Re: pins, cables

On 09 Nov 2007 21:19:36 -0500, Allan Adler <ara@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I have various devices that have exposed pins or holes for pins. I'd
like to examine the states of these pins/holes by connecting wires
between them and a solderless breadboard. Typical examples include
pins on MIDI ports, D15 game ports, D25 printer ports, etc. If I get
anywhere doing that, I'll also want to try connect some ports to other
ports by cables, maybe of my own design. I can't assume that the precise
cables I need will be readily available, so I need convenient ways to make
a lot of different kinds of cables. I also need to keep this cheap, but
I don't do ebay.

What can I use for examining individual pins/holes (e.g. a "single pin plug",
if that exists)? How can I develop the capability of cheaply and conveniently
making lots of different kinds of cables, or remaking them? Where can
I get this stuff dirt cheap? I keep an eye out for discarded electronics,
but I rarely see the kinds of cables I'm interested in. The only exception
was a printer cable that was discarded with its printer.

You can get loose connectors of many types from Digikey, Mouser and
other electronic suppliers - and even Radio Shack should have a
limited selection. The same sources will also have a wide selection
of bulk cable.

Some connector families are available with insertable contacts,
intended to be crimped on the cable, then inserted into the connector
body. I use these contacts to make single contact test leads.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
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