Replacing IDT connectors

The connection to the PCBs in Earthshaker use Insulation Displacement Terminals (IDT). Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum explained how these connectors work, and why they should be replaced. Like mine, the General Illumination connectors often overheat and burn. You can see in the photos how bad these looked:


(and you can also see the part number of the backbox interconnect board. Anyone reading this, if you have one of these to spare, let me know. I'd rather buy a spare to work on than try to replace all the connectors on this one).

So I bought several .156 molex connectors and a bag of .156 trifurcon crimp terminals from Marco Specialties.

And when I got up my courage, I cut the old connectors off. But first I took photos and made notes so I knew which wires went to which pin. Here you can see one repaired terminal, and the second about to be:




When I finished, I could get back to this: