Re: Advice - chop 16x4 s**** in 2 / multipin connectors

excellent reply!

-- 
Michael Gaster
Gaster Engineering
"Steve" <sjburke1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
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>
> "FatBoySlimFast" <steveNOspamTAveryMUCH@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
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> news:1ts0141dc1lvshjht8s4sdagrrt6lq9upc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Hi guys,
>>
>> I would love to be able to connect my s**** to my mixer via a multipin
>> connector. The main driver would be to save time setting up for live
>> gigs.
>>
>> I have a 16 send / 4 return s**** (all XLRs) which I could use. I'm
>> wondering whether it's sensible to chop the tails off and wire up a
>> pair of multipin connectors.
>>
>> Can someone give me advice on whether this is doable, what skills I'd
>> need (eg. how good would my soldering have to be), what types of
>> connector I should use, what are the issues / risks etc.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Steve W
>
> Steve:
> I've done this with 16/4 and  24/4 s****s and Elco 8016 connecectors. We

> experienced excellent reliability, most problems were due to pin damage 
> (easily visible), with a few instances of internal wire failure in the 
> backshells usually from sharp bends because of the wad of wires crammed 
> into the backshell. The pins themselves are extremely reliable 
> connections.
>
> The Elco 8016 uses gold plated hermaphrodite crimp pins, so you use the 
> same pins for both mates. The crimp tool is not cheap - several hundred 
> bucks. I managed to borrow the tool from a rep the first time around,
but 
> eventually had to buy one for maintenance. The crimp pins are better for

> road service than a solder pin. I tried using some standard MIL-spec
crimp 
> tools that I could borrow from our production department, but the pins 
> didn't form correctly to slide into the housing, as I recall. Other 
> vendors such as Amp may have pins that work with the (non-ratcheting)
hand 
> tools that costs $20-30.
>
> The stage side connector held up better after I had the sense to attach
a 
> blank mating receptacle with some aircraft cable. Then when it was 
> disconnected from the mixer pigtail, there was a handy cover that 
> protected the pins when the connector was dragged or dropped. I could 
> never got people to use a cover until it was physically attached and
they 
> couldn't ignore it or lose it. The mixer end was not so much a problem 
> because it couldn't reach the floor.
>
> I bought larger road cases with extra 4" along the back for storage of
the 
> pigtail. Some case companies did a better job of sup****ting the mixers 
> than others. Make them use a full length wood sup****t instead of two 
> blocks at the ends. Spreading the load minimizes the foam cru****ng and 
> holds the mixer more securely when the case is standing up on its back.
>
> The only other minor problem we've experienced is the loss of screw 
> hardware in the connectors (covers, cable clamps). They vibrate loose
and 
> should be Loctite-d or checked regularly. Some of the hardware is 
> difficult to replace because it is odd sizes or head designs.
>
> There are probably better multi-pins than the Elco's, but they are still

> available from Newark and others.
>
> Good luck.
> Steve
>
>
>