Anyone who has worked with microcontroller boards and breakout modules knows the pain of loose jumper wires. Whether connecting a device programmer to a board with a different in-circuit programming connector layout, or linking 0.1" header pins between boards, standard male/female jumper wires from places like SparkFun or Adafruit often do the job—until they fall out. Once disconnected, it can be a tedious process to put everything back in the correct orientation.
To solve this problem, Peter designed a set of simple yet effective 3D printed holders.
The holders are designed to grip and align jumper wires, keeping them secure during prototyping. They can be used as-is to prevent wires from slipping, or reinforced with a bead of superglue for setups where frequent plugging and unplugging is expected.
Each holder is made slightly shorter than the connector itself, so the bottom sits flush while leaving a small ledge at the top. This clever detail allows glue to bond both the connector and the holder, improving durability without adding bulk.
The design comes in two plates of variations to suit different needs:
Plate 1: Connectors ranging from 1×2 through 1×10 and 2×2 through 2×10, plus a “dummy” female connector for covering unused pins.
Plate 2: Half-height versions that work with shrouded connectors, allowing the pins to protrude as needed.
This range ensures compatibility with a wide variety of prototyping setups and development boards.
Polarization marks are included on the holders to help maintain correct orientation. However, Peter notes that depending on the connector’s gender and numbering standard, the short edge (often marking pin 1) and the long edge (often indicating the notch) may not always align. For that reason, the long edge mark should be treated as the reference when working with connectors that have polarizing notches.
These holders may be a small accessory, but they solve one of the most common frustrations in prototyping: unreliable jumper connections. By keeping wires secure and properly aligned, they make it easier to focus on testing and building rather than troubleshooting loose connections.
Credit goes to Peter for creating and sharing this practical solution with the community.
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