[PDP8-Lovers] PDP-8/A limited function panel wiring? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

16 Dec 2001

On Dec 16, 14:58, Gunther Schadow wrote:

...
  However, there are a few more issues to resolve first.
The
 little 16-pole ribbon cable that has DIL chip-like plug on
 both ends that go into a chip-socket. That plug is bent and
 pins are broken off. Seems like that happnes all the time.
 Do I have to and if so how can I replace this? This cable
 runs between the backplane and, I guess, the limited function
 front panel. 
Assuming you can afford to shorten the length of the cable by the amount
you'd lose by cutting off the DIL plug, it shouldn't be too hard.  You can
buy 16-pin IDC DIL plugs quite easily.  The quick-and-dirty way to crimp
one onto the cable is to take a piece of wood (metal is better but much
more work) and shave it so it fits neatly between the pins, and then shave
it down so it's the same depth as the pins are long.  Place the cable in
the plug, insert the whole lot in a smal vice and gently tighten it up.
 The piece of wood will prevent the pins from bending while you do this.

...
  Do I need this, is the limited function front panel
needed
 at all? What's the function of the 16 lines, I assume 
I don't know.  If you'd asked this a week or two ago, I might have been
able to look it up in the PDP-8/A handbook I had on loan, but I've returned
it.  :-(   I think you do need some of the switches, but I'm not sure.
 Have you looked at the print sets on some of the PDP-8 websites?  David
Gesswein's page at http://www.pdp8.net/query_docs/query_all.html is a good
place to start.  More specifically, follow the link labelled "244" from
there, then "245" and you'll be able to download a 1-page diagram of the
Limited Function Board.

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York