Please help me I.D. this pin header... (with pics/56k safe)

[flush2000]

Hi all.. I'm in the process of relocating my Mac Mini in an audio rack. I've taken the Mac Mini out of it's case (which has been set safely aside) and mounted it in it's new enclosure with a USB DAC/ADC. I've run into a problem when it comes to hooking up a power switch and status LED. They use a very small pin header that's surface mounted on the motherboard. I've looked on digikey for the past hour, and came up with only one or two possible candidates for plugs. This is what the plug on the motherboard looks like:

With Dimensions:

And the plug that I'm looking to find:

I'd greatly appreciate any help provided, and I wish there was something I could give in return for such help. I'd be happy to send you a postcard from portland, oregon or something.

-Josh

 

[skyskraper]

i just had a quick flick through my RS catalog and didnt find anything. i'll keep an eye out for you though as i'm sure it would be a header you can source the parts for, looked a bit like one of the molex headers i saw but it had multiple rows starting at 10 connections

 

[chaostic]

Im confused. Are you saying that the mini mac's power switch and led both use that one header? Or both use the same type header?

--

Edit: Okay, n/m. I looked at the service manual for the mac mini and see that they are two different pieces, but same part. There are four in total, 1 for power switch, one for led, one for fan and one for speaker.

I really can't see a reason you cannot simply use a pair of standard header plugs to connect to it on the pcb side, and a cable splicer on the led and power switch.

 

[headchange4u]

That looks like a fan header on a PC motherboard (I know it's a Mac Mini). Have you tried finding an old PC fan and using the connector off of it? You can get PC fans cheap. I have also seen a similar connector in an XBox.

BTW, Why do you neeed a new plug? Are the wires to short? You could always remove the pins from the plug, and solder on longer wires and then re-insert the pins in the plugs.

 

[tangent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by headchange4u That looks like a fan header on a PC motherboard

Not any PC fan I've ever seen. The current 3-pin standard connector is ye olde Molex KK, with 100 mil pin spacing. (2.5mm) That's far too large to fit that connector, even if the shape was right, which it isn't.

flush2000, for a job like this, searching web sites is the wrong way to go. You need to download catalogs instead. They're better structured to the task.

Also, instead of trying to find the exact connector, I'd try to find something generic without any keying that happens to have the right pin spacing. A connector, that is, that will simply fit loosely within the box area of your existing connector. I think you can depend on pin friction to keep it secure in this instance, since it shouldn't see any serious vibration.

By the way, you might re-measure your pin spacing carefully. 1mm pin spacing can be had, but also common is 50 mil spacing. (Variously called 1.25mm and 1.27mm; the difference between the two is less than 1 mil.)

 

[flush2000]

Thanks for all the help so far. I appreciate it. I'll try to find a pair of calipers (is it a pair?) and take a better measurement. If anyone has any suggestions on where to start looking for catalogs, please let me know. Thanks again everyone!!!

For anyone that asked: The reason I'm trying to find something to plug into these headers is so I don't have to destroy the Mac Mini's original housing/parts in the event that I ever need to sell it or have it serviced...

 

[dsavitsk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flush2000 (is it a pair?)

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_249b.html

 

[flush2000]

Wow.. it's like no matter what I ask, I get answers....

How about this one: Why are we here?

 

[tangent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flush2000 If anyone has any suggestions on where to start looking for catalogs, please let me know.

On the distributors' and manufacturers' web sites. I'd start with the Mouser and Digi-Key catalogs. Looking at manufacturers' catalogs risks heartbreak, as you find the perfect part and then find that nobody carries it in small quanitities. Resort to manufacturers' catalogs only if you strike out at the distributors.

 

[looser101]

That plug looks very similar to the plug on a cordless phone battery pack.

-R-

 

[dsavitsk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flush2000 Wow.. it's like no matter what I ask, I get answers.... How about this one: Why are we here?

http://www.lyricsdownload.com/monty-...fe-lyrics.html

That's the best I've got. Sorry to crap the thread.