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I was mucking around inside a 35mm film scanner that isn't working and I think I made things worse.
When I opened the case, a ribbon cable pulled out of its socket. What is weird (at least to me) is that is doesn't have a male plug - the ribbon was just inserted into the female socket. However, it must have been fastened in somehow, because when I put the cable back into the socket, it is way too loose and won't stay in. BTW, the other ribbon cables in the unit are constructed in the same manner.
Has anyone seen this kind of connection before? Was it glued in? Any ideas for what can I do now?
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Glue it back in, if it works that is. If not just toss it.
I have seen some cable connections glued in. Cheap constuction and/or space constrants.
Carm
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the top of the connector on the board should be able to be pushed down into the connector, releasing pressure on the contacts, allowing the ribbon cable to be more easily inserted.
Well, most are that way. Some you just have to force in. Some can have their top plastics lifted to release pressure. (iBook keyboard cables are like this, only they're true ribbon cables and have a hard piece of plastic with the contacts to make things easier. Not all companies plan for ease of repair).
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oops read to fast, what grim said. Take a closer look at the female connector.
Also some ribbon cables, like the ones in Apple's keyboard are held in play with pressure, no place to insert the cable, just downward pressure.
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The non-removable cable 'connectors' usually have a little cover that snaps onto the sides to hold the cable onto the connector. If you yanked the cable off, that top went flying somewhere.
If it 's a flat 'non-wire' ribbon cable it still had a cover or lock, or, it slides into the connector rather than lay on top.
If it was glued in, there would be evidence of glue/silicone/adhesive.
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Some ribbons look like they're made out of very thin ribbed plastic with contacts painted onto the ends. They just fit into the female socket using a little pressure and are held in place by friction.
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Thank you to all who responded; I was finally able to insert the ribbon all of the way into the socket by disassembling part of the chassis and changing the angle of the cable.
