Insulation-displacement connector

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Two ribbon cables: the grey cable is stripped, and the rainbow cable has an IDC connector
The "V" mark (ringed) shows the position of pin 1
2×13 male socket, a.k.a. shrouded rectangular header

An insulation-displacement connector (IDC), insulation-displacement technology/termination (IDT) or insulation-piercing connector (IPC) is an electrical connector designed to be connected to the conductor(s) of an insulated wire or cable by a connection process which forces a selectively sharpened blade or blades through the insulation, bypassing the need to strip the wire of insulation before connecting. When properly made, the connector blade cold-welds to the wire, making a highly reliable gas-tight connection.[1][2]

Modern IDC technology developed after and was influenced by research on wire-wrap and crimp connector technology originally pioneered by Western Electric, Bell Telephone Labs, and others.[3] Although originally designed to connect only solid (single-stranded) conductors, IDC technology was eventually extended to multiple-stranded wire as well.

Initially, insulation displacement connections were seen only in extra-low voltage applications, such as telecommunications, networking and signal connections between parts of an electronic or computer system. However, they are now also used in some domestic and industrial low voltage (power) applications.[4][5] The benefits claimed for their use in these applications include up to 50 percent faster installation, due to the reduction in the stripping, twisting and screwing down processes.

Ribbon cable

Ribbon cable (also called multi-wire planar cable and suitcase connector) is designed to be used with multi-contact IDC connectors in such a way that many IDC connections can be made at once, saving time in applications where many connections are needed. These connectors are not designed to be reusable, but can often be re-used if care is taken when removing the cable.

Pin 1 is typically indicated on the body of the connector by a red or raised "V" mark. The corresponding wire in a ribbon cable is usually indicated by red coloration, a raised molded ridge, or markings printed onto the cable insulation. On the connector pin 2 is opposite pin 1, pin 3 is next to pin 1 along the length of the connector, and so on. On the cable, the wire connected to pin 2 is next to the wire connected to pin 1 (the red coded wire), and so on.

Telephone and network plugs

In some types of telephone and network plug, including the BS 6312 and the registered jack (RJ) family, generally separate wires in a sheath are used. In these applications, the outer sheath is stripped then the wires are inserted into the connector and a special crimp tool is used to force the contacts into the wires. Traditionally these connectors have been used with flat cable which makes it easy to ensure the right wires go into the right slots. However modular connectors used with Category 5 twisted pair cable require careful arranging of the wires by hand before inserting them into the connector.

Punch-down blocks

Punch-down blocks are intended to connect individual wires punched down into each position in the block with a special punch-down tool. Punch-down terminations are also generally seen in telephone and network wall sockets, in patch panels and distribution frames, and in telephone equipment such as PBXs.

Common layouts

Connectors are categorized by pin spacing in mm (pitch), number of pins, and number of rows. Connectors commonly used in computers include:

  • 3.5 in IDE desktop computer hard disc drives - 2.54 mm pitch, 40 pins, 2×20 (2 rows of 20 pins)
  • 2.5 in IDE notebook computer hard disc drives - 2.00 mm pitch, 44 pins, 2×22 (2 rows of 22 pins)
  • SCSI SE 8-bit - 2.54 mm pitch, 50 pins, 2×25 (2 rows of 25 pins)
  • Floppy disk - 2.54 mm pitch, 34 pins, 2×17 (2 rows of 17 pins)[6]
  • Serial DE-9 on motherboards - 2.54 mm pitch, 10 pins, 2×5 (2 rows of 5 pins) - sometimes called everex[citation needed]
  • Parallel DB-25 - 2.54 mm pitch, 26 pins, 2×13 (2 rows of 13 pins)[7]
  • USB through version 2 on motherboards - 2.54 mm pitch, 10 pins, 2×5 (2 rows of 5 pins)[8]

For all of the above connectors, the computer manufacturer typically attaches a female IDC connector onto one end of a ribbon cable, and later slides that connector onto a matching pin header on the computer motherboard.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Basics of Design Engineering http://www.machinedesign.com/BDE/Electrical/bdeee10/bdeee10_3.html#insulate
  2. ↑ Malucci, Robert D. "Insulation Displacing Connector Technology". Molex Incorporated. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  3. ↑ Sprovieri, John (February 1, 2001). "Making Contact". Assembly Magazine. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  4. ↑ http://updates.clipsal.com/ClipsalOnline/Files/Brochures/A0000102.pdf
  5. ↑ http://www.clipsal.com.au/trade/downloads/videos
  6. ↑ national-tech.com - Floppy Diskdrive pinout and wiring @ pinouts.ru, 2010-07-25
  7. ↑ national-tech.com - IDC 26 / DB25, Motherboard Parallel Port Connector cable
  8. ↑ http://www.frontx.com/cpx108_2.html

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