Assembling, checking and/or re-configuring your Firewire cable
This page provides instructions for configuring our standard 6 pin plug to 2x5 way pin
header firewire cables.
Information you will need
Each wire in the Firewire cable must be connected to the correct pin
on the firewire pin header connector or front panel connection port.
Your equipment manufacturer will include a diagram of the
firewire pin header with a label next to each pin. The table below shows
the symbols used.
Label |
VP,Voltage+or Vcc |
G,GND,Ground |
TPA+ |
TPA- |
TPB+ |
TPB- |
You will need to consult your equipment documentation or the manufacturer's
website where you will find a diagram which labels each pin on the firewire
connector. The cable can then be configured using the instructions below.
Note: The fitting instructions for these cables depend on whether you are
using the cable to install a Firewire device or connect a front panel
firewire port. Please click on one of the links below to select the
appropriate instructions.
Device Connection: click here if you are using the cable to connect a firewire device
Front panel port connection: click here if you are using the cable to connect up a front panel firewire port
Configuring the cables for device connection
If you are using the cable to install a Firewire Device then you should insert the pins
into the connectors so that the wires are connected as shown in the table below.
Wire |
Pin |
White |
VP,Voltage+ or Vcc |
Black |
G,GND,Ground |
Blue |
TPB+ |
Orange |
TPB- |
Green |
TPA+ |
Red |
TPA- |
Your firewire pin headers may also have a pin labelled S-GND or S-ground. If this pin
is present you should connect the extra (slightly thicker)
black wires to this pin. If there is no S-ground pin this wire can be left unconnected.
Once you have inserted the pins into the connectors according to the
above tables you just need to make sure that the connectors are plugged
onto the pin headers in the correct orientation. To do this just make
sure that the white wire is alligned with the pin labelled VP,Voltage+ or Vcc.
Configuring the cables for front panel port connection
If you are using the cable to connect your front panel firewire port to
a standard 6 pin firewire socket then you should insert the pins
into the connectors so that the wires are connected as shown in the table below.
If your case has built in cables you can use the pin header adaptor
that comes with our cable to connect your case cables to our cable. Your case
cables should be labelled Vcc,Gnd,TPA+ ect. Use these labels and the table below to decide how to
connect your case cable to our adaptor cable.
Note
When connecting to built in case cables
do not simply connect the cables
so that the wire colours are matched. You need to use the labels on the TPA and TPB
wires to decide how to connect the cables rather than the wire colour. Depending
on how your case front panel port is wired up you may find that the blue and orange
wires are connected to the red and green. If you use the labels on your wires and
the table below your cable will be wired correctly.
wire |
Pin |
White |
VP,Voltage+ or Vcc |
Black |
G,GND,Ground |
Blue |
TPA+ |
Orange |
TPA- |
Green |
TPB+ |
Red |
TPB- |
Your firewire pin headers may also have a pin labelled S-GND or S-ground. If this pin
is present you should connect the extra (slightly thicker)
black wires to this pin. If there is no S-ground pin this wire can be left unconnected.
Once you have inserted the pins into the connectors according to the
above tables you just need to make sure that the connectors are plugged
onto the pin headers in the correct orientation. To do this just make
sure that the white wire is alligned with the pin labelled VP,Voltage+ or Vcc.
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