EDACs - how long do they last?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Gareth Magennis <sound.service@btconnect.com> wrote:
>
>I have looked through the EDAC spec sheet but can't find any indication as
>to how many mate/unmate cycles they are built to tolerate. Specifically,
>are EDACs suitable for a studio system that is going to be unplugged and put
>away for safety regularly? (Protools/outboard etc on wheeled racks)

People use them for this all the time.... but you know, the 516 series
data sheet I have on file doesn't list a lifecycle rating at all.

Personally, I have had trouble with Edac connectors under field conditions.
The pins are too delicate and easy to bend, and the contact plating does
actually wear out. This is under conditions where you get people dragging
cables through the grass without putting the covers on, tossing cables out
the back of trucks, and so forth.

I don't think there would be any reason not to use them in a movable studio
rack situation. If you're really worried, though, go with Bendix connectors
or the Whirlwind hermaphroditic things.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Pooh Bear" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:433AB1DE.82EAF14B@hotmail.com...
>
>
> Gareth Magennis wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have looked through the EDAC spec sheet but can't find any indication
>> as
>> to how many mate/unmate cycles they are built to tolerate. Specifically,
>> are EDACs suitable for a studio system that is going to be unplugged and
>> put
>> away for safety regularly? (Protools/outboard etc on wheeled racks)
>
> I have expereince from using them for mlighting control.
>
> The contacts are quite fragile and can break easily. Contact replacement
> was a
> common service requirement.
>
> Graham
>


Thanks Graham and Scott,

the installation is actually in a college where the gear needs to be locked
away at night, and from what you say I'm starting to wonder whether EDACs
may just be a little too fragile for that kind of regular potential abuse.
I've used them before but only in plug-in-once studio environments.


Cheers,


Gareth.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Edac 516 females (plateau with recessed split pins) either on flying leads
or panel-mounted - are very safe from damage.
It's the males (exposed pins in a skirted plug) both on flying leads and if
panel-mounted - that tend to suffer some damage if pins are unprotected from
random collisions and interference. Then a repair is necessary.
But otherwise IMO it's the best multipole connection system, each cleaved
mating pair has 8 angular points to make positive contact. And as a bonus
it offers unique keyed polarisations which optionally can be discarded.
I have used many scores of 38-, 56-, 90- way pairs in 3 different makes,
with crimped pins, but mainly for internal studio and peripheral use.
I would not really specify them for repeated plugging/unplugging on jobs
outdoors.

"Pooh Bear" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:433AB1DE.82EAF14B@hotmail.com...
>
>
> Gareth Magennis wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have looked through the EDAC spec sheet but can't find any indication
>> as
>> to how many mate/unmate cycles they are built to tolerate. Specifically,
>> are EDACs suitable for a studio system that is going to be unplugged and
>> put
>> away for safety regularly? (Protools/outboard etc on wheeled racks)
>
> I have expereince from using them for mlighting control.
>
> The contacts are quite fragile and can break easily. Contact replacement
> was a
> common service requirement.
>
> Graham
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

For those unfamiliar with the Elco "516" Varicon systems which have been
around for over 35 years. There are at least two other makes I have used,
Edac and Connectrol
The gold-plated pins *are* hermaphroditic, ie, cleaved - and each set mates
comfortably at 90 degrees.
The rectangular and well-keyed multipole moulds are designated as either a
plug or a socket, where orientation of pins is seen parallel to Long sides
in a plug, yet seen parallel to Short sides in its mate - and furthermore
these genders have keyed guide pins & sockets, respectively.
Pins are more or less *enclosed* in Female blocks, whereas the ones in Males
are vulnerably exposed in the skirted hollow recess (which receptacle
accepts the block).
[Remember, there are "naked" panel mounts, with exposed internal wiring
(whether soldered or crimped) - while the wiring side of a free cable mould
is well-protected with a screw-on Shell cover with integral, adjustable
cable-sheath grip.
Shell's latching centre bolt screws into receptacle female thread to ensure
pairs of connectors engage (or, conversely, disengage). Low insertion force
is needed for a full 56-way mating.]

It's still the male multis that suffer pin damage, especially if at the ends
of roving and badly-handled cables. The females seem to go on forever!
Does anyone make a transit protective cap or a snug thermoplastic,
matrix-perforated bung (in different sizes) to cocoon the Male pins in
transit?

"Pooh Bear" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:433BDA90.C17D8B53@hotmail.com...
>
> Jim Gregory wrote:
>
>> Edac 516 females (plateau with recessed split pins) either on flying
>> leads
>> or panel-mounted - are very safe from damage.
>> It's the males (exposed pins in a skirted plug) both on flying leads and
>> if
>> panel-mounted - that tend to suffer some damage if pins are unprotected
>> from
>> random collisions and interference. Then a repair is necessary.
>
> Aren't the pins actually hermaproditic ?
>
> I.e. no male or female part .
>
> Graham
>
>> But otherwise IMO it's the best multipole connection system, each cleaved
>> mating pair has 8 angular points to make positive contact. And as a
>> bonus
>> it offers unique keyed polarisations which optionally can be discarded.
>> I have used many scores of 38-, 56-, 90- way pairs in 3 different makes,
>> with crimped pins, but mainly for internal studio and peripheral use.
>> I would not really specify them for repeated plugging/unplugging on jobs
>> outdoors.
>>
>> "Pooh Bear" <rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:433AB1DE.82EAF14B@hotmail.com...
>> >
>> >
>> > Gareth Magennis wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> I have looked through the EDAC spec sheet but can't find any
>> >> indication
>> >> as
>> >> to how many mate/unmate cycles they are built to tolerate.
>> >> Specifically,
>> >> are EDACs suitable for a studio system that is going to be unplugged
>> >> and
>> >> put
>> >> away for safety regularly? (Protools/outboard etc on wheeled racks)
>> >
>> > I have expereince from using them for mlighting control.
>> >
>> > The contacts are quite fragile and can break easily. Contact
>> > replacement
>> > was a
>> > common service requirement.
>> >
>> > Graham
>> >
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> wrote in message
newshgtda$eeh$1@panix1.panix.com...
> Jim Gregory <jim.greg@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>Does anyone make a transit protective cap or a snug thermoplastic,
>>matrix-perforated bung (in different sizes) to cocoon the Male pins in
>>transit?
>
> Yes... I think they are actually made by EDAC, but there is a thing that
> is sort of like a female connector without pins, that you screw the male
> connector in for transit. Everybody loses them, and if they don't lose
> them, they forget to use them.
>
> I have occasionally seen them at the beginning of a tour, but never at
> the end.
> --scott

Thanks. During all these aeons I never knew such gismos were available, but
then I never took any gear with these terminations on OBs or location
recordings.
Jim