0.025" (0.635mm) cable/IDC connectors- reliability?

Hey Speff: We use them on our F18 module for analog signals and power to the insturmentation inside a windtunnel They haven't seemed to mind the vibration, or temperature spikes ( we can pressurize the test section to over 200psi, this causes a big spike, then at shutdown there is a big dip in temp), or the repeated connecting disconnecting. For stress reliefs we used hot melt glue, makes a big difference. Pat

How so? The specs don't look that much different to me (other than the fact the unbalanced Z is a bit high for my circuit on the some of the

Z0, C/ft, L/ft, and propagation delay are all within 10-20% of each other under the same conditions.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Well, at 133Mhz, infinitely better.

Hey, no problem. I was just about to ask if it was actually that fancy

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Oh dear. Please ignore me. I was having a particularly stupid moment, and misread IDC for IDE, and somehow further on the difference between 80 and 40 conductor cables. I blame the drink. Well, I'd like to, if I'd had any.

Many years ago I used 0.025" pitch, 14 wire ribbon on new instrument module. This module was particularly temperamental (1fA electrometer) and we had to frequently remove, clean and handle them. The connector never failed. We used the proper tool to install it. Much later I discovered that the wire in the ribbon was sold gauge.

I have used the ODU range of 0.025" IDCs in a small way, and they are an absolute bugger to close up accurately. If they survive this process, they seem rugged enough- there's one plugged very frequently just by me, it's on my MSP430 serial programmer.

Paul Burke