When it comes to ribbon cable assemblies, most project managers ask what kind of cable assembly they should use for their project? Either they should go for IDC ribbon cable assembly or crimp cable assembly? There is no hard and fast rule for selecting IDC cable assembly, depending on your requirements and project needs. CLOOM Tech offers custom IDC cable assembly and wiring harness manufacturing.
As the top IDC ribbon cable assembly manufacturer in China, educate businesses and project teams about the best suitable wiring options.
In this article, we will discuss everything in detail related to IDC ribbon cable assembly manufacturing.
1. Common Ribbon Cables Specifications
If we compare the production cost and other factors with other ribbon cables, the IDC ribbon cable assembly is more comfortable to manufacture and less expensive. The production time for IDC ribbon cables manufacturing is less than many other technical cable assemblies. At the same time, the CLOOM Tech team can create dozens of IDC ribbon cable assembly and connectors.
The manufacturers do not have to strip the cable’s insulation before the termination, and it saves a lot of time and manufacturing costs. With the latest IDC ribbon cables equipment and tools, we have offered the most affordable cables assemblies in the Chinese market. As IDC ribbon cable assembly requires no crimping or soldering, the production team can act more effectively.
You don’t need to use any advanced or complicated device to terminate the IDC ribbon cable assembly, and any simple tool or even an essential hand press can do the job in IDC cables. You don’t need to invest in any new workforce for the termination of IDC ribbon cables.
IDC ribbon cable assembly is not a new term in the electrical field, and engineers and manufacturers have been using IDC ribbon cable assembly since 1950. Due to the wide applications and acceptability of the IDC ribbon cable assembly, we offer different designs and manufacturing options in IDC ribbon cables.
2. Advantages of Ribbon Cables
The increasing need for advanced cables for better transmission power in various appliances and projects requires modern solutions. There are several advantages of IDC ribbon cable assemblies that are an attraction for engineers in custom projects. Standard cable assemblies seem to be inappropriate due to custom design and size limitations.
Here are some significant benefits of using IDC ribbon cable assemblies for your project or appliance.
·The flexibility of the Use
The IDC ribbon cable assembly seems to be the best option for projects where you have limited space. Engineers find IDC ribbon cable assemblies more practical in custom projects as they can use these flexible assemblies in any project.
· Termination of the IDC ribbon cable
In different cable assemblies, terminating the meetings is an important step. Some cable assemblies are easy to manufacture, but you have to use advanced tools and equipment for the termination. You don’t need to do any prior insulation piercing; you can quickly get immediate termination with a simple hand press.
· Efficient transmission
Due to the use of quality materials in IDC ribbon cable assemblies, the current flows smoothly, and there are less leakage and wastage of power. With the greater current carrying capacity of the IDC ribbon cable assemblies, you get the wirings’ performance in less space.
3. Applications of the IDC Ribbon Cable Assemblies
The IDC ribbon cable assemblies are most suitable for the wiring in tiny spaces. IDC ribbon cables are perfect for data and power transmission for smaller equipment like computing devices and other tiny appliances. For medical devices and other testing devices, these ribbon cables act as a connector between different equipment.
4. IDC Ribbon Cable Assembly Process
In this section, we will assemble an IDC ribbon cable assembly with the help of two IDC connectors. This process of making cable assembly is only for DIY activity. At CLOOM Tech, we have trained teams of professionals to manufacture state-of-the-art IDC ribbon cable assemblies.
You need to start the process by cutting a piece of ribbon cable of any required length. You can reduce the part of any period as per your custom requirements. As you will also use the connectors for the assembly, try to cut a little longer wire. Before connecting the connectors, ensure that you have identified the Pin 1 and line up the connector with the cable pins accordingly.
It would help if you also focused on the direction of the cable as both connectors must be facing the same direction. Once you have adjusted the connectors and the cable lines, press the clip so hard that it starts to clamp the cable. Once you feel that the thread fits the connector perfectly, you are good to go with your IDC ribbon cable assembly.
5. Checking the Components
If your manufacturer has delivered your IDC ribbon cable parts, ensure that they have proper testing labs and all the details provided after a quality check. At CLOOM Tech, we have strict quality assurance standards, and every product undergoes these stringent tests before shipment. Once you have your delivery, you can check the parts for possible damage. If you end up using any damaged component in your project, it can affect the overall working of the project.
6.Color coding of the IDC Ribbon Cable
As there are several lines on the cables, it can be hard to manage the connectors and the wires in the same manner. There are specific color schemes for the wires, and these color codes reduce the risk of reverse connection of the IDC cables. There is a universal rule that the edge with the red stripe goes with pin 1. As you know that there are universal resistor color codes, the same color-coding goes for IDC ribbon cable assemblies. The brown color is for odd-numbered pins, and the red ones are for the even pins.
7.Cable Assembly Parts
The typical IDC ribbon cable assembly has some common elements that go with almost every design. To make the IDC ribbon cable, you need a ribbon cable of the length as per your project needs and two same IDC connectors. And to make an IDC ribbon cable, some extra tools like scissors to cut the wires machine for the termination of the wires.
8.Assembling the IDC Ribbon Cable
Once everything is ready, like the parts and the tools for manufacturing the IDC ribbon cable assemblies, the next step is to start making the IDC ribbon cable. If you are trying to establish a project where you need to use the IDC ribbon cables, CLOOM Tech can be your perfect partner. We specialize in manufacturing custom cables and wiring harnesses for the Chinese and the international market.
We are one of the top custom wiring harnesses and cable assembly manufacturers in China. If you ever need a trusted team to meet your custom needs, our team is always ready to serve your custom wiring needs. As we have described everything in detail regarding the advantages and manufacturing of the IDC cable assemblies, it’s time to make the right decision.
9.CLOOM Tech- IDC Ribbon Cable Assembly Manufacturer
Your business needs your full attention to meet your future goals. To meet the market needs and to beat the competition, you need to focus on what matters. Setting up the IDC ribbon cable assembly manufacturing unit seems like a good idea, and we support your opinion.
But if you look deeper, you will realize that it is a complicated process, and you should leave it to the experts. Only an expert team can meet the custom needs for the wiring harnesses and the ribbon cable assemblies. No matter what kind of project you are working on, you can always turn to ribbon cable assemblies if you ever need to save space in energy transmission.
Conclusion
From choosing the correct cable assembly to selecting the right cable manufacturing company, we try to bring the best options for you. These components seem like more minor ingredients, but your project heavily depends upon these components. If something goes wrong with a single wire in your appliance, it can cause havoc for your project and the device.
With project analysis and choosing the best cable assemblies for your appliances. have any queries, you can get back to us at any time, and our customer support will contact you as soon as possible.
FAQs
How do you connect a ribbon cable to an IDC connector? ›
Insert the cable into the IDC connector between the body of the connector and the plastic clip. Line up the end of the ribbon cable with the body of the connector so that it does not stick out past the body of the connector.
What is IDC ribbon cable? ›IDC is an acronym for Insulation Displacement Contact or Connector. That name also describes the way the contact makes connection to the cable conductor. The rear of the connector, where the cable connection is located, has two rows of twin fork shapes. Each of these shapes has sharp points and a U channel between.
What is IDC cable used for? ›IDC is generally used for mass termination for flat or ribbon cables.
How does IDC connector work? ›“An insulation-displacement contact (IDC), also known as insulation-piercing contact (IPC), is an electrical connector designed to be connected to the conductor(s) of an insulated cable by a connection process which forces a selectively sharpened blade or blades through the insulation, bypassing the need to strip the ...
How do you assemble a ribbon cable? ›Slide the new ribbon cable into the connector or attach the connector itself. If the connector is still in the clip, orient the new ribbon cable to slide into the old connector. Turn it so the colors and pins line up with the old cable. Gently slide the cable into the connector until it clicks.
What gauge is IDC ribbon cable? ›The PVC insulated family of cables is available in various center spacings (30, 28, 26, 24, 22 and 18 AWG conductor sizes for a wide range of applications).
What gauge is IDC cable? ›flat ribbon cable and IDC sockets. Connections are made to most of Mosaic's embedded controllers and I/O boards using 26 AWG or 28 AWG flat ribbon cable with 0.05" pitch (wire spacing). The boards specify 24-pin headers (2 rows by 12 contacts) using 0.1" (2.54 mm) spacing.
What pitch is IDC cable? ›0787") Pitch IDC Connectors, Terminals, and Sockets.
Are IDC connectors reusable? ›These connectors are not designed to be reusable, but can often be re-used if care is taken when removing the cable.
Why do we use IDC connectors for flat ribbon cable? ›IDC connectors provide a very easy method for creating cables. Particularly those types used with computer ribbon cable provide a very fast, reliable and easy way of assembling and connecting a connector to its cable.
What tool would you use when working with an IDC? ›
Termination tool – for the termination of cables and jumpers with blocks. It has a wire hook that allows for the easy removal of wires from IDC connectors. Punch down tool – allows you to punch down cables into an IDC terminal. Crimp tool – for joining two pieces of metal, or wire, together.
What is IDC termination method? ›Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) termination is the recommended method of copper termination recognized by ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A for UTP cable terminations. Commonly called punch-down connections, these connections require the use of a small punch-down tool to properly secure the cable to terminal block.
How do you open an IDC connector? ›It's held on pretty tight (one of the things that make IDC connectors so stable and secure), but it's easily damaged, so try to be gentle as you remove it. Grasp the cap between your thumb and forefinger and rock it back and forth until it begins to work its way up and out of the IDC prongs.
What is the full form of IDC? ›Institutional Development Cell (IDC)
What does IDC mean in telecommunication? ›About IDC. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets.
What are the uses of ribbon cable? ›Ribbon cables are usually used as interconnects for internal peripherals in computers, such as hard drives, CD drives, and floppy drives. On some older computer systems they were also used for external connections.
What is the color code for ribbon cable? ›The colors of rainbow ribbon cable are used to make conductor identification easier. The cables follow the standard color code of brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, gray, white, and black. After that, the colors repeat.
What are ribbon cable connectors called? ›ZIF connectors are used to secure delicate ribbon cables, such as FFC (flat flex cables) or FPC (flexible printed circuit) cables. As the name implies, no force is needed to plug in or remove the cable.
How do you identify ribbon cable pitch? ›To measure the pitch of a ribbon cable, measure the cable from outside-edge to outside-edge of the cable, then divide by the number of conductors. Ribbon cable conductors are also called “ways.” This means that a ribbon cable with eight conductors would be called 8-way ribbon cable.
How much current can a ribbon cable take? ›A single 28 AWG (or in your case 36/7 stranded) wire can conservatively handle 1.4A by itself. 500 mA is much lower. 3M also finds 1.5 Amps as a max for their ribbon cable, as a derated to 30 Degree over ambient temperature rise.
What is the bend radius of ribbon cable? ›
The bend radius for coaxial ribbon cables shall not be less than six (6) insulated wire diameters short-term, ten (10) diameters long-term. Flat and ribbon cables shall not be creased, folded or bent less than three (3) insulated wire diameters (short-term). The recommended long-term bend radius is ten (10) diameters.
How durable are ribbon cables? ›High-stress environments can degrade and fatigue cables over time. In such applications, ribbon power cables outlast standard power cables. The flex life of ribbon cable is 100 times longer than that of round cable, and ribbon cable is one-fourth the weight of round cable.
How tall is IDC connector? ›JST's KR series wire-to-board IDC connectors feature a mounted height as low as 6.9 mm and a thickness as thin as 4.8 mm. It is suitable for a wide range of electronic applications such as Blu-ray disc players, gaming consoles, and communication equipment.
What are cable zones? ›Put simply, a cable safe zone is a space in which a cable can be installed in such a position that it is not liable to be damaged by impact, abrasion or penetration. Current wiring regulations. The current wiring regulations sections 522.6.
What devices connect to ribbon cable? ›Ribbon cables are usually seen for internal peripherals in computers, such as hard drives, CD drives and floppy drives. On some older computer systems (such as the BBC Micro and Apple II series) they were used for external connections as well.
How many pins are in a IDE ribbon cable? ›The two most common types of IDE ribbon cables are the 34-pin cable used for floppy drives and the 40-pin cable for hard drives and optical drives.
Can you splice a ribbon cable? ›Ribbon cables also enable mass-fusion splicing, whereby each 12-fiber ribbon can be spliced in a single, straightforward procedure. This facilitates fast network installation and restoration after cable cuts.
What is the purpose of ribbon cables? ›Ribbon cabling is used for data transmission and communications. It is often chosen for computer cable applications, where it is used as internal wiring for hard drives, CD drives, and more. Ribbon cables are also commonly used as internal wiring for other electronics and appliances.
What are ribbon cables called? ›This type of cable is mostly used in electronic systems that require multiple data buses to link internal peripherals, such as disk drives to their respective drive controllers. Ribbon cables are also known as multiplanar cables.
Which connectors use IDC termination? ›Ribbon cable connectors: One of the most widely used formats with which IDC technology is used is for ribbon cable connector solutions. The ribbon cable connectors can be used for variety of different interfaces.
How do I open an IDC connector? ›
It's held on pretty tight (one of the things that make IDC connectors so stable and secure), but it's easily damaged, so try to be gentle as you remove it. Grasp the cap between your thumb and forefinger and rock it back and forth until it begins to work its way up and out of the IDC prongs.
What are the 4 wires in a phone line? ›Most telephone wire are one or more twisted pairs of copper wire. The most common type is the 4-strand (2 twisted pair). This consists of red and green wires, which makes a pair, and yellow and black wires, which makes the other pair. One telephone wire line needs only two wires.