Durability of EDAC Multipin connectors?

[Kane]

Hi everyone. I know EDACS have been covered (possibly to death) on here, but I was hoping someone could give me the specifications (i.e. mate/unmate cycles) of the EDAC multipin audio connectors.

I've done searches and come up with answers ranging from 100 to 15,000. Does anyone know the real spec for these? I'm speccing out a mobile rig, and need some multipin connectors for the back of my racks (amps, effects, radio system, audio etc.). I'd like to go EDAC, but the racks will be plugged/unplugged every night so 100 cycles (or even 1000) isn't really what I'm looking for.

Has anyone used these connectors daily (or a few times a week) over a period of several years without problem? Some people slate them, yet others say they're fine.

Oh, and are the pins the same for the 20 and 56 versions? I'm probably going to mix and match.

Cheers

[DannyL]

The EDACS are fine. They experience the following problems:

1) The "pins" break occasionally...they actually split.Though this is the least of your worries...read on:
2) The thumb grip on the screw shaft falls off. This is very common. It is then a bit of a pain to tighten/loosen the shaft.
3) The connector cases fall apart on the cables. They need to be cared for and treated well. They do NOT stand up to abuse.
4) The cable can work its way out of the strain relief, and expose the individual jackets inside.
5) The phenolic can chip. As correct mating requires the positive and negative spaces on the phenolics to line up this can be a problem.

I would look into the Whirlwind MASS connectors. They are pretty robust.

[Remoteness]

Danny is spot on with the ELCO/EDAC issues.

That being said, we've been using them for decades on most of our racks...

We can do this because we follow Danny's problem number three to the letter.
They do indeed need to be cared for and treated well.
They do NOT stand up to abuse.

We have workarounds for some of the issues and they play, as long as you treat them with love and kindness - something that Remotesters may not have time for in the thick of things; we make sure we do.

They can handle 15000 cycles - We have ELCO/EDAC connectors from the 80s still in use today.

I decided to go with one size fits all...

The 90 pin version is used for any connection from 30 balanced pairs down.
I figured if we ever needed an extra harness or interface we can use any of them as long as they had more pins that needed; meaning downwards compatible.

Oh, one more thing...

They make crimp (what we use) and solder versions and the pins fit all size connectors.

Originally Posted by DannyL

The EDACS are fine. They experience the following problems:

1) The "pins" break occasionally...they actually split.Though this is the least of your worries...read on:
2) The thumb grip on the screw shaft falls off. This is very common. It is then a bit of a pain to tighten/loosen the shaft.
3) The connector cases fall apart on the cables. They need to be cared for and treated well. They do NOT stand up to abuse.
4) The cable can work its way out of the strain relief, and expose the individual jackets inside.
5) The phenolic can chip. As correct mating requires the positive and negative spaces on the phenolics to line up this can be a problem.

I would look into the Whirlwind MASS connectors. They are pretty robust.

[DannyL]

One thing you did not mention is who you are going to be working with.

If you plan on doing a lot of TV the DT-12 (actually the FK-37) is the most common connector. So it might make sense to use those.

Have a look at what your associates commonly use. If you choose to go with something different, build some adapters so you don't have to connect a thousand XLR's every time you need to interface into someone else's system.

Regards;
Danny

[Kane]

Super, thanks for all the advice everyone.

The rig is going to be for bands, and also for some corporate work. Basically I've got an amp rack, a wireless rack (Shure UR4S, Sennehiser IEMs etc.) etc.

Will have these stacked on top of each other and want just one lead (plus power of course) to connect them together.

Think I will go EDAC for this; I'll be the one connecting them and they're be at the back of racks out of harms way.

Also need a drum multicore, and I gather now that EDAC perhaps isn't the way to go for this, so will look at alternatives. What would you lot suggest for say a 16/4 multi from the back of a rack to a drummer stage box?

REMOTENESS, can I ask you one question. When you say they can handle 15,000 cycles and you've got ones from the 80s that still work, are you talking about the enclosures and fastening system, or the pins too? I imagine I'd be doing 200 gigs/events a year and I don't want to be replacing pins all the time through natural wear and tear! Do you have connectors which have lasted thousands of cycles without replacing pins?

Cheers again :-)

[Remoteness]

When I said they can handle 15,000 cycles, I mean you can mate them 15,000 times.

I have chassis and inline ELCO/EDAC connectors that were installed in the 80s and are still in service today. Every now and then you may have to replace a pin or three. You usually have to straighten a pin or two before you insert them, but that is it.

As long as you're seriously careful, you will do just fine.
It's the times when folks just try to insert them without checking the pins or when they insert them on an angle and force them to mate. This is what basically bends or breaks the pins.

If you're talking about doing 200 gigs a year, they are good for decades of service.
My panels and inline cables have been used for three decades.

Keep in mind: If you're not careful when mating and storing them you will be replacing pins all the time due to bent or broken pins.

That said, you will have decades of use before you will have to replace them due to normal wear and tear.

Treat them right and you can have them in service for decades.

[noamraz]

I'm in final sketches for installing multipins in my racks.

One question that i still can't decide is how to handle the fan-outs..

I'm planning to have EDACs mounted to chassis of each rack as input and output ->

I am sure that all chassis EDACs (Inputs and outputs) should be females and all mults will have males on both sides -> The logic behind it in my opinion is the ability to fix pins when needed, I wouldnt like the idea of messing with the chassis on location ;-)

The question - What about fan-outs for these mults (For instance from Preamps rack outputs) EDAC male - TRS, Can you please post a picture of your fan-outs? Sometimes pictures can reveal alot.. I am thinking about 1-1.5meters fanouts, This would be more than enough for 16 channels (I'm going the 56EDAC route).

Middle Atlantic offer great options in terms of Chassis panels, Can you please guide me to a good place to order EDAC connectors in the US?

Thanks!

[Remoteness]

I decide to go with female EDACs for all chassis I/O panels because I didn't want a (metallic) object (possibly) short a circuit while in operation. It's a lot easier to do this with male chassis mounted connectors.

It is indeed easier to fix male connector pins when necessary.

There must be a ton of pictures of our harnesses on this forum.
I will see if I can find a thread or three for you to review.
If that's not successful, I will take a few pictures.

Originally Posted by noamraz

I'm in final sketches for installing multipins in my racks.

One question that i still can't decide is how to handle the fan-outs..

I'm planning to have EDACs mounted to chassis of each rack as input and output ->

I am sure that all chassis EDACs (Inputs and outputs) should be females and all mults will have males on both sides -> The logic behind it in my opinion is the ability to fix pins when needed, I wouldnt like the idea of messing with the chassis on location ;-)

The question - What about fan-outs for these mults (For instance from Preamps rack outputs) EDAC male - TRS, Can you please post a picture of your fan-outs? Sometimes pictures can reveal alot.. I am thinking about 1-1.5meters fanouts, This would be more than enough for 16 channels (I'm going the 56EDAC route).

Middle Atlantic offer great options in terms of Chassis panels, Can you please guide me to a good place to order EDAC connectors in the US?

Thanks!

[Remoteness]

Gearslutz.com - EDAC/ELCO Harness Results

Multipin connectors

[noamraz]

Steve,

Thank you, Appreciate your effort!

I will go over every-post to see if i can find any picture of multicable with male EDAC.

Thanks!