Are these detachable connectors? (Peavey KB 300 keyboard amp PCB) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: WimWalther
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2023, 09:18:31 pm
content: The white plastic blocks with inserted wires.. are these detachable plug-on connectors? They look like one half of a two-piece connector, but there's no parting line where the pieces would mate up.I've tried to pull them up, off of the PCB but they won't move, and I'm not comfortable applying any more force.. that board feels flimsy, not like good FR-4.So what's the deal, do I just need to get more aggressive with them?

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2023, 09:20:49 pm
content: I believe they mate with unshrouded male pins soldered to the circuit board, possibly without a base.They may be hard to unmate: have you tried prying on the white housing with a small screwdriver to see if it moves at all?

author: wasedadoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 28, 2023, 09:31:29 pm
content: Those look like they are in the same family as the 4 contact Molex connectors that plug in to the power connector on 3.5 inch PATA hard disks.

author: WimWalther
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2023, 12:20:32 am
content: Quote from: wasedadoc on October 28, 2023, 09:31:29 pmI hadn't thought of that, but now that you mention it, I think you may well be correct. They do look very much like that Molex series used on older HDDs (and, originally, on 5.25" floppy drives).The Polytone guitar amp I own does use that Molex type in several places, though not in the direct-to-pcb fashion as in the Peavey.

author: WimWalther
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2023, 12:58:42 am
content: They were just extremely tight fitting. Had to use a razor knife to wedge the connectors up far enough to get my tiny little prybar between the connector body & pcb. Then it was a matter of gently prying them up, working end-to-end until they popped loose.Notice how they are keyed - a mix of M & F pins in different connector patterns.

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2023, 02:02:09 am
content: 99% of Peavey equipment is designed to be easily serviceable to one unintended fault which is the use of many connectors and I.C.'s being in sockets. Sometimes with lots of road wear things come loose. Also the keying of those connectors is not well marked. When I service Peavey DECA amplifiers I color the connectors with different color Sharpies and mark one end black as well as putting a black index dot on the circuit board. Peavey gets a bad rap because they made quality gear at an affordable price which gave them a reputation as 'cheap' or 'inferior' gear. I own and use loads of Peavey gear and I have a reputation as a quality sound re-enforcement operator as well as a musician. I don't use their power amps in my road gear as they are extremely deep and don't fit well in my racks. I do have some DECA 528's to drive monitors in one kit. 250WRMS at 4 ohms each side and they have lots of reserve energy for a solid bottom end and musical headroom.

author: WimWalther
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2023, 05:02:34 am
content: Thank you both for your input on this. As ever, discretion is the better part of valour. and a rather nice, well-kept piece of equipment remains as such!