Where to buy the IDC (flat ribbon) connector?

screenname · Post by **screenname** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 9:45 am

Seems like most place have 10 or more positions but not 6.

johnsfine · Post by **johnsfine** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:23 am

I tend to save obsolete computer parts (cables from pre IDE hard drives, for example). So I've made all my 6 position connectors (a lot lately for jp1.2 experimentation) by cutting old cables and gluing the open edge(s) back together.

I think the folks here making cables in bulk have found a decent price source for the real 6 position connector in quantity. But no one has mentioned a decent source for that single quantity.

Most of the JP1 remotes have openings large enough to use the middle six positions of a 10 position connector. If you do that, I suggest plugging the unused end positions with something to make it harder to plug the cable in wrong.

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:33 am

Most of the cables in circulation at the moment use a "Quickie" connector made by FCI, but unfortunately, they have stopped making them, so we're actually scouting for a new part at the moment.

screenname · Post by **screenname** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:42 am

johnsfine wrote:Most of the JP1 remotes have openings large enough to use the middle six positions of a 10 position connector. If you do that, I suggest plugging the unused end positions with something to make it harder to plug the cable in wrong.

I did make a cable with 10 position connector but it won't fit the 8910.

Post by **The Robman** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:52 am

Then you'll have to trim it down so that it's small enough to fit into the opening.

StephenR0 · Post by **StephenR0** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:43 pm

If anyone cares at this point, I just ordered this:

http://www.mouser.com/search/refine.asp ... 1600-006lf

from Mouser and received some nice connectors. They're confusingly described as having three contacts (three pairs,I suppose), but what I got does indeed have six connections. FYI.

Steve

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:58 pm

It looks like that is the right part, so good find. Let us know if it works out OK for your cable. Is there a marking on the IDC for pin1?

StephenR0 · Post by **StephenR0** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:09 pm

It doesn't seem to have the little arrow for pin one that I'm used to on these connectors, but it does have a key that's designed to go into a notch in the mating connector. Of course, that doesn't do us much good.

In any case, if you determine pin one by the way the cable comes off the connector, it should work either way. However, it does come with a strain relief which does reverse the cable direction. I'm going to use some of them shortly, so I'll let you know how it comes out.

Steve

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:23 pm

I liked the IDCs with notches, so it's good to see them return!

As for the strain relief reversing the cable, you just have to keep that in mind when you thread the cable in the first place so it ends up reversing it into the position that you want it.

StephenR0 · Post by **StephenR0** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:07 pm

It works just fine. I threaded the cable from the side with the key. This seems to be consistent with my ide cables. This means the key in the connector is on the side of the notch in the jp1 opening. It's easy to remember. Now if I can just get my ir probe cable to work with CaptureIR. But that's another story.

Steve

Post by **The Robman** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:17 am

Ideally, you want the cable to flow away from the remote (rather than back over the remote) when it's connected.