Croc-a-licious! Make Your Own Connectors: Crocodile Clips, Ring Terminals... for Arduino Prototyping

Why should you follow this Instructable?

Making your own wires to suit your prototyping allows a lot more creative freedom as well as a way to enhance your projects. I created an Open Universal Input Sleeve {OUIS} that uses these clips as part of the system.

They can be used for so many project prototypes, as well as adapted in many different ways to suit your personal practice and research.

Try:

• ring terminal to ring terminal,
• or add terminals to your circuit boards, as I did in my Alien project,
• or 2 crocodile ends with super soft silicone wire of the lengths you need.

To complete this project, you'll need to have a basic understanding and experience with soldering. This Instructable won't cover how to solder.

To make these clips you can use a variety of items, in my example I'm using crocodile clip ends and ring terminals:

1. Crocodile clip ends
2. Ring terminal ends, your color / style of preference
3. Silicone Wire: I'm using a thick18awg because I want this to be a sturdy durable input device for many projects, but use any awg (thickness) you want. I'm highly recommending silicon because it's so pliable it makes prototyping a much better experience, the soft wires move and flex much better.
4. Heat shrink optional
5. Soldering equipment, solder iron, solder, tip tinner, flux, helping hands

I've also got pliers and cutters and my general tools for this type of project.

Start by removing the crocodile clip ends from their casing.

You'll see there is a hole in the end. This is where we will push our silicone wire through to solder.

1. Cut your wires to your preferred size
2. Strip the end
3. Twist the wire, so you can push it through the hole
4. Push it through the hole
5. Apply flux to the wire strand
6. Solder in place

After it has been soldered and you've checked that it is a solid connection, you'll see there are 2 small metal tabs near the base. Each of these should be folded carefully over the wire.

1. Fold one tab first, then the other.
2. Push the casing back onto the soldered connection.

You can also keep the casing off the connector if you prefer the look. I've done them both ways.

If you don't want to put the casing back over the crocodile clip, you can use some heat shrink over the wire part. Adding heat shrink will give strength to the connection. this is a nice way to finish your soldering jobs to give them a more polished look but also add durability.

Now that we have one side complete, strip the other end of the wire.

1. Twist the wire strands together
2. Place heat shrink, if using, over the wire
3. Clamp the ring terminal to hold it securely
4. Put flux into the connector
5. Put solder onto the tip of your solder iron

When you then place the solder iron onto this ring terminal, the flux will help it to accept the flow of solder down into it. Once the solder has flowed, tin the wire end.

Now that the ring terminal is prepped and the wire end is tinned, we will push it into the ring terminal

1. Heat to allow the solder to flow. I hold the wire with my flat nose pliers because it can get really hot
2. Remove the solder iron, and allow to cool before moving
3. Once cool, do the pull test - pull this connection to be sure it is secure
4. Slide over the heat shrink if you're using
5. Heat to shrink it in place

This wire should now be finished!

Repeat this process for all the wires you want to have these unique ends.

I've done several different types and sizes. The ring terminal ones are also used for a project - Open Universal Input Sleeve {OUIS} that I have an Instructable for. That is an input device that I've added a little clamp to so you can attach your wires to it to always have them available.

To see more of my projects and wearables, visit http://christinefarion.com, follow me on Instagram, and Twitter is great if you have any questions or comments!

Wearable Electronics items purchased from Tinker Tailor.