Help Identifying ribbon cable and connector type?

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
Hello everyone I have a few questions regarding some ribbon cables and connectors that my friend and I have come across.

I was wondering if anyone could help me ID the "proper" names for these cables and connectors so I can find more of them to purchase.

Here's the cable with connector: https://imgur.com/a/YURlExq

With some googling for a 8 pin ribbon cable I was able to find something similar but I'm rather confused with the term of "Pitch" I see mentions of various numbers for example "1.27mm Pitch" So included is a picture of the cable next to a ruler, perhaps that might help ID the pitch of this cable?

My friend attempted to measure and he thinks the pitch is ".75mm"

Here's the connector: https://imgur.com/a/Rcxj6ym & Closer views https://imgur.com/a/2Eo87Qe

Perhaps the biggest mystery is the connector type, as you can see they are a 8 pin staggered male connector with one side having an angled clip like thing that sort of indexes onto female connector. There does not seem to be any kinds of markings on them.

On a side note, my friend thinks these connectors are likely machine installed in the factory and its unlikely something we can install ourselves. Is he correct about that? or is there still hope we can install them onto the ribbon cables without some ultra fancy equipment?

We both have quite limited experience with electronics so apologies if this is a silly question.

Thanks In advance

Best Wishes
Janet
 
You can measure the pitch and the connector dimensions by putting a ruler in the picture anywhere parallel to the pin edge and don;t do any asymmetric scaling of the image.

You just do it optically, screen or printout. use the ruler to calibrate. I can use a digital caliper on the screen image.

can't tell what the back looks like. The pins might release from the back. e.g. with a tool such as this one: https://www.skygeek.com/deutsch-m15570-20-1-insertion-removal-tool.html

Picture a really thin tube with 1/2 of it cut away. That's how DB-25 connectors are released or the PC serial connectors.

Hopefully, the pins are crimped. If they are, a low-cost tool is about $80.00 USD. You usually crimp the wire and insulation separately with different dies on the same tool.

The connector is unknown to me.
 
Last edited:

dl324

Joined Mar 30, 2015
16,846
Welcome to AAC!

With some googling for a 8 pin ribbon cable I was able to find something similar but I'm rather confused with the term of "Pitch" I see mentions of various numbers for example "1.27mm Pitch" So included is a picture of the cable next to a ruler, perhaps that might help ID the pitch of this cable?
Standard pitch on ribbon cable is 0.05" (1.27mm).

No clue about the connector.

Pictures so others don't have to go to imgur.com:



On a side note, my friend thinks these connectors are likely machine installed in the factory and its unlikely something we can install ourselves. Is he correct about that? or is there still hope we can install them onto the ribbon cables without some ultra fancy equipment?
Most likely crimped. You can get decent crimpers at AliExpress.com - one of the few things I'll buy from them.
 

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
Thanks Dennis

I think I found the ribbon cable on ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/112655640671 This seems to look exactly like the kind I have and for less than $3 it won't hurt much just to buy some and see if it matches.

The biggest mystery is that connector.

@KeepItSimpleStupid or Denis Would you happen to have a link for a crimping tool and die like you mention? like I said my experience is super limited so when I think of crimping all I think of is RJ45 connectors and making patch cables. I imagine this is a bit different with ribbon cables and especially with that mystery connector.



Best Wishes
Janet
 
So included is a picture of the cable next to a ruler, perhaps that might help ID the pitch of this cable?
You don't identify pitch by measuring the length of the ribbon cable. The ruler needs to be rotated 90 degrees, but does not have to have any particular registration.

1.27mm is 1/2 (0.100 inches) which was a standard pitch. Ribbon cable connectors would be 0.100" apart and the cables would lay such that the rows got every other wire. Connectors were typically insulation displacement like the RJ45 connectors are. They could be individual wires too when higher currents were involved. Now we have "metric friendly dimensions". Watch 2.5mm and 2.54mm pitches. They are different.

I'd like to see a pic of the back of the connector and the connector with a ruler in the same plane. It looks like pitch of the cable doesn't matter. i.e. the wires are individually crimped?

I do like the EZ-RJ45 crimping system.

I'll look for the crimping too part # for small contacts. I have an AMP tool that was like $20.00 back in the 1980's when I used one at work. I got the same one on the bay. An engineer friend and I did find a reasonable priced replacement.

So, put a ruler in the correct orientation, and pitch should be an easy measurement.
 

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
Yup I now know this lol, Those pictures were taken by my friend earlier today as the journey to solve this was beginning.

I do think I might just go with getting that 1.27mm ribbon cable on ebay and just holding it next to the ribbon cable I already have to see if it matches. For less than $5 It can't hurt too much.

The cable is currently at my friend's place and I've asked him to take some more pics especially of the rear, just waiting on him.

In the meantime I have quite an update, I have a feeling I'm very close to figuring out this connector type. I was on mouser and found something that looks quite close to it. https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...357100872?qs=sGAEpiMZZMt93J8DTi5DC5H4Rxgwc7QC It seems the big difference is the rear of it I assume. Additionally its 10 pin but looking back at my original ribbon cable It seems like there's 2 pins missing...makes me wonder if they just pulled them out.

Best
Janet
 

MaxHeadRoom

Joined Jul 18, 2013
28,619
Would you happen to have a link for a crimping tool and die like you mention?
Janet
If you wait until you have the connector and pins, if found, you may find it possible to simply solder or crimp with a needle nose, if very careful, the aid of a magnifying lamp or head set can help in this.
Max.
 
Here's the crimper + a bunch of data: https://www.hozan.co.jp/E/catalog/Crimpers/P-707.html

There is likely a small slot on the sides of the connector where you can see some of the pin/ The pins LIKELY release there.

See these https://www.te.com/commerce/Documen...ROPEAN_STANDARD&DocType=DS&DocLang=EN#page=37 have rectangular holes/ They are for the locks on the pins. So, you would push the release down and pull the wire to remove.

Ribbon cables come in different wire gauges and so do pins. Pins usually have a range. Both insulation diameter and wire AWG matter.
 

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
Thank you for the crimper link plus other data.

I'll be sure to give that a try releasing the pins next time I'm at my friends place .

In the meantime perhaps have a look at what I found on mouser, https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetai...357100872?qs=sGAEpiMZZMt93J8DTi5DC5H4Rxgwc7QC

It seems to be very similar to the original connector on the ribbon cable. Still need to look deeper into it. One issue though is for that connector the company seems to say you must use their press and the press is over $1,00 USD so that's a slight issue....


Indeed that EZ-RJ looks like a very quick way of making patch cables. I'll be sure to order some.
 

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
Looking at the mystery connector it seems to be very similar to that. I think that the mystery connector has two pins that have been removed.

If that is the connector then it becomes a question of how the IDC is crimped and right on their website it seems they want you to use their thousand dollar press for that.

The EZ-RJ whole system is kind of like Telegaertner MFP8 Cat6 connectors minus the tool-less assembly. Also minus the price lol
 

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
Probably not. You need a vent when displacing air with the connector body. I think the unused holes are vents.
You are likely correct about that, as said I'm pretty new to electronics so figuring out something as complicated as these connectors has been quite difficult. The ribbon cables, not so much.
 
JST http://www.jst.com/home21.html, Molex and TE Connectivity are usually the 3 major places to go.

JST is like Band-aids - They call them by the brand, but they could be anything.
Molex hasn't been butchered yet.
TE connectivity has gobbled up so many brands, now they seem to be using "TE connectivity"

Next, I'd consider Phoenix contact.

Chinese, I'd always look at alibaba and Aliexpress. China will sell anything for a song. Postage is often free from China. Don;t dgo the other way.

Aside: Schneider Electric can't seem to keep tabs on all of their companies either. They own APC, the UPS manufacturer. Very little information anywhere.
 

Thread Starter

JanetB

Joined Aug 4, 2019
14
With the TE connector it seems they are 2 part. 338095-8 (Male Connector) & 1-338096-1 (Actual crimp insert into the male connector)

This isn't exactly a one off thing but of course If there's a cheaper option than the $1,500 crimp tool I'd rather go with that than spend the $1,500.00

For reference this is the crimp tool they are saying is the "only" option https://www.te.com/usa-en/product-734870-2.html
 
Well, "9 parts" in your case. 1 housing and 8 pins. Here's https://www.te.com/commerce/Documen...8097&DocType=Customer+Drawing&DocLang=English one pin selection via digikey.

The pins are big enough to handle.

The Hozan tool should work as long as your not making 1000 cables. Remember for the pins, you need to be aware of the insulation and AWG.

Plastic CPC connectors are MUCH worse. You have to shell, then same sex or reverse sex, the AWG, the pin, the plating, chasis/free hanging, strain relief (what size), bushing

@JanetB You did good. so far.
 
Top