This is a great DC power jack/connector for projects in an enclosure. This is a common barrel-type power jack for DC wall supplies, in a panel-mount form factor. These are compatible with our DC wall supplies and have a 5.5mm jack, with a 2.1mm center pole diameter. Simply drill the proper size hole in your enclosure, slide the jack through and secure it with a nut. Panel mount jacks are also useful in preventing mechanical stress from hanging power cables damaging your board.
The inside diameter of the included washer is about 8mm, a 5/16" drill bit works nicely to mount these jacks.
Whether it's for assembling a kit, hacking an enclosure, or creating your own parts; the DIY skill is all about knowing how to use tools and the techniques associated with them.
Skill Level: Noob - Basic assembly is required. You may need to provide your own basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer or scissors. Power tools or custom parts are not required. Instructions will be included and easy to follow. Sewing may be required, but only with included patterns.
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Is a replacement for this part planned? I need a barrel jack for a project I'm planning. I could just drill a big ugly hole and run a cable inside, but I'd prefer something nicer looking such as this.
Dang, these things were great! (Though pricey). Hopefully they can be unretired at some point.
According to the part number in the dimensional drawing linked above, the dimensions are 5.5mm and 2.1mm. The description says 5mm, but the data says 5.5mm, which is a better match for some of SF's cable offerings.
The part number is 163-MJ22-EX, and the data is from here:
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kobiconn/163-MJ21-EX/?qs=%2fha2pyFaduif3mMKkUEIDX1W1%2fNCka1EzX22UjeDWxFJnzUX%2fJa5TQ%3d%3d
looks like this has the split center pin. in my humble experience, those split pins just don't work. i always go for a solid center pin, and they never fail. sorry sparkfun.
Which of the poles is ground and of the remaining two which are positive and negative?
Actually, if you are going to wire this with the more common arrangement of the center pole being postive and the outer "ring" being negative, as you might imagine, the middle connector goes to the center pin, but the outer two are a switched circuit for the ground. The idea is, if you use a battery inside your project, the "switch" can either be used to isolate the electronics when you plug in a battery charger, or isolate your battery if you plug in a "battery eliminator" type power source. I always end up using a meter to figure out which ground tab goes to the battery and which tab goes to my circuit when I am getting ready to hook it up.
Well, I have to correct myself here. I studied the dimentional drawing (link in the listing above) and it shows the schematic and pin out diagram. The center pin is pin 3 in the drawing and the other two are the switch circuit / ring connection. Take a look at that... then use a meter like I would end up doing anyway... heheh.
Eeep! Those look like the DC jacks we used to use.
That red rubber insulator will rot over time, and eventually the jacks short and stop working. It may take a few years, but it will happen.
We now use the much better digikey PN: SC1049-ND.
-Taylor