System 80 RANT

CheshireNoir · 23-09-2023, 04:02 PM

So my System 80 has been on and off the bench for the last few days.

Engage rant mode.

I'd ordered some parts and they have finally arrived. After tracing a second emergent issue to the ribbon cables (on top of the initial issue and the first emergent issue. Yes, both ribbon cables) I've decided to bite the bullet and replace all the ribbon cables.
Except the keyboard ribbon cable is 2.5mm pitch. Not 2.54mm like the main cables.
What in the name of all that is clean and holy?

ARGH!

*sigh*

OK going to replace the main cable with a mechanical connector made from pin sockets, pin headers and veroboard. For the keyboard ribbon... I dunno yet. I'll possibly make a header out of the "best bit" of the original cable and some silicone wrapped wire. I'll kick that can down the road I think.

Rant over.

John

***ChickenMan*** · 23-09-2023, 06:10 PM

Those "cables" connecting the 2 boards together and the keyboard connector are a bitch, made to a price, not to a recipe Sad

I've re-soldered that keyboard cable many times on mine.

RedskullDC · 25-09-2023, 11:36 PM

(23-09-2023, 04:02 PM)CheshireNoir Wrote: So my System 80 has been on and off the bench for the last few days.

Engage rant mode.

I'd ordered some parts and they have finally arrived. After tracing a second emergent issue to the ribbon cables (on top of the initial issue and the first emergent issue. Yes, both ribbon cables) I've decided to bite the bullet and replace all the ribbon cables.
Except the keyboard ribbon cable is 2.5mm pitch. Not 2.54mm like the main cables.
What in the name of all that is clean and holy?

ARGH!

*sigh*

OK going to replace the main cable with a mechanical connector made from pin sockets, pin headers and veroboard. For the keyboard ribbon... I dunno yet. I'll possibly make a header out of the "best bit" of the original cable and some silicone wrapped wire. I'll kick that can down the road I think.

Rant over.

John

Hi Chesh,

All is not lost.

Search "JST XA PCB headers" , RS Components keep them, as well as Element 14 (don't quote me on that though).

They come in various sizes, with 2.5mm spacing.

Example:
https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-headers/6027843

Sure you can make something work with those.

Cheers,
Red

P.S.
@ChickenMan, haven't forgotten your disk project , but I've been away with work for a few weeks.
Will get back to it this weekend!

***ChickenMan*** · 26-09-2023, 02:39 AM

P.S.
@ChickenMan, haven't forgotten your disk project , but I've been away with work for a few weeks.
Will get back to it this weekend!

Thanks for that, appreciated Smile

CheshireNoir · 26-09-2023, 02:15 PM

(25-09-2023, 11:36 PM)RedskullDC Wrote: Hi Chesh,

All is not lost.

Search "JST XA PCB headers" , RS Components keep them, as well as Element 14 (don't quote me on that though).

They come in various sizes, with 2.5mm spacing.

Example:
https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-headers/6027843

Sure you can make something work with those.

Cheers,
Red

P.S.
@ChickenMan, haven't forgotten your disk project , but I've been away with work for a few weeks.
Will get back to it this weekend!

Ooh. Thanks for that RedskullDC.
I'll keep that link for if/when my "solution" fails.

Filename: IMG20230924102922.jpg Size: 140.79 KB 26-09-2023, 02:12 PM

(Silicone coated wire so should be a lot less prone to breakage and I put some hot snot around the end that connects to the PCB so it doesn't flex at the connection point. It ain't pretty, but it's my kind of ain't pretty)

John

Cefiar · 27-09-2023, 02:54 PM

(25-09-2023, 11:36 PM)RedskullDC Wrote: Search "JST XA PCB headers" , RS Components keep them, as well as Element 14 (don't quote me on that though).

They come in various sizes, with 2.5mm spacing.

Example:
https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/pcb-headers/6027843

Sure you can make something work with those.

Just an FYI here.

They do have a 20 way version of the JST XA connectors, but it seems only RS really stocks them. E14 & Mouser don't have much of the JST XA range, and Digikey don't carry them at all.

RS seem to only sell these connectors in min Qty's of 10 for the sockets/plugs, and socket pins in an absolute min Qty of 50 (the 250+ pack of socket pins is better on price when I checked).

If you use 2 in-line sockets, 2 pcb mount plugs and 40 socket pins for a setup, minimum buy would get you 5 sets, so if you consider going this route, you might want to find others who want to split the cost somehow.

Good luck!