The most common use for the D-Sub 9 was as a Serial connector, it was also used as a video connection and for joysticks / game controllers. This connection has largely been replaced by USB.

Because this connection was used for many different applications there are several different wiring specs. It is always worth double checking the wiring to ensure you receive the correct cable.

We stock a selection of cables and adapters including:

• EX-012-* - DE-9 Male to Male Cable – Straight Through
• SL-904 – DE-9 Male to Female – Null Modem
• SL-50* – DE-9 Female to DB-25 Male - Serial Laser Printer Cable

D-Sub 15 connectors were often used as joystick connectors on the PC as well as many older game consoles. This connection has largely fallen out of use and has been replaced by USB.

We stock a small range of adapters and soldered connectors including:

• AD-111 - Low Density D15 (M) to (M) Slimline Gender Changer
• AD-112 - Low Density D15 (F) to (F) Slimline Gender Changer
• CN-120 - D15 Male Connector (Solder Type)

The D-Sub 25 connector was used for a number of different applications including SCSI, Serial and Parallel. This connection has largely been replaced by more modern standards including USB and SAS.

We stock a range of cables and adapters including:

• SL-1** - D25 (M) to D25 (M) Serial Cable, All Lines
• SL-905 - 2m D25 (F) to D25 (F) Null Modem Cable
• AD-104 - D25 (M) to D25 (M) Slimline Gender Changer

The 36-Pin Centronics port is also known as IEEE 1284. It allowed bi-directional parallel communication between computers and devices, usually printers.

The standard configuration for a Parallel printer cable was a DB25 connector connected to the host computer and a 36-Pin Centronics connector connected to the printer.

We stock a range of 36-Pin Centronics cables and adapters including:

• IE-1** - D25 (M) to 36 Centronic (M) IEEE 1284 Printer Cable
• PC-1** - D25 (M) to 36 Centronic (M) Parallel Printer Cable
• CDLSB-903 - USB to Parallel Printer Cable

The Half-Pitch Centronics 36 connector is also commonly referred to as a 36-Pin Mini / Micro Centronics connector. It is the IEEE 1284 Type C connector and often used to connect devices such as printers and faxes.

• IE-2** - D25 (M) to Micro 36c IEEE 1284 Printer Cable

The name PS/2 originates from the IBM Personal System/2 computers. It is a 6-pin mini-DIN connector used for connecting keyboards and mice to a PC. The connections are often colour coded, purple for keyboard and green for mouse. The standard has largely been replaced by USB.

We stock a large range of PS/2 cables, adapters and converters including:

• EX-1** - PS/2 Male to Female Extension Cable
• CDLSB-902 - USB to 2x PS/2 Adapter
• AD-131 – PS/2 (F) to (F) Slimline Coupler

The name AT is an abbreviation of Advanced Technology and was first used with IBM computers in the early 80’s. It is a 5-pin DIN connection used to connect keyboards to computers. It was replaced by PS/2 which in turn has been largely replaced by USB.

We stock a couple of AT - PS/2 keyboard adapters:

• AD-300 – PS/2 (M) to AT (F) Keyboard Adapter
• AD-303 - AT (M) to PS/2 (F) Keyboard Adapter

The name SATA is an abbreviation of Serial AT Attachment, it replaced (P)ATA as a method of connecting storage devices to a computer motherboard. You will often find the connection on optical drives, hard disk drives and solid-state drives.

Because Internal drives are sometimes located in tricky to access locations in a computer case, right-angled SATA connectors have become very common.

There are three main specifications of SATA cable:

• SATA v1 (1.5Gbps)
• SATA v2 (3Gbps)
• SATA v3 (6Gbps)

We stock a range of SATA data cables and adapters including:

• RB-48** - Locking SATA v3 Data Cable (Straight to Straight)
• NLRB-3** - Locking SATA v2 Data Cable (Straight to Right Angled)
• NLRB-3** - Locking SATA v2 Data Cable (Right Angled to Right Angled)

eSATA is a version of the SATA connector designed for external devices. eSATA cables are designed to have additional shielding that standard SATA cables do not need.

We stock a range of eSATA cables and adapters including:

• RB-46* - eSATA v3 Data Cable
• RB-47* - SATA to eSATA v3 Data Cable
• NL-SATAGC - eSATA - SATA Adapter

FireWire, also known as IEEE 1394 is high-speed interface standard similar to USB. It was created by Apple in the 80’s and was mostly used for connecting to devices such as external storage and video cameras.

FireWire has two main versions:

FireWire 400 operates at up to 400 Mbps and uses a 6-Pin connector

FireWire 800 operates at up to 800 Mbps and uses a 9-Pin connector.

Also, Sony created a version of FireWire 400 without the two power pins.

We stock a large range of FireWire cables including:

• CDLIEE-14** - Firewire 9 Pin to 9 Pin Cable
• CDL-13** - Firewire 6 Pin to 6 Pin Cable
• CDL-15** - Firewire 4 Pin to 4 Pin Cable

RJ45 stands for Registered Jack 45, it is an eight-position, eight-contact (8P8C) connector. They are the mostly used connector in networking and can reach speeds up to 10 Gbps.

We stock a large range of cables that use an RJ45 connector, for eaxmple:

• URT-6** - Cat5e UTP Patch Cable
• B5ST-3** - Cat5e F/UTP Patch Cable
• ERT-6** - Cat6 Gigabit UTP Patch Cable
• ART-1** - Cat6A Patch S/FTP Cable
• GRT-0** - Cat8.1 S/FTP Patch Cable

BNC stands for Bayonet Neill-Concelman, it is a twist to lock style coaxial connector. They were commonly used in Ethernet networking before RJ45 became the standard. They were also widely used with radio systems and a video connector.

The following cables feature a BNC connector:

• RG58-** - RG-58 Coaxial BNC Cable
• SS-095 - 2m SVGA to 4x BNC Cable
• SS-090 - 2m SVGA to 5x BNC Cable

SMA stands for SubMiniature version A and is a screw in style coaxial connector. The Reverse Polarity SMA is a variation of the SMA connector that reverses the gender of the interface.

They are mostly used to connect antennas to networking equipment.

We stock an RP-SMA extension cable:

• NLWL-CAB** - NEWlink Reverse SMA Extension Cable

LC stands for Lucent Connectors; it is one of the most used fibre connectors in networking today. Its compact design makes it ideal for data centres and cabinets where space is at a premium.

We stock cables in Multi-Mode OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 and OM5, as well as Single Mode OS1.
You can view our range of fibre cables with an LC connector here.

SC stands for Standard Connectors or Subscriber Connector; it is a widely used fibre connector but is slowly being replaced by the smaller LC connector.

We stock cables in Multi-Mode OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 and OM5, as well as Single Mode OS1.
You can view our range of fibre cables with an SC connector here.

ST stands for Straight Tip; these connectors provide a secure, robust connection but they are largely being replaced by the LC connector.

We stock cables in Multi-Mode OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 and OM5, as well as Single Mode OS1.
You can view our range of fibre cables with an ST connector here.

The different types of plugs and sockets used around the world are classified by Type. For example, Type A and Type B are used in the USA and Canada. Type C is used in Europe. We stock a range of cables that use these connections:

NEMA-1-15 plugs are mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan.

They have two parallel blades and are rated 15 A at 125 volts. This type of US plug is not grounded and is usually found with cables that have an ungrounded IEC connection such as the IEC C7.

You can see our range of ungrounded US power leads here.

NEMA-5-15 plugs are mainly used in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Japan.

They have two parallel blades and are rated 15 A at 125 volts. This type of US plug is grounded and is usually found with cables that have a grounded IEC connection such as the IEC C13.

You can see our range of grounded US power leads here.

Europlugs are mainly used in Europe, South America, and Asia.

The Europlug has two pins almost parallel pins. This plug is not grounded and is usually found with cables that have an ungrounded IEC connection such as the IEC C7.

You can see our range of Europlug power leads here.

The CEE 7/7 plug is used in most of mainland Europe including Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Portugal and Spain.

The CEE features two pins similar to the Europlug. It also has earthing contacts on the top and bottom of the plug. The plug is grounded and is used with a wide range of IEC power leads.

You can see our range of CEE 7/7 power leads here.

The plug has three rectangular pins and a fuse to protect the power cord from overload. This plug is grounded and used with a wide range of IEC connectors up to 13A.

You can see our range of cables with a UK plug here.

We stock a wide range of IEC connectors that cover equipment such as TVs, servers, laptops and games consoles. IEC connections have a different name depending on the gender of the connector.

For example, the C5 connector is a male Cloverleaf connector usually found on the cable. The C6 connector is a female Cloverleaf connector usually sound on the device.

The IEC C5 connector is often found in laptop power adapters as well as many other external power adapters. It is sometimes called “Cloverleaf" or "Mickey Mouse" connector due to its unique shape.

You can see our range of IEC C5 cables here.

The IEC C7 connector is often found in A/V equipment such as TVs, radios and games consoles. They are also found in double insulated external PSUs. It is sometimes called "Figure of Eight".

Please note, there is a similar polarized connector that has one square side. You can potentially damage equipment using these connectors together.

You can see our range of IEC C7 cables here.

The IEC C13 connector is commonly used with computers, printers, network switches and other peripherals. It is sometimes called a “Kettle Lead”, although the IEC C15 hot condition plug would be more likely to be found on a kettle.

You can see our range of IEC C13 and C14 cables here.

This connector is often found in networking equipment and high-temperature settings/equipment such as kettles. The connector is very similar to the C13 connector but features a notch at the bottom.

You can see our range of IEC C15 cables here.

This connector is often found in high power server equipment that draws more power than a C13/C14 connector can support.

You can see our range of IEC C19/C20 cables here.

The Mate-n-Lok power connector was released in the 60’s by AMP. When it was released, it was similar to a design by a company called Molex. The name Molex has always been linked with this connector.

The connector was mostly used to connect internal storage devices such as an optical drive or hard disk drive to a computers power supply unit. The release of SATA power and more lately the M.2 form factor has largely impacted the use of this connector.

We stock a range of Mate-n-Lok cables and adapters including:

• RB-519 – 18cm Mate-n-Lok M-F Extension Cable
• RB-511 – 1x Mate-n-Lok to 2x Mate-n-Lok Splitter Cable
• 88RB-414 – Mate-n-Lok to SATA Power Cable

SATA is an abbreviation for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. The power connector was designed to be a replacement for the older Mate-n-Lok (Molex) connector and was used to connect internal storage devices such as an optical drive or hard disk drive to a computers power supply unit.

We stock a range of SATA power cables and adapters including:

• RB-417 – 1x SATA to 3x SATA Power Splitter Cable
• CDL-414 – Mate-n-Lok to SATA Power Cable
• 88RB-415 - Mate-n-Lok to 2x SATA Power Splitter Cable

ATX stands for Advanced Technology Extended and the 20/24 pin ATX power cable is one of the two cables that typically connect to a modern motherboard from a computer PSU. (The other being the P4/EPS cable that supplies power to the CPU.)

Originally released with 20 pins it was later updated with an additional 4 pins to make a 24-pin connector. Many PSUs will be supplied with a modular 20/24-pin cable where you can select how many you need.

We stock a range of 20/24-pin ATX cables including:

• 88RB-526 – 30cm 20-Pin ATX Power Extension Cable
• RB-533 - 24cm 24-Pin ATX Power Extension Cable
• RB-534 – 24-Pin Female – 20-Pin Male ATX Power Adapter

The P4 cable is one of two cables that typically connect to the motherboard from a power supply. (The other is the 20/24-Pin ATX cable.) The P4 connector is designed to provide power to the CPU.

There are also more modern 6-Pin and 8-Pin EPS cables for higher powered CPUs. Although they look similar, these connectors are not the same as the ones found on graphics cards.

We stock a range of P4 cables including:

• RB-530 – 28cm ATX P4 Extension Cable
• 88RB-528 – Mate-n-Lok to P4 Power Cable

We also stock a 6-Pin EPS cable:

• RB-527 - 2x Mate-n-Lok to 6 Pin EPS Power Cable

The 6-Pin PCIe was commonly found on mid-range graphics cards and is capable of supplying 75W of power.

The connector looks very similar to the 6-Pin EPS connector, but the connectors are not compatible. You can tell the difference by the top middle pin, as shown below.

We stock one PCIe cable:

• 88RB-527 – 2x Mate-n-Lok to 6 Pin PCIe Cable

The TX3 connector is mostly used to connect and power case fans in computers. Unlike the more common 4-Pin version, these do not support PWM.

We stock a range of cables with the TX3 fan connector, including:

• RB-522 - 3 Pin Fan Splitter Cable, Female - 2x Male
• RB-523 – Mate-n-Lok Extension Cable with 3 Pin Fan Connector

The D-Sub 25 connector was used for a number of different applications including SCSI-1, Serial and Parallel. This connection has largely been replaced by more modern standards including USB and SAS.

We stock a range of cables including:

• SS-00* - SCSI 1 D25 (M) to 50 Pin Centronics Cable
• SS-12* - SCSI 1-2 D25 (M) to Half Pitch 50 (M) Cable
• SS-30* - SCSI 1-3 D25 (M) to Half Pitch 68 (M) Cable

The 50-Pin Centronics connector was commonly used in SCSI-1 applications, usually to connect to external devices. This connection has largely been replaced by more modern standards including USB and SAS.

We stock a range of 50-Pin Centronics cables including:

• SS-01* - SCSI 1 50 Pin Centronic M to M Cable
• SS-1** - SCSI 1-2 Half Pitch 50 (M) to 50 Pin Centronic (M) Cable
• SS-2** - SCSI 1-5 50 Pin Centronic (M) to VHDCI (M) Cable

The 50-pin half-pitch DSUB is a SCSI-2 connector. This connection has largely been replaced by more modern standards including USB and SAS.

We stock a range of Half-Pitch DSUB 50-Pin cables including:

• SS-1** - SCSI 1-2 Half Pitch 50 (M) to 50 Pin Centronic (M) Cable
• SS-1** - SCSI 2 Half Pitch M to M 50 Cable
• SS-2** - SCSI 2-5 Half Pitch 50 (M) to VHDCI (M) Cable

The 68-pin half-pitch DSUB is a SCSI-3 connector. This connection has largely been replaced by more modern standards including USB and SAS.

We stock a range of Half-Pitch DSUB 68-Pin cables including:

• SS-31* - SCSI 3 Half Pitch 68 M to M Cable
• SS-27* - LVD SCSI 3 Half Pitch 68 M to M Cable
• SS-2** - SCSI 3-5 Half Pitch 68 (M) to VHDCI (M) Cable

VHDCI is an abbreviation of Very-High-Density Cable Interconnect. It is a 68-pin SCSI-5 connector. This connection has largely been replaced by more modern standards including USB and SAS.

We stock a range of VHDCI cables adapters including:

• SS-2** - SCSI 5 VHDCI M to M Cable
• SS-2** - SCSI 1-5 50 Pin Centronic (M) to VHDCI (M) Cable
• SS-2** - SCSI 2-5 Half Pitch 50 (M) to VHDCI (M) Cable