Connecting control console to track etc. via ribbon cabling.

petercharlesfagg · March 31, 2015, 06:57:57 PM

Friends,

I am attempting to use *VGA wall plates (1 on the console and 1 on a pattress box) with the 15 way screw connection and a ribbon cable. (I can always use more plates if needs be or make holes in the existing plates to take extra connectors)

Why, because I want to!

I had thought of utilising a cable ready-made from internet, very cheap but unsure of the power transfer with those lumps in the line. (I don't know what they are, they're just lumps!)

Anyway, I have the VGA wall plates, I have tried purchasing the 15 way IDC connectors (3 rows of 5 pins) but they appear to be needles in haystacks!

I have tried companies such as RS-online and Maplins and another in Hong Kong and a similar company in China itself but no-one appears to stock them?

Anybody have ideas that I haven't tried?

Regards, Peter.

* I know that 2 rows making 21 pins or ways might be better, I know supplies are easier to find, I just want to try 15 first to see if it is viable?)

austinbob · March 31, 2015, 07:04:03 PM

Try Rapid Electronics or Farnell/CPC
I don't know if they do what you want but there's a good chance

petercharlesfagg · March 31, 2015, 07:08:36 PM

Quote from: austinbob on March 31, 2015, 07:04:03 PM
Try Rapid Electronics or Farnell/CPC
I don't know if they do what you want but there's a good chance

Thankyou Bob.

I have tried Farnell with no joy so I will investigate Rapid.

Peter,

Newportnobby · March 31, 2015, 09:22:03 PM

Pointless asking this numpty. I had to Google 'pattress box'

Malc · March 31, 2015, 09:31:09 PM

Peter, those lumps are ferrite beads and shouldn't cause any problems. I was just about to throw out a VGA cable. Which sex connectors do you need on the ends? pM me if you want it.

edwin_m · March 31, 2015, 09:33:36 PM

An IDC VGA connector is probably pretty rare. VGA is a video standard and the cables are likely to be screened, though I've never taken one apart to confirm. IDC doesn't work with screening.

Are you perhaps thinking of D-connectors? These certainly used to be available in IDC last time I looked, and the 15-way ones are about the same size as VGAs though with fewer pins.

Google turns up only a handful of hits from fairly obscure suppliers.

sparky · March 31, 2015, 10:17:43 PM

Hi peter...I know this is going to sound dull but why on earth do you need to connect your controller to your track with other than the 2 wires required!!....are you running DCC or DC....would it not be simpler to connect your controller to your power bus directly...

petercharlesfagg · April 01, 2015, 09:13:25 AM

Quote from: sparky on March 31, 2015, 10:17:43 PM
Hi peter...I know this is going to sound dull but why on earth do you need to connect your controller to your track with other than the 2 wires required!!....are you running DCC or DC....would it not be simpler to connect your controller to your power bus directly...

Sorry, a little confusing!

My intention is to connect to the track in the first instance, then if that is satisfactory, to extend the use of the ribbon cable to points etc!

The idea of using the ribbon cable as opposed to a recognised cabling system is because my console will be under the baseboard on a a slide out draw mechanism and flexibility (bending wise) will be important. I don't know but I felt that a cable might be too stiff?

The VGA wall plates are those with 15 pin connections on the outside but screw connectors on the inside because my tight soldering skills are rubbish!

Everything is DC in my life, go figure!

Regards, Peter.

DarthBadger · April 01, 2015, 07:05:13 PM

Some ribbon cables can be vulnerable to cracking though.

What about trying IDE cable or SCSI?

Another option is CAT 5 network cablen 8 strands to play with, you can use RJ-45 connectors and it'll be fine with power as it's rated for POE (power over ethernet)

Just a thought

petercharlesfagg · April 01, 2015, 07:30:21 PM

Quote from: DarthBadger on April 01, 2015, 07:05:13 PM
Some ribbon cables can be vulnerable to cracking though.

What about trying IDE cable or SCSI?

Another option is CAT 5 network cablen 8 strands to play with, you can use RJ-45 connectors and it'll be fine with power as it's rated for POE (power over ethernet)

Just a thought

Thankyou for your thoughts, they are much appreciated.

As it is now, I have decided to utilise a standard cable with the 15 way connectors pre-moulded and to that end have purchased one on Ebay.

Regards, Peter.

DELETED · April 04, 2015, 12:51:49 AM

Peter you had me confused for a while but I understand your reasoning now as I could find no end of D type plugs / sockets with solder buckets. For what it's worth I have used D type connectors for many purposes with great success but I would be cautious about current ratings though my gut feelings tell me N gauge will be fine as long as it's fused.

One piece of advice with these type of connections as I've used them before on sliding or mobile kit is make sure your wiring is good and tight, then after the connections put some form of very rigid strain relief on the cable shortly after somewhere. It could be in the form of "P" clips or hot melt glue gun the cable down so the connection doesn't flex in any way. If you're using commercial VGA cables don't worry too much about the presence of the ferrite bead probably present on one end, as long as the connection is stiff -I know these don't like flex in them!

Rich