Bench Notes › Reference bench
Connector Encyclopedia · 12 entriesPinouts, wiring modes, the mistakes we see most, and a printable bench card for each. All entries are generated from one data file so a correction lands everywhere at once.
Balanced audio. Pin 1 shield, 2 hot, 3 cold.
Intercom headsets and 12 V DC power. Two different jobs, same shell.
DMX lighting control. 120 Ω data cable, never mic cable.
Three contacts, two jobs: balanced mono or stereo. Check the jack.
Unbalanced. Tip signal, sleeve shield.
Four contacts. CTIA vs OMTP swap the last two.
Unbalanced. Center signal, shell shield.
Speaker level only. 1+/1− main pair.
Coax. 75 Ω for video and SDI, 50 Ω for RF.
Lav and headset mics into Shure bodypacks. Manufacturer-specific.
Network, Dante, digital snakes. T568B both ends.
AC power cords. We do not repair these.
No match. Try a family name or ask us to add it.
Each entry lists its standard or manufacturer source and a review line. Manufacturer-specific wirings (Shure TA4F, intercom) are marked as such; nothing here is “universal” unless a standard says so. Mains and high-power connectors are reference only and marked in red.
Tell us the connector and what it is on. We add it to the data file, generate the page, and credit the request. Request an entry.