High quality ribbon cable connectors? Like sata - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 04:34:25 pm
content: So i am sure that most of us can agree that the pata connectors used with computer ribbon cable are pretty tempremental, but ribbon like cables like sata are actually really nice.What crimp systems are there available for designing sata like cables for your own designs? I have used some (molex i think) minaturized parallel/ribbon connectors that are basically minaturized versions of the type used with headers but they suck and have tiny little pins that stick out.I would like something that mates parallel surfaces with no pins to bend, have a low insertion force, robust plastic shell, decent strain relief or at least surface area to accomodate diy strain relief, some kind of clip (metal please i hate plastic clips)I would not mind something you need to solder thin wires to carefully so long it has some kind of clamshell that can be potted carefully.I thlught about misusing stuff like some old cell phone charge cables that kinda meet the description but it would be alot of work with the dremel and hodepodgery i would like if there was some product family that i could use, with various current ratings and stuff so you can do signal and low power under 5 amps maybe rated for 60vAlso with a shield connection. Im kinda thinking about shielding now and it seems like a far cry. The closest thing i can think of is rj45 metal.Actually it looks like they have shielded sata

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 04:56:17 pm
content: Quote from: CopperCone on May 18, 2018, 04:34:25 pmI have had many more problems with SATA connectors because of their non-captive design than with PATA connectors which have a long history. Flat ribbon cables are not as convenient as the much more svelte SATA cables but ribbon cables and connectors can be hand assembled and repaired.QuoteThe crimp connectors which go inside box connector housings for standard 0.1" headers were what I was going to suggest but they are not quite as convenient to assemble as ribbon connectors.QuoteI am on longer sure what you are describing.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 05:02:11 pm
content: I think my requirement would be perfectly suited by some kind of non molded shielded sata with a custom number of pins.I think steps of 8 would actually be reasonable if the size is small, so you can get 8 16 24 32 pin versions.Also good sata cables have a metal clip . never used the shielded ones though

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 05:23:41 pm
content: Quote from: CopperCone on May 18, 2018, 05:02:11 pmYea, they finally added the metal clip to the plugs making the connectors captive however the original design was for backplanes so many of the board mount connectors lack the slot for the clip making it useless.The SATA connector design should have been captive to start with and then had the captive part removed for backplane applications.

author: C
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 05:45:40 pm
content: The SATA data cable is not really a ribbon cable.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SATA3-TwinAxCable.jpgSATA 3.0 (6 Gbit/s) cable showing fully shielded twin-ax pairsIn addition the connectors are built for HOT-PLUG.A three stage connection of the pins.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 07:10:10 pm
content: hmm twinax it might be useful for certain applications with analog signals. Like pickup coils and magnetic antennas.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 08:27:24 pm
content: Quote from: CopperCone on May 18, 2018, 04:34:25 pmThough I like the SATA connector, no, I certainly do not agree that "most of us can agree" that parallel ATA connectors were temperamental. On the contrary, I've had less trouble with them than with SATA.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2018, 10:33:01 pm
content: how did you mess up a SATA connector man?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 11:27:10 am
content: I didn't say I messed it up any connectors.They have lower grip force than the headers used in ATA. So they can fall out more easily if the connectors are jostled. (For example, when you've got a system open on the bench. Or using a bare SATA drive with a USB-to-SATA adapter for data recovery.)

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 01:03:59 pm
content: SATA was really never meant for cables. At least not that style.Backplanes or death.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 03:17:45 pm
content: THEY HAVE CLIPS PEOPLE THE INSERTION FORCE IS A GOOD THING

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 04:57:10 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on May 19, 2018, 01:03:59 pmI’d love to see a source for this claim!!

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 04:58:12 pm
content: Quote from: CopperCone on May 19, 2018, 03:17:45 pmSATA was designed as alow insertion forceconnector. Most implementations do not use any clips.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2018, 05:48:44 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on May 19, 2018, 04:57:10 pmJust look at the lack of positive retention before they added clips. Monkeh is right; SATA was intended as a backplane connector. If SATA had been intended to be used with cables, then it would have included clips or something equivalent from the start. Instead, some SATA sockets work with clips an some do not.