At 12:08 PM 8/15/2006, John Ferrell wrote: >Is there a source for 2.5mm 3C plugs? >They are used for cell phone headsets. Cordless phones sometimes >have jacks as well. I use one a lot, especially if I am going to be >on the phone a while. They are the common failure point for these devices. > >DigiKey shows only 2c in their catalog. I'm sure that I can source them new but I haven't needed to. I purchased a large quantity of "universal" hands-free units for cell-phones a while back (the kind that have a single ear-bud with a dangling bump containing the electret mic, with the cable dangling from the mic). I simply cut the cable at the mic bump and use that. However, I'm also pretty good at recycling dud connectors. Cut away the plastic, unsolder the old wires, re-connect the new wires, heatshrink with FIT-300 dual wall heatshrink tubing. Not as pretty as the original but easily as reliable. I usually make the signal conductors longer than the shield conductor: the idea is that there is much more strength in the shield (way more wire). Twist the shield conductors together, tin right up to where the shield comes out of the jacket, cut VERY short (about 1.5mm). Leave the signal conductors fairly long (8mm or so). Solder the shield to the large part of the connector (where the cover would thread onto if it were not a molded connector). Solder the signal conductors to the appropriate pins. Fold the signal conductors tight against their respective pins, shrink dual-wall (FIT-300) heatshrink tubing. Bend heatshink tubing to desired shape (while still hot and soft) if this needs to be a right-angle connector. dwayne -- Dwayne Reid Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax Celebrating 22 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2006) .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .- `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' Do NOT send unsolicited commercial email to this email address. This message neither grants consent to receive unsolicited commercial email nor is intended to solicit commercial email. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist