 16 -- 20 -- 24 -- 28 --

He has to deal with wide traces (large current) and wide gaps (large voltage).

Reply to
edward.ming.lee

+jumper

Wow. Very helpful. Thanks.

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Tim Wescott 
Wescott Design Services 
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Tim Wescott

Actually I suspect that I can neck the traces down right at the connector and not lose much. I suppose I should back that up with some testing or science before I decide I'm right, though.

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Tim Wescott 
Wescott Design Services 
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Tim Wescott

Is the 2nd board supported by the connector only or mounted to the case?

Look at Major League Electronics <

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> lots of RA connectors. A quick check showed there 2.54mm go up to

600V.

Another option might be the MilMax 8806 series. With these you can space out your 200V pins to what ever you want. <

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>

I use the 7305 series for a low profile socket. <

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Chisolm 
Republic of Texas
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Joe Chisolm

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