Barrel connectors

[Don Y]

For low volume gear, who cares if the connector is big? Everything
doesn't have to fit into your pocket. I have a 12v breakout box used to
distribute power from a SLA to various devices using 3 pin XLRs. The
alternative is the fucking cigarette lighter. I use as few of the
coaxial power connectors as I can since they just fall out if tugged.

Don't use them in places where they will get tugged! :>

From where I'm sitting, I count:
- 11 external (USB/eSATA) disk drives,
- one Gb switch
- two 7 port USB hubs
- 1 print server
- 2 DVD "video digitizers/recorders"
- 2 USB video digitizers
- 3 NAS boxes
- 2 laptops
- 1 tablet PC
- 1 rechargeable LED lantern
- a rechargeable "portable UPS" (battery w/UPS in a bible-sized box)
- 1 million CP rechargeable flashlight
Each with such a connector and none complaining that they've
been unplugged (though the wall warts may not be connected to
primary power -- different problem entirely)!

And, I'm in my *bedroom*! (no idea what the office has in these terms)

The alternative is the mini XLR if you are space constrained.

Yes, I have a drawer (~few hundred) of those as well as the larger
XLR's (in their "component" form). And a comparable number of
circular DIN with various pin counts, etc.

They're too big and too "unique". Are you going to be able
to purchase a replacement power supply from a third party
vendor with that particular connector pinned out a specific
way?

If you want to be in the spare parts business, I guess that's
a possibility... OTOH, if you have better things to do with
your time/resources, you may prefer letting someone else supply
a stock, COTS part -- but know EXACTLY what characteristics
you want to choose to specify that part!

 

[[email protected]]

So, one manufacturer decided to try color coding, as inspired by Frog
Design of San Francisco. That was Packard Bell.

I remember Packard Bell PCs in the mid-90s with this; I think their
colors were different than the "modern" standard. Later on, Intel and
Microsoft standardized the color coding with the PC 97 and PC 99
standards, which match what you see today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PC_System_Design_Guide

Matt Roberds

 

[[email protected]]

Hi Matt,

<grin> I notice all the "house numbers" are of the form MRI####
[Matt Roberds Industries? :>]

Yep. I secretly run People's Shining Transistor Factory #18. Did
you know that a TO-92 fits inside a TO-3 shell really well?

Ah, that explains why the shipping charges are so low!!! :-/
And, why some of them RATTLE when shaken!

Yeah, we had a bad batch of fake 2N2955s. Zhang had a bad week; 12-
year-olds can be so moody. We cut his pay by half for a few days;
he straightened up and we saved 25 cents US.

How are you fixed for supplying high quality *tea* leaves??

We use tea leaves to fill up the extra space in the TO-3 cans! Run one
of them at high currents and a fresh tea scent will appear, for your
beautiful time.

Matt Roberds

 

[Don Y]

Hi Matt,

Yeah, we had a bad batch of fake 2N2955s. Zhang had a bad week; 12-
year-olds can be so moody. We cut his pay by half for a few days;
he straightened up and we saved 25 cents US.


We use tea leaves to fill up the extra space in the TO-3 cans! Run one
of them at high currents and a fresh tea scent will appear, for your
beautiful time.

Ah, that explains all this silver "hairs" I've been finding
in my bulk tea! I had thought they *were* hairs -- annoying
to keep have to pick them out of my teeth with each sip! But,
obviously, they must be BONDING WIRES and the tea I've been
buying must be the SCRAP you discard from failed unit test!!

Now that I'm aware of what they *actually* are, I'll start
setting them aside for you... hate to see all that material
go to waste!