Hobby Connector Decision Guide
Starting points, not verdicts — each row assumes you'll identify properly, measure the pitch, and verify the exact part before committing. No current ratings are asserted here; that's the datasheet's job (power vs signal).
| You're wiring… | Start by looking at | The caveat that decides it |
|---|---|---|
| I2C sensors to a dev board | Qwiic / STEMMA QT (SH-style) ecosystem | stay inside one ecosystem; Grove is different |
| Breadboard / bench signals | Dupont 0.1 in jumpers | friction fit — bench only, not vibration |
| Small 1S battery to a board | JST-PH-class pigtail | verify polarity against the board silkscreen |
| 3D printer harness repair | match the printer's existing family (often XH-class) | measure pitch; buy the same series, genuine if possible |
| Addressable LED string data | the string's existing inline connector (SM-style) | data direction; buy spare prewired pigtail pairs |
| LED power injection | rated power wiring — terminals, ferrules, Wago-style, XT-class | calculate current first; not the data pigtail |
| RC battery / high-current DC | XT30/XT60/XT90 class by calculated current | datasheet rating, genuine parts, no unplugging under load |
| Servos | the servo-lead ecosystem | stall current, wire gauge, pin-order convention |
| Field-serviceable power distribution | screw/spring (Wago-style) terminals | gauge range, ferrules on stranded wire, strain relief |
| Wall-adapter power inlet | barrel jack or USB-C | barrel sizes/polarity vary; USB-C needs resistors/PD to deliver |
| Anything leaving the bench for the field | → When Hobby Connectors Are Not Enough | sealing, vibration, current, and other people |
For the family-by-family detail behind every row: Common Hobby Connector Families.