Icom A210 wiring, Molex connector

Catfish · Post by **Catfish** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:22 pm

RVNewsletter wrote:I was leafing throgh PS Engineering's neat Powerpoint on making wiring harnesses and they bring up Raychem Solder Sleeves, which I'd never heard of before. Is anyone using these? Are they a better alternative to the methods in AeroElectric Connection. They sure look to be expensive.

Use them all the time on KingAirs

Post by **bullojm1** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:10 am

I recently took apart the chopped harnesses that came with my used avionics. I was amazed at the technique used to bind multiple power wires together on my GNS430.

It is three wires soldered together! And this came from an airplane that probably had some decent hours on it (Embry Riddle Cherokee trainer). I am not suggesting this is the right way to do a connection, but it's not going to break on you anytime soon or if ever.

RVNewsletter · Post by **RVNewsletter** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:43 am

This thread was very valuable -- again -- this weekend when I pulled the partially-completed harness out of the rubble of my hangar and started working on it again.

As usual, nothing comes easy, and I see the instructions make reference to a "polarizing key" that is supplied with this connector. So, of course, I don't have it.

Anybody know a supplier who sells the ICOM connector? So far, my usual sources say they don't stock 'em.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:00 am

Give Pacific Coast Avionics a call. I talked to someone in their parts department who was very knowledgeable on all things Icom. He sent me all the connecters I needed for the Icom I bought on eBay. Which came out of someone's RV, incidentally. He kept all the connectors and mounting tray for his direct-replacement radio he bought.

All that to say, I think they can help you out.

Post by **bullojm1** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:13 am

Bob,

The polarizing key is just a small piece of white plastic. To be honest I didn't use mine. I think its pretty hard to install that connector backwards. If you want one, Let me check my pile of leftovers. I might have an extra one.

RVNewsletter · Post by **RVNewsletter** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:00 pm

That's all it's used for? To keep you from putting it in backwards?

Post by **bullojm1** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:26 pm

RVNewsletter wrote:That's all it's used for? To keep you from putting it in backwards?

What it does is prevent you from putting in the large black plastic molex connector on the back of the tray backwards. When I wired mine up I painted the top of the connector with some White Out so I could write the pin #'s. So its not likely I will get mine reversed.

RVNewsletter · Post by **RVNewsletter** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:25 am

What the heck is the secret to getting these pins OUT? I've tried inserting a wire to push the prong down but no luck (wanted to put some snakeskin I just bought on all the wires.

dons · Post by **dons** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:55 am

Bob, I just use a really small jewelers screw driver to bend the two retaining clips back parallel to the body of the connector pin. I do this by gently pushing the pin into the connector (as if I were trying to insert it) to make sure the retaining tabs are not dug into the connector body. The tiny screw driver is then inserted from the side of the connector where the mating pin would be inserted pushing the retaining tabs back flush with the body of the pin. The pin can then be pulled out with next to no force.

The red arrow is pointing at the retaining tabs that have to be bent back. Once you have it removed, bend them back as shown so the pin will stay in the next time. The above is just generic pin to show the tabs. Hope that helps.

Post by **bullojm1** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:10 pm

Bob-

I took an old small screwdriver and ground it down until it was flat and skinny enough to be inserted into the socket. there wasn't much left on the blade of the screwdriver when I was done, but it did the trick. If you want, I can take a pic of it when I get to the shop tonight.

RVNewsletter · Post by **RVNewsletter** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:01 pm

You know, around midmorning I remembered I worked for the largest public radio station network in the country, with a big engineering department...rows and rows of cabinets with connectors and wire and all sorts of cool stuff. So i brought the harness in and we found just the right sized tool to do the trick.

Got the wires out and remade the jumpers and ground cables .

I don't know if this harness is going to work or not. I'm not sure I entirely understand the PTT wiring on it. I've received some transmissions via the aux headphones but the mic (I'm using one of those plug into the jack PTT switches) just seems to show carrier, but no voice.

I'll get there... eventually.