Does such a thing exist? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 04:08:05 am
content: I had a neat idea for a practical tool that can be used by almost anybody, and I want to know if it exists (and where I can buy it) or if nobody has ever heard of it.I am honestly sick of just not having an exact cable or adapter for something, and I am annoyed I have to spend a few hours just putting a few connectors together to have a stupid adapter.I also don't just want to buy thousands of adapters for niche cases that might rarely or never come, so I wanted to know.Is there a fully modular kit where you have a set of connectors with locking jumpers you can wire up to another connector any way you want? Maybe even something neater, because if I have a set of DIN, Mini DIN, DSUB, and DB connectors, I can do a lot of stuff for older computers, and I can do really obscure stuff that could cost hundreds for a rare cable. I think this is a neat idea, and it's faster and easier than soldering, can be reconfigured on the fly, and I think it would be useful to a lot of people.Thoughts?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 05:30:53 am
content: I think there have been attempts at making what you're talking about and I've even thought about it myself. However for the most part, most interconnect cables are usually plugged in and left. It seems like a bit of a waste to have such a cable that won't really be moved. Then you have to consider all the connecting pieces which would be easy to loose. I think you'll just end up with a very over-priced cable.As for "rare and expensive" cables, I've personally never come across one (although I have some across many ebay sellers trying to sell so-called rare/old cables for way too much). 99% of the time computers of any age used standard connectors which are readily available today should you wish to make up your own cables. Even the newer Commodore 64 machines used a slightly different type of DIN connector for the video port which has more of aU-shape; You can pick these connectors up for a few dollars at Element14.There might be some very very rare exception which requires someone to spend hundreds on a cable, but I would suspect that it would be for very specialised applications which employ strict standards, for everything else, you're getting ripped off.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 05:49:43 am
content: its a good DIY project.as a connector set for your particular needs. be it data cables with a patch panel on the cable. for AV work I did make just that. a specialised set of connectors with interchangeable ends.update-one practical idea is Micro-B USB plug or Mini-B USB plug with universal serial break out connectors. for testing car dvr cameras & other cheap cameras with unknown pinouts

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 05:51:33 am
content: Such things do exist in very narrow product fields. Two examples - I purchased a set of cables which each have a different RF connector on one end, with a single type on the other. SMA, SMB, Type N and others. The other example is for RC airplane batteries where there are several types of what are called octopus cables. They have one each of the dozen or so battery connectors used in the RC world.The problem quickly gets out of hand when you try to make a more general kit. Just think of the number of combinations your kit would have to cover to match up the connector types you mentioned. Four connector types. Two gender types for each family. And a minimum of four or five and possibly as many as thirty different pin counts. And that only covers straight through connections, not the ones that have a wire or two cross over.Maybe the real answer is to design and build a "cable printer" (as a variant on a pick and place machine) that automagically constructs cables to a specification, and use it as the basis of a business providing low cost one of a kind cables. With overnight delivery of the product so someone can get one or two day turn around on their needs.

author: rollatorwieltje
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 08:27:20 am
content: Meh, so far the only connector that's constantly being a pain in the ass is the DC barrel jack. So many different ones, and a pain to hack something on it.I usually just hack something if I don't have the connector. Female connectors are usually easy, just get some of that single strand ethernet cable, stuff the strands in the connector and put a drop hot hotglue on it to make your own DIY connector. Male connectors can be a bit more annoying, but sometimes you can get away with using IC socket pins (the round machined ones) or female pin headers. Heatshrinking wires on it can also work.

author: Stupid Beard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 12:53:02 pm
content: Quote from: rollatorwieltje on November 19, 2016, 08:27:20 amI have a couple of wall warts that have a socketed barrel jack so you can change the jack to one of the appropriate size and tip polarity. I have been tempted to cut the cord off one of them so that I can use it on my bench supply.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 01:34:07 pm
content: What kind of connectors?http://www.ebay.ca/itm/10-in-1-Universal-USB-Multi-Charger-Power-Cable-Adapter-For-Cell-Phones-iPod-PSP-/111556077139?hash=item19f942a653:g:Y-EAAOSwyZ5UmIAOGuess what, since all the connectors go to the same place, they're all connected together... So it's not just USB->whatever, it is also inter-whatever.Of course, it won't reverse the polarity for you and I wouldn't try to push more than 1 amp through there.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 02:05:16 pm
content: Quoteu need more connectors

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 02:16:19 pm
content: That looks like a challenge....

author: RGB255_0_0
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 03:40:18 pm
content: Looks like plumbing. Certainly offers a real life look to the water-electricity analogy.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 05:17:09 pm
content: The closest thing I've seen is theMonsieur Adapter. I've got one and it comes in handy.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2016, 12:13:34 am
content: The monsieur adapteur is one way: All connectors wired in parallel on a set of common conductors.Another option would be something like a mains travel adapter where you can stack all connectors in series and then take them out until you get the ends you need.A third option would be to create a universal genderless bipolar connector and stick that to the end of each connector.But how universal can you make something?A connector for 10A DC would have different requirements than one for a 100MHz signal or 230V AC.

author: PointyOintment
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2016, 07:54:29 pm
content: Quote from: jeroen79 on November 20, 2016, 12:13:34 amAnderson Powerpole

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2016, 03:08:29 am
content: They have existed in various forms over the years:https://www.redlaser.bm/index.php/ultra-6-in-1-usb-adapter-kit-6ft-cable-6-interchangable-tips-includes-carrying-case.htmlhttp://cables4sure.com/firewire-cables-4pin-to-4pin/6ft-firewire-cable-with-interchangeable-tips.htmlI have seen a combination of the two above that allowed the cable to be fitted with USB or firewire tips. And going back in time there were "universal" parallel/serial cables for computers of that era. Typically sold from a shop in the middle of nowhere that didn't want to stock a range of cables that would never sell (due to the tiny market) so they stocked a few "universal" options instead.These days in the global economy with cheap shipping and fast delivery those little shops are disappearing, and people get their emergency parts from the big retailers (supermarkets or chain stores). Its cheaper and more reliable to order the right cable than rely on these do all products.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2016, 03:52:31 am
content: I had one of those "universal" serial cables, purchased sometime in the late eighties. (May still have in one of the boxes somewhere). It basically had what you needed to deal with 25 pin serial connections. Had a populated male shell on one end, 25 crimped pins on the other. A blank shell, a gender changer and a pin removal tool rounded out the kit. You could do just about anything a 25 pin mini D to mini D cable needed to do, but it was a royal PITA. There is a reason it is lost in the bottom of a box somewhere.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2016, 04:59:37 am
content: a DIY mini USB breakout connector. for driving video recorder DVR's & digital cameras.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2016, 07:17:16 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on November 22, 2016, 03:52:31 amThat actually sounds like if it was refined, and made easier to remove the pins, it could be viable. I am just asking because I would LOVE something like this, a totally modular kit with standardized connectors that have pins for individual wires to be secured on, maybe a rubber tube cut into a C type shape lengthwise, then some zipties. You could manufacture any cable, and it could be just a matter of buying a large pack of wires and connectors you can just wire up.