Many contacts (terminals) for narrow pitch (1.5-2.5mm) JST, Molex, Amp, JAE, and Hirose (HRS) housings require specialty crimping tools. Take, for example, the JST part number SSH-003T-P0.2-H where the manufacturer suggests the hand crimping tool YRS-859 at a cost of over $1,000 USD. This production grade tool’s price tag often puts these great connectors out of reach for a prototyping engineer, hobbyist or maker.
One solution to this issue is to look in the Jumper Wires, Pre-Crimped Leads category, which has wide selection of single and double ended pre-crimped wires. Jumpers in this family have been crimped with manufacturer recommended tooling ensuring high quality crimps.
Another option is to use the Engineer PA-09 crimper supplied by Adafruit(350). The Engineer PA-09 is a universal crimp tool that is compatible with a wide variety crimp 20-32 AWG contacts used in narrow-pitch connectors (manufacturer’s compatibility chart). For contacts using 18-26 AWG wires see the PA-21 tool.
Though not as industrial as the manufacturer suggested tool, this crimp tool does an excellent job, and at less than $100 USD is perfect for any maker, hobbyist, or prototyping project that uses the contacts listed below. Please note that the manufacturer of this tool does state it will work with all of the contacts listed below, however the crimp may differ from the manufacturer specified crimp tool and would not be guaranteed to meet any manufacturer crimp specifications.
If you are interested in using the PA-09 crimp tool take a look at this post from @Kristof_2649 which shares tips on making sure you are properly crimping using the PA-09 crimper.
Compatible crimp terminals as noted by the MFG.
JST Contacts
SSH-003T-P0.2-H, SSH-003GA-P0.2, SSHL-003T-P0.2
SSHL-003GA1-P0.2, SSHL-002T-P0.2, SZN-002T-P0.7K
SZN-003T-P0.7K, SZE-002T-P0.3, SZE-002T-P0.5
SZE-003T-P0.5, SWPR-001T-P025, SPHD-001T-P0.5
SPHD-002T-P0.5, SPA-001T-P0.5, SPAL-001T-P0.5
[SPAL-002T-P0.5] (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/jst-sales-america-inc/SPAL-002T-P0.5/455-1547-1-ND/760126), SPH-001T-P0.5L, SPH-002T-P0.5L
SPND-001T-C0.5, SPND-002T-C0.5, SPH-002T-P0.5S
SPH-004T-P0.5S, SPUD-001T-P0.5, SAN-002T-0.8A
SAN-002T-0.8K, SEH-001T-P0.6, SEH-001T-P0.6L
SJ2F-002GF-P1.0, SJ2F-01GF-P1.0, SJ2F-21GF-P1.0
SHF-001T-0.8BS, SBN-001T-0.1, SCN-001T-P1.0
SCN-001T-1.0K, SXA-001T-P0.6, SXAM-001T-P0.6
SXA-01T-P0.6, SXAM-01T-P0.6, SXA-001T-P0.6L
SXH-001T-P0.6N, SXH-001T-P0.6, RA-SC1290
RF-SC2210, RF-SC2290, SBHS-002T-P0.5A
SBHSM-002T-P0.5, SBHT-002T-P0.5, SCZH-002T-P0.5
SMM-003T-P0.5, SWPT-001T-P025, SMR-001T-P0.6
SJ2M-002GF-M1.0N, SJ2M-01GF-M1.0N, SJ2M-21GF-M1.0N
SJ2M-01GF-M1.0S, SYM-001T-P0.6, SYF-001T-P0.6
SXM-001T-P0.6, SXM-01T-P0.6
Molex Contacts
50058-8100, 50079-8100, 50125-8000
50125-8100, 50212-8100, 50011-8100
50351-8000, 50351-8100, 5263PBTL
5159TL, 5159PBTL, 50802-8100
50802-9101, 43030-0007, 43030-0010
43031-0007, 43031-0010, 1189ATL
70058-0004, 50394-8100, 50394-8051
87421-0000, 87421-0002
TE Connectivity (Tyco) Amp Contacts
182206-2, 770902-1, 170363-1
170365-1, 794059-1
JAE Contacts
IL-S-C2-SC-0001
IL-G-C2-SC-0001
HRS Contacts
DF3-2428SC
DF11-2428SC