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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Ben Johnson on April 16, 2019, 07:14:33 PM

Title: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Ben Johnson on April 16, 2019, 07:14:33 PM
I ordered some panel mount XLR-M connectors, NC3MDL-BAG.  They're listed as having solder cup connectors. What I got is pictured below, with terminals that have a center pin surrounded by a spring.  I've never seen this before, although don't get out of my corner of the world that often.  What is this?  Searches for combinations of Spring Terminal XLR Neutrik Solder Connector haven't turned anything up.  Did I get an incorrect part, or is this some new solderable solution?

Thanks,
Ben

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2ir6f11.jpg)

Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 16, 2019, 07:19:06 PM
Looks to me to mate with a PC board.

I suspect you got what you ordered and what you want is a different part number. But, I really don’t know.


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Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Geert Friedhof on April 16, 2019, 07:30:02 PM
NC3 would imply 3 contacts, but i see 4...
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Rob Spence on April 16, 2019, 07:38:09 PM
NC3 would imply 3 contacts, but i see 4...

The shell of the XLR is the 4th.


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Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Ben Johnson on April 16, 2019, 07:40:22 PM
NC3 would imply 3 contacts, but i see 4...

The 4th pin gives continuity to the shell if desired, it's definitely a 3pin male on the front.

Ben
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Geert Friedhof on April 16, 2019, 07:44:04 PM
Hmmm strange....

https://www.neutrik.com/en/product/nc3md-l-bag-1

Look at the drawing. Seems different to me.
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Tim Hite on April 16, 2019, 08:14:42 PM
Looks like a knock off. Is the branding on the front correct? Should say Neutrik and Lichtenstein on there and have a hologram sticker on the bag.

I ordered some panel mount XLR-M connectors, NC3MDL-BAG.  They're listed as having solder cup connectors. What I got is pictured below, with terminals that have a center pin surrounded by a spring.  I've never seen this before, although don't get out of my corner of the world that often.  What is this?  Searches for combinations of Spring Terminal XLR Neutrik Solder Connector haven't turned anything up.  Did I get an incorrect part, or is this some new solderable solution?

Thanks,
Ben

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2ir6f11.jpg)
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Ben Johnson on April 16, 2019, 08:24:03 PM
Looks like a knock off. Is the branding on the front correct? Should say Neutrik and Lichtenstein on there and have a hologram sticker on the bag.

It does say Neutrik and "Made in Lichtenstein."  They came 10 mounted in a carboard sleeve, plus 2 floating loose, in a larger ziplock (so no hologram).  This is from Fullcompass, so it seems unlikely that they'd send counterfeits.

And just to be clear, I'm capable of and probably will just return these for the ones I expected.  But I've never seen this method of connection before and now I'm getting curious.

Ben.
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: duane massey on April 16, 2019, 08:32:59 PM
Almost looks like a strange "wire-wrap" design?
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Tim Hite on April 16, 2019, 09:08:47 PM
All the panel mount connectors I have ordered from Neutrik have had solder cups for 3 terminals and a tab for the shell ground.

Only place I saw an image similar to yours is an ad for NOS connectors on eBay

The DLX is the updated connector. Order NC3MD-LX-BAG

It does say Neutrik and "Made in Lichtenstein."  They came 10 mounted in a carboard sleeve, plus 2 floating loose, in a larger ziplock (so no hologram).  This is from Fullcompass, so it seems unlikely that they'd send counterfeits.

And just to be clear, I'm capable of and probably will just return these for the ones I expected.  But I've never seen this method of connection before and now I'm getting curious.

Ben.
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Kevin Maxwell on April 16, 2019, 09:22:18 PM
I have seen those terminals a lot on Neutrik XLR connectors I have been given to solder. Not my favorite but usable. I usually just cut off the chassis terminal. 
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Robert Lunceford on April 16, 2019, 10:02:31 PM
I ordered some panel mount XLR-M connectors, NC3MDL-BAG.  They're listed as having solder cup connectors. What I got is pictured below, with terminals that have a center pin surrounded by a spring.  I've never seen this before, although don't get out of my corner of the world that often.  What is this?  Searches for combinations of Spring Terminal XLR Neutrik Solder Connector haven't turned anything up.  Did I get an incorrect part, or is this some new solderable solution?

Thanks,
Ben

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2ir6f11.jpg)

I have a Whirlwind Medusa that I purchased in 1986 that uses those spring solder terminal XLRs. The XLRs are branded as Whirlwind. That snake is the oldest piece that I still have in service. It’s been used on almost every job I’ve done the past 33 years
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Mark Cadwallader on April 16, 2019, 11:40:18 PM
I guess that I would think of the interior of the spring as cup that fully surrounds the wire, so you don't have to hold the wire "down" in the cup to solder it. But maybe I'm just really wrong....
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Mike Caldwell on April 17, 2019, 08:11:11 AM
I have a Whirlwind Medusa that I purchased in 1986 that uses those spring solder terminal XLRs. The XLRs are branded as Whirlwind. That snake is the oldest piece that I still have in service. It’s been used on almost every job I’ve done the past 33 years

Same here.

Would not be my first choice in solder connections, but workable.
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Scott Helmke on April 17, 2019, 09:56:49 AM
I have a Whirlwind Medusa that I purchased in 1986 that uses those spring solder terminal XLRs. The XLRs are branded as Whirlwind. That snake is the oldest piece that I still have in service. It’s been used on almost every job I’ve done the past 33 years

Whirlwind does seem to like those springs, because it's on most of their chassis XLR connectors. 

Maybe it's a way to turn a PCB pin into a solder cup?
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Brian Adams on April 17, 2019, 12:20:11 PM
I don't love spring terminals, but I've had to work with them a lot and they're OK. Why Whirlwind loves them so much I'll never know.

In any case, that doesn't look like any NC3MDL I've ever seen.
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Ken Braziel on April 17, 2019, 01:26:18 PM
Seems like it could be a form of strain-relief, so if there's any play between the exterior where the connection is mounted and the board it's soldiered to the springs would give. Also vibration... just a thought
Title: Re: Spring vs cup terminals, do I just not get out much?
Post by: Mike Caldwell on April 17, 2019, 02:16:52 PM
Seems like it could be a form of strain-relief, so if there's any play between the exterior where the connection is mounted and the board it's soldiered to the springs would give. Also vibration... just a thought

By the time you solder them they are pretty much solid.

Like Scot said they look like a PC mount XLR with a spring cup on the pins.