After lots of good feedback regarding my first post, I'd like to continue documenting my progress.

If you missed the first post, check it out here:

Part 1

When we last saw our masked multi-pinner...

I was putting the finishing touches on the Elco at the fan end of the snake. All I had left to do at the fan end was verify my connections with a multi-meter, and put in the heat shrink/strain relief. I used my multi-meter in continuity mode to verify that every single pin in the Elco went were it was supposed to at each XLR (or TRS). Channel by channel I verified every single pin.

Once each connection was verified, I was ready to terminate the Elco. I started by replacing the thick outer jacket I had stripped earlier, securing it with some electrical tape.

Replacing the outer jacket gives the strain relief something to grasp. I slid my heat shrink over the assembly and applied heat. Here is the finished fan-tail Elco.

Now, on to the box end Elco. Having learned my lesson about proper staggering when cutting the IJIS cables to length, this end went much faster.

I also added one step to my previous termination method. After I added heat shrink to the drain wire, I went around all three wires with a wrap of electrical tape. This protects the drain wire from coming in contact with another drain wire. I would have used some heat shrink instead of electrical tape, but I didn't have any that was large enough in diameter.

As I made my first row of connections in the box-end Elco, I plugged the two halves together so I could verify that I was in fact putting the pins in the right spot. Good thing I did, I was actually installing the pins in reverse order. 1 to 28, 2 to 27, etc. After realizing I had screwed up, I removed the pins and put them in the right slots. Verify your connections as you go!!

Here is the fully populated box-end Elco. Note the electrical tape protecting the drains from touching.

Now, having used my multi-meter to verify the pin-out, I'm ready to terminate this connector. I start by replacing the outer jacket I stripped away earlier.

Being overly paranoid, I plug the two halves together one more time, fully populated, and use my multi-meter continuity tester to go from box-end, through the Elcos, to the XLRs. I verify every single pin.

Notice in the picture above that the elco has a removable side panel. This allows you to put the hood on after all the pins have been inserted, as well as allowing access to the pins without taking the entire assembly apart.

This is a very handy feature, as my testing found two open circuits. These turned out to be pins that were crimped around the heat shrink, with no wire contact. A quick strip and re-crimp solved the problem. Two bad connections out of 180+ isn't bad!

Slide the heat shrink over the assembly, apply heat. Plug in and test one more time. One finished 28 pair Elco multi-pin quick disconnect.

The whole point of this exercise was to set up my snake with a quick disconnect so I could leave the fan tail connected in the doghouse of my new case. And here it is:

Now I can move on to multi-pinning my insert snakes!

Hope this helps other newbies planning on attempting a multi-pin. I learned a lot doing my first one.

Kurt

Reply "So..." Posted by Brandon Potter on December 29, 2001

Tell me, how does it feel to cut your snake for the first time? :)

Reply "Minor Surgery" Posted by Kurt on December 29, 2001

That was one MIGHTY leap of faith for me.

I must have counted the pins about 3 times. I tried out the insertion tool, extraction tool, mated the connectors, put the hoods on, about 10 times.

I remember thinking very clearly "holy crap, I hope this works".

Reply "Close One..." Posted by Timothy J. Trace on December 28, 2001

I was actually installing the pins in reverse order. 1 to 28, 2 to 27, etc. After realizing I had screwed up, I removed the pins and put them in the right slots.

Kurt

And right then and there, that extraction tool became invaluable. :->

Did you like the pin inserter as much as I told you you would?

Best regards,

Tim

Reply Posted by Arthur on December 29, 2001

Actually, I found that I could work better and faster inserting Elco pins using my Xcelite curved needle nose pliers--more control over the wire and pin. I found the insertion tool a nuisance, especially when the connector shell was beginning to get full. YMMV. Still the extraction tool proves invaluable, especially when you mess up with pin placement.

Reply "Ah..." Posted by Geri O on December 29, 2001

I wondered if anyone had found needle-nosed pliers to be handier than the insertion tool, but I didn't want to mention it as I was afraid of the ExactTool Police. They are much easier to use than the insertion tool, to me anyway. Same with the Ramlatch pins.

Geri "Amp pins don't slide under the fingernails as easily" O

Reply Posted by Andrew S on December 30, 2001

Geri,

Which (AMP) insertion tool do you have? (Is there more then one?) The one I used was a curved metal scoop, with a red & white handle... looks like a brass skinny coke nail... Replacing one pin in the middle with that tool was terrific..I couldn't imagine being able to get nnose pliers in there. I was able to use a jewlers screwdriver pretty well, also.

See ya,

Andrew

Reply "I Used Them Too, One Or Twice" Posted by Kurt on December 29, 2001

: I wondered if anyone had found needle-nosed pliers to be handier than the insertion tool, but I didn't want to mention it as I was afraid of the ExactTool Police. They are much easier to use than the insertion tool, to me anyway. Same with the Ramlatch pins.

I had to use some very thin long nose pliers a few times. The insertion tool doesn't help you align the pin very well. However, I couldn't seem to get the pin to push all the way down into the connector without using the insertion tool.

I ended up using the insertion tool on every pin, and needle nose for those stubborn pins that just wouldn't turn the right direction.

: Geri "Amp pins don't slide under the fingernails as easily" O

Get some nice fingernail clippers. Cut them really short. Things don't slide up under them as easily :)
K

Reply Posted by Arthur on December 30, 2001

: I had to use some very thin long nose pliers a few times. The insertion tool doesn't help you align the pin very well. However, I couldn't seem to get the pin to push all the way down into the connector without using the insertion tool.

What you do in this case is once you get the pin aligned correctly in the hole, then you take one side of your long needlenose pliers, put it on one side of the edge of the wire end of the pin, and push it down into the connector until you hear the familiar "click" of the pin being correctly seated in place. There should be enough "edge" on the pin and enough space in the hole of the connector to be able to fit one side of a thin needle nose plier in there to insert and seat the pin properly. Saves time in putting it all together, but you need really thin angled needle nose pliers to do it right.

: Get some nice fingernail clippers. Cut them really short. Things don't slide up under them as easily :)

Yes, I do that before working on multipins now, BUT then it's harder to pick up individual pins when they fall on a flat surface! Besides, when you cut them, you realize that you need your fingernails later! ;o)