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Circular pin connectors

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=13821
Printed Date: October 31, 2024 at 6:31 PM


Topic: Circular pin connectors

Posted By: TAudio
Subject: Circular pin connectors
Date Posted: May 21, 2003 at 9:28 PM

I was reading an older edittion of Car Audio and Electronics magazine the other day, and circular pin connectors (refered to as cpcs in the article) were used to connect all of the power in an award winning 1988 300ZX feature show car (owned by one Larry Tobey) which "allows allow for easy removal of the amp rack" (CA&E Nov. 2002 page 25).  What exactly ar cpcs, are they a reliable connection, and if so where can you get them?  I'm dying for an easier way to disconnect my amp rack when I want to do system maintenance.

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If quiters never win, and winners never quit, who the heck came up with the idea that you should quit while your ahead?



Replies:

Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: May 21, 2003 at 10:26 PM

The only thing I can think of that sounds like a "circular pin connector" is a DIN cable, cuz, well, it's circular and has pins for connectorsposted_image.

One way to quickly and easily disconnect an amp is to use something like these quick connects.  They are basically a plug in type thing so you'd have a couple inches hanging out from each amp, with a plug at the end.  These would plug in to the power/ground cables permanently installed in the vehicle.

I'm pretty sure they make something like this specifically for car audio and I thought I had saved the link somewhere but I can't find it.  You might wanna just use a simple insulated bullet connector type thing for the speaker wire as those quick connects on that page are probably gonna be too big for most gauge speaker wire.



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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
Donate to the12volt.com




Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: May 21, 2003 at 11:28 PM
Here's an older post with a few good ideas for a quick-disconnect amp rack

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
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Posted By: TAudio
Date Posted: May 22, 2003 at 4:52 PM
It sounded te me more like a bannana plug type connection or something along that line.  I've seen the "breakaway disconnects before but wasn't sure how much noticeable resistance they might add to the power run (I always err to the large side on my power wires, but still try to keep the voltage drop to a minimum).  Also, I was thinking that using some of that "electrical grease" at my distribution block and other similar connections might help cut down the resistance.  Is this recomendable?  If so please recomend a source and grade.

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If quiters never win, and winners never quit, who the heck came up with the idea that you should quit while your ahead?




Posted By: Big Purds
Date Posted: May 22, 2003 at 6:54 PM
you can buy female banana clips from many home audio stores and just incorprate them (hard mount) into the amp rack and use banana plugs for all of the wires you use...

the only problem with having all of these things is that when your wires are live, you have to put them somewhere after you have disconnected the system...I have seen systems that incorporate quick connect harnesses, much like what you would find for travel trailers and such...the only problem there is when you get into larger wire gauges, it would be hard to find a harness that would allow for 4ga or larger...




Posted By: esmith69
Date Posted: May 22, 2003 at 7:13 PM
Yea I too figured they wouldn't have them for the really big wire sizes but actually if you look down the page for that link I posted they show connectors that work even for wire as big as 1/0 gauge.

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Ethan
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"Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success"
Donate to the12volt.com




Posted By: audiocableguy
Date Posted: May 23, 2003 at 12:01 PM
"CPC" stands for "Circular Pin Connector". I'm in the Technical Entertainment Industry and we use alot multipins. Vari*lite (lights used for concerts such as Pink Floyd) uses the CPC and are not liked by most.break easy, however easy to fix! Now if you find a mil-spec metal shell connector with neoprene inserts and gold pins your headed in the right direction! check Newark.com or Allied.com Another popular connector is a Socopex 19 pin. they are rated for 20 amps each pin and you can get 10 Awg wire in them. Most are around $40.00 and come in panel mount and inline. relativley shockproof and watertight. Another option is Light Ballast Connectors. They have Large gauge pins combined with several smaller pins. If you want to spend money, look at the Lemo brand! just a few ideas . . .




Posted By: showdwar
Date Posted: May 23, 2003 at 10:21 PM

I just bought two pairs of these to use...any comments on them?  You might look into these, TAudio, if they will work for you.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-SSvPo22EiA8/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=21113290



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There's nothin' like good music played on a good system!





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