Custom Centronics SCSI Cable
- 14-, 24-, 36-, and 50-position Centronics-style configurations
- Metal hood, molded hood and ribbon constructions
- Male-to-male, extension and female-to-female arrangements
- CN50-to-HPDB50, CN50-to-VHDCI68 and CN36-to-DB25 options by approved wiring
- Bail/clip retention and panel clearance review
- Device-specific pin map and protocol confirmation
- Custom length, labels, and OEM packaging
- Continuity, short-circuit, and pin-assignment inspection
Custom Centronics-Style SCSI Cable Assemblies
Large rectangular Centronics-style connectors are easy to recognize and easy to misidentify. A 36-position printer interface, a 50-position SCSI connection, and a proprietary industrial port may look similar while serving different electrical purposes. Contact count and device context must come first.
We manufacture custom Centronics-style assemblies for legacy storage, industrial machines, printers and specialist equipment. Send photos of both mating ports, the device models, the pin count, the gender, and any available pinout. We will confirm whether you need a same-family cable, an extension, a ribbon assembly, or a mixed-connector design. If the original cable name is unreliable, compare the available connector families through our SCSI cable collection before choosing a product group.
Specifications
| Item | Available Configuration |
| Connector family | Centronics-style rectangular ribbon connector |
| Position count | 14, 24, 36 or 50 |
| Gender | Male/female combination matched to equipment |
| Retention | Bail, clip or application-specific panel hardware |
| Construction | Metal hood, molded hood or ribbon harness |
| Second end | Same family, HPDB50, VHDCI68, DB25 or approved custom interface |
| Protocol | SCSI, printer/parallel, or proprietary use must be confirmed |
| Wiring | Straight-through or customer/device-specific pin map |
| Length | Built to the defined installation dimensions |
| Inspection | Continuity, opens/shorts, mapping, and mechanical review |
Click here to learn more about choosing the Centronics SCSI Cable.
Metal-Hood Same-Family Cables
- Matching-position metal-hood configurations.
- Extension configurations
Molded-Hood and Mixed-Interface Cables
Mixed-interface cables change the connector format; they do not automatically convert a protocol. Production requires an approved pin map and compatible equipment.
Ribbon Assemblies
- 36-position ribbon arrangements
- 50-position ribbon arrangements
Count Before You Name It
Do not order a “Centronics cable” from appearance alone. Count the contacts, identify gender and show the equipment label. This quickly separates CN36 printer-style applications, CN50 SCSI use, and less common proprietary interfaces.
Check the Bail and Hood Space
The correct connector must also latch to the equipment. Photograph the port’s bail clips and measure any recessed opening. A bulky metal hood may be robust but unsuitable when the panel clearance is tight.
Cross-Connector Does Not Mean Converter
A CN50-to-HPDB50 or CN50-to-VHDCI68 assembly can route compatible signals between mechanical interfaces. It does not translate incompatible protocols. We build these cables only from equipment documentation or a customer-approved wiring schedule.
What to Send Before We Identify a Centronics-Style Cable
Provide a front and side photograph of each port, the contact count, cable-connector gender, bail or clip arrangement, and the manufacturer and model of both devices. Add the known protocol, pin map, required length, and available hood clearance. If an old cable is present, state whether it is known to work and identify which end connects to each device.
For a 50-position SCSI connection, the 50 Pin SCSI Cable page helps distinguish CN50 from HPDB50 and IDC50. If the opposite port is a half-pitch interface, the SCSI-2 Cable configurations provide a useful mechanical comparison.
No. CN50 is strongly associated with legacy SCSI, but equipment may use a proprietary assignment. Check the device documentation.
No. They have different position counts and do not mate with the same connector.
Yes, when connector genders, retention, signaling, and the pin map are confirmed.
No. It is a passive cable assembly unless the system includes a separate active converter.
Yes. We need the connector order, orientation, spacing, keying, and approved wiring.
Send photos of the port and panel. We can review alternative retention options, but we must agree on the final mechanical arrangement before production.
Yes. Dual identification can help maintenance teams transition to a controlled replacement part.
Yes, subject to quotation. Give each contact count, connector combination, and length a separate part number and quantity.
Yes, when the component is available and appropriate for production. State how substitutions should be controlled.
A normal cable assembly only routes conductors. If the system requires protocol or electrical conversion, document the active hardware separately and do not describe the passive cable as a converter.
Send the cable and lot identification, equipment models, photographs, installation details and symptoms. Keep the affected assembly unmodified for evaluation.
How to Identify a Centronics-Style Connector Before Ordering a Cable
When equipment has been in service for decades, the original cable may be missing, and the port label may be vague. A few observations can greatly improve identification without disassembling the machine.
Photograph the Mating Face Straight On
Use good light and keep the camera level. The image should show every contact, the connector shell and the retention features. Add a ruler for scale, but do not cover the contacts.
Count Positions and Record Gender
Common families include 14, 24, 36, and 50 positions, but verify the exact count. State whether the equipment port has contacts or receptacles and whether the cable plug needs the opposite gender.
Look at Retention
Bail clips, spring latches, and hood shapes affect mechanical fit. Check whether the panel hardware is present and undamaged. If the connector sits behind a cutout, measure the opening and depth.
Identify the Equipment Function
CN36 is often associated with printer interfaces, while CN50 appears on SCSI hardware, but those patterns are not guarantees. Industrial manufacturers have also used these connectors for proprietary I/O. The model number and manual are stronger evidence than connector folklore.
Verify Mixed-Interface Wiring
When the second end is DB25, HPDB50, or VHDCI68, obtain the pin assignment for both devices. A continuity copy from a known-good cable can help, but the drawing must record mating-face views to avoid mirrored numbering.
If you are unsure, send the photographs before purchasing a sample from an unrelated listing. We can help narrow the configuration and list the remaining questions. Honest identification at the start is usually faster than diagnosing a cable that happens to fit.
Confirm the Pin Map View
Centronics-style connector drawings may show the mating face or wiring side. State the view and mark pin 1. For a mixed-interface cable, do the same at both ends and list every connection in a table. This prevents a mechanically correct assembly from being wired as a mirror image.
Check a First Article on the Actual Equipment
During sample approval, confirm full insertion, bail engagement, hood clearance and cable routing. Then test the assembly only on equipment confirmed electrically compatible. Record the drawing revision and the result your team used to approve production.
Make Service Spares Easy to Identify
CN36 printer cables, CN50 SCSI cables, and proprietary assemblies can look similar in storage. Use an individual part number, equipment label, and connector description on each bag. Where a cable is directional, label both ends. These small controls save time when a technician is working on an older machine with limited documentation.
Specify Inspection and Documentation Up Front
Continuity and short-circuit checks verify the approved wiring. Depending on the order, you may also need dimensional inspection, a first-article record, or relevant material documentation. Our quality control process can support the discussion, but you must agree on project-specific records before production.
Use Device Identity to Control Reorders
Legacy equipment records often use informal names such as “printer cable” or “old SCSI lead.” Replace those descriptions with a controlled part number linked to the two device models and approved drawing. If the same connector family appears elsewhere in the facility, add the machine or line reference to the package label, not to the electrical definition. This preserves technical accuracy while helping maintenance staff choose the right spare.
Review Mixed-Interface Assemblies as a System Item
For CN50-to-HPDB50, CN50-to-VHDCI68, or CN36-to-DB25 cables, the two connectors are only one part of the decision. Confirm the signal names, grounds, unused contacts, shield termination, and device compatibility. If an active adapter is present elsewhere in the system, show it separately on the connection diagram. The cable drawing should describe only what the passive assembly actually does.
