LCD FLEX CALBLE to short - plz help!

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i bought the compaq 5000s and an old projector off ebay...
i made a power supply for the lcd using a atx power supply from my old computer, and now im all set up besides one flat flex cable is to short.

i looked all over online and couldn't find it, i went to local stores and they had no clue.

i saw people have had similar problems , i need to know where to find an extension!!!!

i found this post but it doesnt really help
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23007&highlight=

please help
 
FFC (flat flexible cable)

Like just about everybody, you seem to have a problem with a short FFC (flat flexible cable). They're not going to be easily found in retail stores, but then again, most things in a project of this sort aren't. Although, if you would've browsed around these forums a little more, you probably could've found a little more information, for example, numerous links to mouser.com, or lumenlab.com store, which do both have the cable you're looking for. The important thing is to count how many pins, or connectors yours has -if its not too simple, try using a flashlight; everything but the connectors on the cable should be transparent, and once you do that, search around a little more for links talking about such FFC cables and ZIF connectors. There's alot more information on these threads than what you found, and most people are pretty hesitant to answer questions that have been asked just 3-4 posts prior, so please, search before you post. That aside, don't break anything (i.e. the cables connecting the control boards to the TFT (Bad!!)) and keep trying. Good luck.
 
Thanks, I wish i knew they are called FFC i woulda been able to find alot more info yesterday😀
Big Grin

From doing searches and looking at the wire i belive i need a Molex FFC (vertical) ZIP SMT

i am unsure what vertical, ZIP, and SMT mean, and could not find that information or even if its what i need:xeye:
xeye

I have picked Mouser.com because i read that they ship right away.
Here is a list of what i think i need

a) Molex .50mm FFC/FPC Connectors
VERTICAL SMT ZIF 22P FFC/FPC
link

b) Molex .50mm FFC/FPC Connectors
6" JUMPER 20 CIRCUIT
link
c) Molex .50mm FFC/FPC Connectors
RA SMT ZIF TOP 20P
link

i am unsure which i need, i think ab or bc. i know i need the wire extension and clasp. if i were to buy from lumenlabs i would ge the FC20P FFC Extension 20 Pin, so basically im trying to find the same thing on mouser.com.

THANKS!!!:hot::hot::hot:
 
SMT ZIF FFC TOP USA USSR NRA, and other abbreviations

I also have no clue as to what SMT, or ZIF means, but apparently its what we're looking for, but I'm pretty sure vertical means that it's designed to connect to FFCs to eachother, not to a board.

I'm going to be placing a very similar order to, but 18 pins instead, and I'm pretty sure you're going to need AB, as described above, but 20p, not 22p which is what you posted. Good luck, and again, don't break anything.
 
The VERTICAL SMT ZIF 20P has been Discontinued. Can i use VERTICAL SMT ZIF 22P FFC/FPC on my 20P cable?
(Is this the clasp peice?)

Can i use one of these instead:

RA SMT ZIF TOP 20P
FPC ZIF SMT HSG 20
RA SMT ZIF BOTTOM 20 - RoHS non-compliant/CONTAINS Pb

i have no idea what the diffrence is.. or any clue where to find that information.

any info will HELP thanks!!
 
SMT is "Surface Mount Technology" - that's the method that would normally be used to mount it to a PCB. As we only need to use them as a clasp then it doesn't matter if it's SMT or not (chances are they're all SMT anyway).

Vertical just means that if it was mounted to a board that the wire would stick out at 90 degrees, horizontal would be a flat connection. As we're using them as a clasp we don't care about direction.

ZIF means "Zero Insertion Force", this means that you don't have to apply any force to get the cable in the connector and that you clamp it once inserted. This is important, you don't want to be breaking your delicate cables.

I wouldn't recommend using the wrong size connector even as a clasp, the wires are very close together and without the accuracy of a proper connector I'd imagine it would be extremely hard to line all the wires up.

Basically any connector will do, but get one that's the correct size and preferably ZIF, it'll make you're life a lot easier in the long run.

When you're looking at cables remember that you need to put 2 cables into one connector back to back, it's important that you get the correct type of cable so that you don't invert the order of the wires. If you're not sure then buy a couple, if needs be you can extend it twice to invert it back to the same order. Messy but it works!
 
okay so i ordered:

538-21020-0215 21020-0215
Molex .50mm FFC/FPC Connectors
6" JUMPER 20 CIRCUIT

538-52745-2090 52745-2090
Molex .50mm FFC/FPC Connectors
RA SMT ZIF TOP 20P

i hope thats what i need, thanks for the info guys !!
 
FFC connector

Vertical or horizontal (Right Angle) does not matter, nor does SMT, since you will not be using the actual solder contacts. What does matter is the type of locking mechanism. The vertical ZIF sockets use a lock piece that is pushed in to hold the cable(s).

Some other FFC connectors use a hinged flap with tiny locking hooks. Those will not work for this application (two cables) because they break too easily. If the connector you ordered has a hinged flap, then you need to find the other type.

BTW: Since you put the cables in the connector from one side with their contacts facing each other, the signal order does not get inverted.
 
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