Date   : Sun, 29 Feb 2004 10:44:27 GMT
From   : Pete Turnbull <pete@...>
Subject: Re: Sick Z80 Second Processor

On Feb 28, 22:49, Steve Inglis wrote:
> On 28/2/04 9:40 pm, "Pete Turnbull" <pete@...>
wrote:

> > I'm slightly puzzled that you wrote "fit the IDE cable to the
second
> > processor board".

> It seems despite myself I haven't been clear.  I had to remove the
original
> cable completely because of a number of broken strands.  The
transition
> connector on the processor card has v shaped metal brackets which
were
> pushed through the old cable, then a cover. I'm trying to push the
new cable
> onto these so that they penetrate the new cable but it wont push
through the
> cable.

Ah, I see.  I should have thought about that before I posted :-)

Normally you use the top part of the IDC transition connector to force
the cables into the tines (that's what the metal bayonets are called).
 It takes quite a lot of force, and is usually done commercially with a
small press, or by hobbyists with a vice.

If you have the top part, you might be able to do it with a pair of
large pliers, by pressing one side partly into place, then the middle,
then the other side, and repeat until it's fully home.  Or, if you have
a large vice, you might be able to fold the cable so that it the
assembly fits in the vice with the board sticking up and the cable
"inside" the vice.

If you don't have the top part, the only reliable solution is going to
be to remove the header and replace it as Sprow suggests.  Don't use a
paint stripper hot air gun, it's hard to control the heat so as to melt
the solder without damaging the PCB or removing other components as
well.  If you don't have a proper SM gun, one way is to use a pair of
fine cutters or a dremel tool with a saw blade to cut the connector
into pieces and desolder it pin by pin.  You might even be able to do
it with an ordinary soldering iron: mount the PCB in a vice or PCB
stand, heat each pin in turn to melt the solder and soften the plastic,
and push the pin out, finally pulling it out with pliers.

You could replace the original DIL transition connector with a male
header, and use a ribbon cable with a female header on each end.  If
you want to use a DIL transition connector, it might be easier to fit
it to the cable before you solder it in (plug it in to a female header
to protect the pins before you crimp the two halves together) but then
you must be careful about soldering it -- don't overheat the pins or
you'll damage the insulation.

-- 
Pete                                           Peter Turnbull
                                               Network Manager
                                               University of York