Unknown British reference designator system - Answers sought - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2019, 02:00:18 am
content: Here is a picture showing the rear cockpit bulkhead of a 50s vintage EEC Canberra jet bomber.So, obviously, there was or is a coding system for reference designators which assigned the letter 'N' to connectors. Not 'P' and 'J' like ANSI nor 'X' like the IEC/ISO derived from DIN.Can anyone provide information on this designation system? The name of the related document would be as helpful as the complete or even partial content.Please respond, as I am ever busy compiling such information!

author: fourtytwo42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2019, 10:24:52 am
content: I suggest you tryhttps://www.vintage-radio.net, they have a military radio section.

author: SeoulBigChris
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2019, 10:35:50 am
content: In the ANSI standard I seem to be recall there is reference to using N for repeating circuits? Although in this picture it looks like connectors.

author: RIKRIK
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2019, 11:56:30 pm
content: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_connector

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2019, 02:38:20 am
content: Those are however clearly NOT N connectors...Looking at the crimp rings where the connector joins the black sleeving, I wonder if that is electrical at all, could be air operated instruments (Very much a thing in aircraft, they use ram air to spin various forms of gyroscopic reference platforms)?Regards, Dan.

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2019, 10:43:56 pm
content: Quote from: dmills on September 09, 2019, 02:38:20 amNope, it is electrical (open wiring in the black protective tubing) and those are banded backshells.Here is another panel where the wiring is open.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 12:07:20 am
content: I don't think these are even "reference designators" per se, but perhaps just an indication of which subsystem that wiring belongs to. I see X and DW as well in that picture.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 02:03:05 am
content: Is that from the British built Canberra or the American version built by the Martin Company? There was an American Canberra at the TICO airshow about 4 years ago but I never looked inside of it. FWIW I've never seen connectors that look like that in any American military equipment. I agree with the previous poster, I don't think those are Ref Des, if they were they would be engraved on the equipment. Also that is not an American style writing, FWIW. It's interesting that the cables bundles are tie-wrapped together. I'm sure that that's not original and that someone has repaired the wiring or built new ones completely. I expect that that's who marked the connectors.

author: Neomys Sapiens
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2019, 11:58:18 pm
content: Quote from: Stray Electron on September 10, 2019, 02:03:05 amIt is a British built one. And you are good - the cable ties hadn't caught my eye yet.