Custom DB37 Cable
- 37-position, two-row standard-density D-sub interface
- Molded PVC, metal-shell, ribbon, IDC, and bare-wire constructions
- Male-to-male, male-to-female, and female-to-female variants shown below
- Straight-through or customer-defined wiring
- Custom length, shielding, labels, branch geometry, and retention
- DB37-to-4×DB9 passive fan-out built to a host-specific map
- Continuity and short-circuit verification against the approved drawing
Custom DB37 Cable Assemblies for Industrial I/O and Test Systems
A custom DB37 cable provides 37 positions in a standard-density, two-row D-sub interface. The format is used in industrial I/O, test fixtures, data acquisition, control panels, and legacy equipment where many circuits must pass through one retained connector.
DB37 identifies the mechanical interface, not a protocol. The same connector can carry analog channels, digital I/O, control lines, grounds, or a proprietary combination. BespokeCable supplies molded and metal-shell DB37-to-DB37 cables, ribbon and IDC transitions, labeled breakouts, and a DB37-to-DB9 fan-out. Release every custom build against a documented wiring schedule.
DB37 Cable Specifications
| Parameter | Available Choices | Confirmation Needed |
| Main connector | 37-position standard-density D-sub | Plug/receptacle and mating hardware |
| Second end | DB37, IDC, labeled leads, or 4 × DB9 | Exact end and branch arrangement |
| Wiring | 1:1, partially populated, or custom | Complete point-to-point table |
| Cable format | Round multi-core, ribbon, or fan-out | Flexibility, routing, and enclosure use |
| Hood | PVC molded or metal shell | Clearance and shield-bonding method |
| Shield | Unshielded or project-defined foil/braid | Termination and grounding plan |
| Length | Custom | Measurement datum and tolerance |
| Identification | End labels, conductor IDs, branch IDs | Exact text, color, and position |
| Verification | Continuity and shorts | Additional resistance/insulation criteria |
The approved quotation and drawing define final materials, dimensions, electrical limits, and compliance requirements.
For a different contact count, compare the D-Sub cable families before fixing the panel interface.
Click here to find more information about: What is a DB37 Cable?
1# PVC-Molded DB37 Cables
P/N: BC-CBD009-MMP
Molded male-to-male DB37 assembly for two female ports. Confirm whether every position is wired 1:1 or follows an equipment-specific map.
P/N: BC-CBD009-MFP
Male-to-female molded DB37 cable for a documented extension or equipment link. Verify the pinout and retention hardware.
P/N: BC-CBD009-FFP
Female-to-female molded DB37 assembly for two male mating interfaces. Connector gender does not imply a null modem or serial pinout.
2# Metal-Shell DB37 Cables
P/N: BC-CBD009-MMM
Serviceable male-to-male DB37 build for projects needing a metal hood, a defined shield connection, or access to the terminations.
P/N: BC-CBD009-MFM
Male-to-female DB37 cable with metal hoods. Specify shield termination, cable diameter, panel clearance, and exact mapping.
P/N: BC-CBD009-FFM
Female-to-female metal-shell assembly for two male ports, wired to the released drawing rather than an assumed crossover.
3# DB37 Ribbon Cable
P/N: BC-CBD009-MMRF
Male-to-male ribbon assembly for internal chassis routing where conductor order and a low profile matter more than an overall round-cable shield.
P/N: BC-CBD009-MFRF
Male-to-female ribbon DB37 link for documented internal or panel transitions. Confirm pin 1 orientation and connector view.
P/N: BC-CBD009-FFRF
Female-to-female ribbon assembly for two male mating interfaces inside the equipment, built to the approved conductor sequence.
4# IDC to DB37 Cable
P/N: BC-CBD009-FMGF
IDC-header to male DB37 transition for an internal board-to-panel link. Supply header positions, pitch, keying, pin-1 orientation, and unused contacts.
P/N: BC-CBD009-FFGF
IDC header to female DB37 assembly for a documented board or backplane transition. The IDC-to-D-sub map must be explicit.
5# DB37 Breakout Cable
P/N: BC-CBD009-MT
Male DB37 fan-out with identified conductors for terminal blocks, PLC I/O, test fixtures, or custom field termination.
P/N: BC-CBD009-FT
Female DB37 to labeled open conductors. Specify fan length, strip dimensions, ferrules or lugs, and shield/drain finish.
6# DB37 to DB9 Fan-Out
P/N: BC-CBD009-M4M
Passive DB37-to-4×DB9 breakout for equipment with a documented channel map. It distributes existing circuits and does not create serial ports.
Match the DB37 Format to the Installation
The DB37 family includes jacketed cables, metal-shell assemblies, ribbon constructions, IDC transitions, and open-ended breakouts. Choose the format for the installation task. A protected internal header connection has different needs from a handled equipment lead or a harness that ends at terminal blocks.
The two-row 37-position D-sub is commonly designated DC-37. Confirm its contact layout and mating hardware rather than selecting from contact count alone. Where the port is recessed, include the surrounding panel in the mechanical review so the hood can reach and fasten correctly.
Keep IDC Numbering Separate From D Sub Numbering
A ribbon-to-IDC transition requires a deliberate mapping between two numbering systems. The conductor sequence across a ribbon does not automatically match the contact numbering on a D-sub connector. Header keying and mating-face versus termination-side views can also change how you read a drawing.
Identify pin 1 at both ends and specify the exact IDC connector and orientation. Mark unused positions explicitly where the header has more positions than the required circuit count. This information is particularly important when reproducing a harness from a photograph rather than an original drawing.
Make Breakout Wires Usable at the Destination
An open-ended DB37 cable needs more than just an overall length. Each wire may need a signal label, a controlled tail length, a strip length, and a termination suited to the destination terminal. A harness that arrives in the correct colors can still be difficult to install if the tails cannot reach their assigned positions.
Provide the terminal layout or a branch drawing when space is constrained. We can review the breakout geometry with the connection schedule so the finished assembly supports the intended wiring sequence, rather than requiring avoidable field rework.
Treat a DB9 Fan Out as Wiring Rather Than Extra Ports
A DB37-to-DB9 harness distributes defined circuits to several connectors. It does not generate additional communication channels or convert the signals carried by the main port. The equipment behind the DB37 must already provide the required functions.
Name each branch and specify the contacts used at every DB9. Do not assign a standard serial map simply because a branch has nine positions. For test equipment or proprietary controls, branch labels and endpoint documents are the reliable basis for keeping channels distinct.
Send equipment and mating-connector part numbers, gender, complete pinout, cable format, length/tolerance, quantity, shield/hood requirements, branch or terminal details, labels, and inspection-document needs.
Often, yes, from a controlled drawing, a verified continuity table, or a known-good sample. Identify the equipment revision and any intermittent faults in the sample.
State the overall datum and separately define the exposed fan length, branch length, and any stagger. Include tolerances where fit is critical.
Related Products
An Inspection Plan for a Multi-Branch DB37 Harness
Give every branch an inspection identity
Before building the pilot, agree on branch names that match the equipment schematic. Use those names in the drawing, cable labels, and test record. “Left lead” and “second connector” can become ambiguous when you turn the harness around on the inspection bench.
For ribbon and IDC versions, include an orientation image or drawing with the inspection record. A continuity table without a clear connector view can be read incorrectly even when the numbers themselves are accurate.
Verify intended connections and intended isolation
The acceptance plan should cover all populated paths, not a handful of convenient contacts. It should also identify open positions and any circuits that must remain separate. This is important where repeated wire colors or multiple branches make a swap hard to spot visually.
Agree on the scope of electrical inspection before quotation. Continuity and short-circuit checks establish wiring correctness; specialized electrical or system tests need their own method, equipment, and acceptance criteria.
Finish with the installed harness
Fit the sample to the real routing and confirm that branch lengths reach without tension. Check whether labels remain readable and whether you can remove a connector without disturbing neighboring branches.
Record corrections before releasing production. With that accepted drawing and test definition, incoming inspection can verify later lots consistently, and an installation issue can be traced to a specific branch rather than investigated as an undifferentiated 37-contact cable.
