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DB25 vs 36 position Centronics

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pmc:
Hey... I just bought anothr cable tonight so I can add the DC. It turns out that it's an internal SCSI cable EXTENSION. It's meant to extend the length of an 18" ribbon cable. That's why it has one male and and one female end. It cost me $9.90. IDE cables are much cheaper (as low as $2.49 where I was) but you get two male ends.

I'm still considering switching to molex, centronix, or a telephone 66 or 110-block with centronix connectors. But until I do, these SCSI cables really do work fairly well.

- pmc

bigmoe:

--- Quote from: Grasshopper on April 09, 2004, 06:40:32 am ---Is there any reason why people here seem to prefer DB25 connectors?

--- End quote ---

Cheap and available.  There was a recent thread in the main section about places to buy cheap cabling.  If you go this route, you want 25-conductor straight through cables (serial extension cables).


--- Quote ---Also, can anyone tell me how many wires a typical 36 position Centronics - 36 pin Centronics cable has? Presumably not all 36 pins are used but I can't find this info anywhere on the net.
--- End quote ---

I had trouble with this too.  It depends on the manufacturer.  I emailed Belkin, and their 36M/36F cables are meant for parallel printers, so they have a minimum number of connected wires, like 22 or something.

b

pmc:
I also saw DB35 connectors at the electronics store the other day. It looks like a DB25 but it's got more pins. Enough for me (25 wasn't enough). Something to consider over Molex and the other options.

Grasshopper:
I've just been tearing my hair out. The search facility on Belkin's website is hopeless. However after a lot of effort (I eventually resorted to using Google's site command) I think I've found what I'm looking for.

I'm going to use 36 pin male - 36 pin male centronics switchbox cables (ref: .F2E020b10):

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=202329&pcount=&Product_Id=125123&Section.Section_Path=%2FCables%2FSwitchbox%2FProSerie%2E%2E%2EoxCables%2F

From my research I believe that all 36 pins are wired up but I might email Belkin just to be certain.

Centronics cables are admittedly slightly harder to get hold of but they are far sturdier that DB25 cables (IMHO), and the extra connections mean that a single cable can be used for a two player panel with a few connections left over for things like player start LEDs, +5v and ground.

If anyone is interested in using a switchbox then Belkin sell these as well (ref: F1A013):

 http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=1803&pcount=&Product_Id=123428&Section.Section_Path=%2FRoot%2FPeripheralSharing%2FManualSwitchboxes%2F#

The female Centronics connectors can be bought from electronic component specialists such as Farnell.

froggerman:

--- Quote from: abrannan on April 09, 2004, 07:15:21 am ---Actually, I think 40 pin IDE headers (as are used on the MiniPAC) are the best way to go, and if Andy would just make a terminal block to IDE header connector board, I'd be all over it.  

--- End quote ---
I couldn't agree more. I don't like using ribbon cable from the 40 pin IDE header as it is too small, about 28 guage wire. You can use 2x20 Berg connectors, that is what Andy uses, and put 22 guage wire in. You do need a crimper for the pins though.

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