Custom DB50 Cable
- 50-position, three-row standard-density D-sub interface
- PVC-molded and serviceable metal-shell gender combinations
- Male or female DB50 to identified bare-wire ends
- 1:1, partially populated, mixed-gauge, or custom wiring by review
- Custom length, hood, shield termination, labels, and packaging
- Drawing control for populated, reserved, and deliberately open contacts
- Full continuity and short-circuit inspection to the approved map
A custom DB50 cable carries up to 50 circuits through a three-row standard-density D-sub connector, more precisely identified in traditional shell nomenclature as DD50. It is used in automated test equipment, motion-control interfaces, data-acquisition racks, and legacy systems that consolidate many signals into one removable connection.
The 50-position connector does not guarantee a serial, parallel, or SCSI pinout. BespokeCable supplies molded and metal-shell DB50-to-DB50 cables plus male or female DB50-to-bare-wire assemblies. Define gender, circuit map, current allocation, shield bond, retention, and labels in a released production drawing.
For neighboring D-sub contact counts, review the D-Sub cable collection; the mating layout must still match your port.
DB50 Cable Specifications
| Parameter | Available Choices | Confirmation Needed |
| Main connector | 50-position standard-density D-sub (DD50 family) | Mating part and face view |
| Second end | DB50 or labeled bare wires | Gender or open-end preparation |
| Wiring | 1:1, partial, mixed-gauge, or custom | 50-row connection schedule |
| Conductors | Selected by circuit requirement | Signal groups, continuous/peak current |
| Hood | Molded PVC or metal shell by model | Cable OD, clamp range, panel clearance |
| Shield | Project-defined | Shell/drain bond and grounding plan |
| Length | Custom (or 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 m) | Face-to-face datum and tolerance |
| Identification | End labels and individual wire IDs | Text, position, revision, serialization |
| Verification | Continuity, shorts, reserved opens | Resistance/insulation/report needs |
The approved quotation and drawing define final materials, dimensions, current limits, environmental ratings, and compliance requirements.
If you are looking for an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial, please refer to our blog post: How to Install the DB50 Cable?
1# PVC-Molded DB50 Cables
P/N: BC-CBD011-MMP
Molded male-to-male DB50 cable for two female interfaces, produced to an approved 50-contact schedule rather than an assumed universal pinout.
P/N: BC-CBD011-MFP
Male-to-female molded DB50 assembly for an equipment link or extension when both connector hardware and wiring map are confirmed.
P/N: BC-CBD011-FFP
Female-to-female molded DD50 cable for two male mating ports. Gender does not define protocol, crossover, or signal direction.
2# Metal-Shell DB50 Cables
P/N: BC-CBD011-MMM
Male-to-male DB50 assembly with serviceable metal hoods for projects needing defined shield termination or field access.
P/N: BC-CBD011-MFM
Male-to-female metal-shell DB50 cable. Specify the 50-position map, shell bond, cable diameter, hood clearance, and retention.
P/N: BC-CBD011-FFM
Female-to-female metal-shell DB50 assembly for two male ports, wired to the released schedule rather than an assumed null-modem layout.
3# DB50 to Bare Wire
P/N: BC-CBD011-MT
Male DB50 fan-out with identified loose conductors for terminals, custom PCBs, ATE fixtures, or repair harnesses.
P/N: BC-CBD011-FT
Female DB50 to labeled bare wires. Define fan length, strip/tin dimensions, ferrules or lugs, and shield/drain finish.
Identify the DD50 D Sub Rather Than Any 50 Pin Connector
This page covers the 50-position D-sub, commonly called DB50 and technically designated DD-50. Other 50-position connector families have different shells, spacing, and retention. A request for a “50-pin cable” is therefore not enough to select the mating interface.
Provide a front-view photograph or connector part number. If your equipment uses a 50 Pin SCSI interface, start with the 50 Pin SCSI Cable family and confirm its specific connector construction. Contact count alone does not establish interchangeability.
Choose a Finished Lead or a Bare Wire Harness
Molded and metal-shell DB50 assemblies provide completed D-sub connections, while bare-wire versions support equipment-specific termination. The preferred format depends on handling needs, available space, and how the cable will integrate into the system.
For a breakout, specify each conductor’s destination and end treatment. Include the usable tail length after the outer jacket ends, not just the overall assembly length. For a finished lead, confirm hood dimensions and retention hardware so the cable can mate and secure in the intended enclosure.
Allocate Loads and Returns Deliberately
A DB50 connector can carry a mix of signals in a custom design, but fifty positions don’t create a universal electrical rating. The duties assigned to each contact, the connector specifications, and the cable construction determine what is acceptable.
Identify any supply circuits, return paths, and sensitive signals in the connection schedule. Avoid treating an overall shield as a substitute for a designed signal return. Where different wire sizes or screened groups are required, review the resulting bundle and hood capacity before committing to the mechanical layout.
Manage Shielding for the Measurement or Control System
Test fixtures and multi-channel equipment may need careful separation of signal groups and a defined grounding arrangement. An overall foil or braid can be part of that design, but it does not guarantee that all fifty paths are isolated from each other or immune to surrounding equipment.
Specify required pairs, screens, and shell bonds using the system design. Describe the cable route and neighboring electrical equipment. For a sensitive measurement path, agree on how performance will be evaluated in the actual system, rather than assuming continuity testing proves measurement accuracy.
Provide mating connector references, both genders, a 50-row connection/load schedule, length/tolerance, quantity, hood, shield treatment, open-end preparation, labels, and inspection-document requirements.
Often, yes, from a verified drawing or known-good sample. Document the equipment revision and known sample faults so they aren’t copied.
Yes. Provide the terminal part number or dimensions, crimp requirements, strip length, label list, and fan-out geometry.
Yes. Supply the part number, revision, serial format, barcode content, label material, placement, and packaging sequence.
Related Products
Reviewing a DB50 Harness Before It Reaches the Test Fixture
Check the connection schedule as a complete set
Review every used contact and every intentional open position. Give the destination a meaningful reference rather than listing only colors. In a fifty-position harness, a clear circuit identity is more useful during maintenance than several repeated color combinations.
Have the equipment owner resolve any disagreement between an old sample and the current schematic. A sample may reflect a previous machine revision, an undocumented repair, or a fault.
Use the first article to check access and routing
Install the cable as the technician will, including any clamp, fixture cover, or protective sleeve. Confirm that the connector can be fastened without twisting the bundle and that the breakout tails reach their terminal positions with reasonable service access.
Where the harness connects to a fixture, establish how to disconnect and replace it without disturbing neighboring circuits. This can influence label placement and branch geometry even when the electrical map is unchanged.
Keep cable inspection separate from fixture qualification
Specify continuity, isolation between intended circuits, and workmanship checks appropriate to the assembly. If additional electrical measurements are required, define their method and limits before ordering.
Then qualify the complete fixture with the accepted sample. Record the cable revision used for that test. When a later measurement problem occurs, this record helps the team distinguish an assembly mismatch from a change in the fixture, instrument, or test procedure.
