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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
Hi:
I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Thanks, ColTom2 |
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#2
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
ColTom2 wrote:
I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Sure - you could do that. It's just wires and solder. What's 'special' about the keyboard? -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#3
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
Where can I purchase a new PS-2 connector with wiring instructions?
Thanks, ColTom2 "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... ColTom2 wrote: I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Sure - you could do that. It's just wires and solder. What's 'special' about the keyboard? -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#4
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
ColTom2 wrote:
Where can I purchase a new PS-2 connector with wiring instructions? Cannot say where - offhand. Have never considered it. Probably some electronics store/warehouse/supply type spot. MINI-DIN6 is (I think) the actual connector type. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:52:24 -0400, ColTom2 wrote:
Where can I purchase a new PS-2 connector with wiring instructions? If you're in a hurry, visit a thrift store. You can probably find an old PS-2 keyboard for about $2. There's a chance the cable will have the same kind of connector internally so you can just open up the Sony and swap cables. Failing that, you could cut off the defective PS-2 connector and splice the replacement cable in its place. Leave enough wire on the old PS-2 connector so you can strip the cable and figure out what pins go to what colors. If both cables have the same color of wires inside, you can *probably* just wire brown to brown, green to green, and so on. No guarantees, though. You might also ask around the local computer stores. Sometimes the techs have a pile of old broken electronics they pull parts off of. Someone one might have a broken keyboard with a cable that will work with your Sony keyboard. There's also a small chance that Fry's electronics might have some replacement cables or replacement connectors in their electronics section. If you're not in a big hurry, Jameco Electronics might have replacement connectors but I doubt they'll have wiring instructions. A web search for "PS-2 pinout" may be helpful on wiring the connector. Yet another option is to look for the same model of keyboard on ebay. You can probably find a used one for about what the connector alone would cost. If it works then you're done, and if it doesn't then you can use the cable to fix your old keyboard. Thanks, ColTom2 "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... ColTom2 wrote: I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Sure - you could do that. It's just wires and solder. What's 'special' about the keyboard? |
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
I've never bought one, but search for a "6 pin min-DIN connector".
If you run up against a minimum order requirement (at DigiKey, it used to be $25), you could consider buying a PS/2 extension cable, and splicing the cable onto yours. It wouldn't be pretty, but it'd be cheap. "ColTom2" wrote in message ... Where can I purchase a new PS-2 connector with wiring instructions? Thanks, ColTom2 "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... ColTom2 wrote: I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Sure - you could do that. It's just wires and solder. What's 'special' about the keyboard? -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#7
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
ColTom2 wrote:
Hi: I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Thanks, ColTom2 To make a repair, you'd start by preparing documentation for yourself. I'm assuming the connector is still connected to the cable. Using a multimeter set on ohms, you open the keyboard and "buzz" from one wire contact, until you find which pin that corresponds to. So if there were four contacts on the keyboard PCB, you'd buzz from there ("check for zero ohm reading"), to a connector pin. A zero ohm reading, means there is a straight piece of wire from the contact inside the keyboard, to that particular pin on the connector. This requires disassembly of the keyboard, so you can get at the spot where the cable is soldered to the keyboard. Your keyboard should only be using four pins of six possible (+5V, GND, DATA, CLOCK). There is a diagram here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_connector The ones that are important to connect correctly, are the +5V and GND. If you set your multimeter to volts, and measured the appropriate four active pins on the computer end, three of the four pins would read 5 volts. The power supply pin is 5V. But both the clock and data, when idle, are pulled up to 5 volts via pullup resistors. This is open collector logic, at least as shown on the following information page. So doing a volts check on the computer end, could lead to confusing results. In other words, you might not be able to rely on a voltage reading while things are powered, to figure stuff out. http://www.computer-engineering.org/ps2protocol/ So it really depends right now, on how "damaged" that connector is. If all the pins are squashed together (a steam roller ran over it), then preparing your documentation is not going to be that easy. If the PCB inside the keyboard is clearly labeled as to which pin is which, then your job is now a lot easier. Preparing your own documentation, is reserved for those cases where every bit of your project is a "secret" they don't want you to know. I doubt very much there is labeling. Using the multimeter to buzz out the wiring, is how you'd prepare your own documentation, so you can mark the four contacts on the keyboard PCB (+5V, GND, DATA, CLOCK). It would be nice, if there were standard colors for the signals, but I don't know if anyone would bother with that or not. After all. the cable is normally fully covered with insulation, so there is no reason for color keying inside. As for your repair materials, I was hoping to find a "captive cable" replacement, but I couldn't locate one of those. (That would have the PS/2 miniDIN on one end, and wires coming out the other end. You'd solder the wires to the PCB of the keyboard.) If the keyboard had a non-captive cable, then you'd simply unplug the old cable. You can take a keyboard extension cable, snip the head off one end (leaving the right kind of connector on the other end). Then strip the appropriate four wires (using your "buzzing" skills, to map cable color to pins on the cable), and then you'd be able to solder the replacement cable in place. Since the cut end of the cable is now hidden inside the keyboard, you get a nice neat job. Usually, the keyboard will have some mechanism for strain relief, and you'd duplicate how the old cable was installed. The idea is, either plastic fingers grip the cable and prevent it from being pulled out of the keyboard, or in some cases a loop or knot is formed in the wire, to prevent it from being pulled out. In terms of repair materials, you'd need. 1) Multimeter. Should be able to measure volts and ohms. Current measurement on cheap multimeters is hardly ever used. 2) 25 to 35W soldering iron. Better to err on the high side, so you have enough heat. The +5V and GND wires might be a bit harder to solder and unsolder, if there is a lot of copper plane at the solder point. A soldering iron with a grounded tip is sometimes used for better electrostatic discharge protection. The largest iron I have in my collection is 80 watts, and if I'm having problems removing old solder, that one helps. If you go for something like a 15W iron, there is virtually no chance your project will ever get finished. I don't know why Radio Shack sells stuff like that. The old style "solder gun" with the penlight bulb to light up the work area, is not recommended. I used to have one of those, and you have to be careful not to exceed the duty cycle. (Work for 1 minute, let the gun cool off for 5 minutes. Too much trigger pulling and the transformer inside overheats.) 3) Solder wick. 0.050" wide wick might be used to soak up the old solder, where the wires go into the PCB. The larger the wick, the more heat it takes to get it to wick up the solder. Better to use thinner wick, than thicker stuff. So 0.050" or 0.025" might work, nothing larger. (This is what is in my toolbox right now, for super fine work.) http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/Pro...610190&MPN=423 You can use diagonal cutters, to ship off the old cable. Then all you're left with, is a small bit of wire and the holes to clean out. 4) "Electronic" solder, not plumbing ("acid core") solder. Electronic solder uses a resin core flux, and resin cleanup is possible with various alcohols. I have a one pound roll of solder which is smaller diameter than this (angel hair). This is better than nothing (or better than plumber's solder). I notice Radio Shack sells plenty of stuff you should not be using. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062713 5) Wire strippers. Many times, you can find the yellow handled ones at the hardware store. They're better than using your teeth to strip the insulation off the wire. At the other extreme, there are automated strippers, where the stripping action is more fully controlled, and those won't nick the wire strands by accident. The cheap stripper from the hardware store, would require a lot of practice, to get a clean strip without nicks. You need to examine the lengths of bare wire on the existing captive cable, to figure out how long to make each one on your replacement cable. Sounds like loads of fun if you've never soldered before. HTH, Paul |
#8
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
ColTom2 wrote:
Where can I purchase a new PS-2 connector with wiring instructions? Thanks, ColTom2 Snip the end off one of these. "PS/2 extension cable". There is a male and a female connector, so you cannot go wrong. http://images.quill.com/images/produ.../56470_ENL.JPG Paul "Shenan Stanley" wrote in message ... ColTom2 wrote: I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Sure - you could do that. It's just wires and solder. What's 'special' about the keyboard? |
#9
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
Thanks to all for all the great responses!
ColTom2 "ColTom2" wrote in message ... Hi: I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent and is now defective. Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard that came with the computer. Thanks, ColTom2 |
#10
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Keyboard Cable With PS-2 Connector
Simple keyboards are cheap enough, buy a new one before you make your old one a $100 mess (assuming
your labor is worth something). Go to a Goodwill store and pick up a used one for $5 "ColTom2" wrote in message ... | Thanks to all for all the great responses! | | ColTom2 | | | "ColTom2" wrote in message | ... | Hi: | | I have a Sony VGC-RA716G desktop computer running XP MCE(2006) SP3 with | PS-2 cable for keyboard. The PS-2 connector on the end of the cable got bent | and is now defective. | | Is there anyway to replace the PS-2 Connector (6 pin) at the end of the | keyboard cable? If not can the cable with PS-2 connector be replaced or do I | need to replace the entire keyboard? It's a somewhat special Sony keyboard | that came with the computer. | | Thanks, | | ColTom2 | | | |
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