Ribbon Cables

[chicobatera]

Hello,

I've recently decided to build a megadrum for myself, but I'm still buying the components. Looking at the pictures at the "Gallery", I've noticed that many projects used ribbon cables to make all the connections. However, these cables are not listed on the "Buying components" session. As this is my first DIY project and my knowledge in electronics isn't wide, I was wondering if anyone could help me out by telling how many ribbon cables (or other kind of cable) I'll need to successfully build my megadrum, as well as the specifications of each cable.

Thanks,
Francisco.

[dmitri]

You can use an old 40 way computer IDE cable (but not a newer 80 way cable). One should be enough.

[kb9jlo]

You can also cut ribbon cables and even the connectors for any number of contacts/wires. I do it all the time.

I needed a 16 pin LCD cable + connector last night -- I just cut through the holes 17/18 of the connector and cleaned it up. These cables when crimped right WILL NOT fall apart, well if you're careful. Since the connector's cable holding band is cut too, I just super glue it to the cable.

I use the older 40 pin IDEs (as Dmitri described, the newer ones have 40 pins but 80 wires). You can also cut up old floppy ribbon cables. There are literally tons of these old thing around. Sometimes you can even harvest the connectors off old motherboards, etc.
Does help if you have a desoldering station!

BTW, you don't have to put connectors on both ends. On my analog board to digital board connection, I soldered the wires directly to the analog board and I have a mating connector on the digital board. I can still easily separate the boards but didn't have to buy a crimp on connector on the other end (it was a cut up connector as I describe above).

[chicobatera]

You can use an old 40 way computer IDE cable (but not a newer 80 way cable). One should be enough.

One cable for all the connections? Like between the boards, the LCD, the pads connector, etc?

You can also cut ribbon cables and even the connectors for any number of contacts/wires. I do it all the time.

I needed a 16 pin LCD cable + connector last night -- I just cut through the holes 17/18 of the connector and cleaned it up. These cables when crimped right WILL NOT fall apart, well if you're careful. Since the connector's cable holding band is cut too, I just super glue it to the cable.

Thanks for the tip, but I feel I'm too noob to do that

[jman 31]

You can use an old 40 way computer IDE cable (but not a newer 80 way cable). One should be enough.

One cable for all the connections? Like between the boards, the LCD, the pads connector, etc?

You can also cut ribbon cables and even the connectors for any number of contacts/wires. I do it all the time.

I needed a 16 pin LCD cable + connector last night -- I just cut through the holes 17/18 of the connector and cleaned it up. These cables when crimped right WILL NOT fall apart, well if you're careful. Since the connector's cable holding band is cut too, I just super glue it to the cable.

Thanks for the tip, but I feel I'm too noob to do that

It's pretty easy. You can do it with a dremel in a couple of seconds. I do it if I need a smaller connector in a hurry. A little hot glue will keep it from pulling apart if it becomes a problem.

[timekeeper]

Hello,

I've recently decided to build a megadrum for myself, but I'm still buying the components. Looking at the pictures at the "Gallery", I've noticed that many projects used ribbon cables to make all the connections. However, these cables are not listed on the "Buying components" session. As this is my first DIY project and my knowledge in electronics isn't wide, I was wondering if anyone could help me out by telling how many ribbon cables (or other kind of cable) I'll need to successfully build my megadrum, as well as the specifications of each cable.

Thanks,
Francisco.

Which design are you planning to use? Dmitri's or Synthex's? If you care I have created a project in www.mouser.com which I can share and it has all the components for Synthex's v2.5 viewtopic.php?f=3&t=198 which is a single board. That's the one I am gonna use.

[chicobatera]

It's pretty easy. You can do it with a dremel in a couple of seconds. I do it if I need a smaller connector in a hurry. A little hot glue will keep it from pulling apart if it becomes a problem.

Thanks! I'll order some extra cables, then if I need I'll do that

Which design are you planning to use? Dmitri's or Synthex's? If you care I have created a project in http://www.mouser.com which I can share and it has all the components for Synthex's v2.5 viewtopic.php?f=3&t=198 which is a single board. That's the one I am gonna use.

I'm gonna use Dmitri's one. Already ordered the PCBs, so there's no way back. Still, I'd like to take a look at your project, but the website won't open =/

[timekeeper]

I'm gonna use Dmitri's one. Already ordered the PCBs, so there's no way back. Still, I'd like to take a look at your project, but the website won't open =/

I tried to share my project on mouser but unfortunately it cannot be done unless I share my personal data... But I can upload a spreadsheet file with all the parts, prices, links etc if you like.