Tweet
OK so it is more like: "Grampa, what did you do in the great Coronavirus isolation?" Lot less dramatic that....
Anyway: because I do a bit of racing in several different places, over time I have needed different controller hookups. So I made some VERY Heath Robinson adapters. Basically just left the banana plugs on my Slot.it controller and made up whatever I need from that. But it looked awful and it was rather fragile. I did not use any kind of proper strain relief so over time the adapters, that looked hokey to start with, went steadily downhill. And a lot of the connectors were not very robust and actually rather vulnerable.
In terms of really bulletproof connectors, XLR has stood the test of time in millions of concerts and musical performances across the world for many years. They are strong, lock well, have great continuity, can be quickly and easily connected/disconnected, are idiot-proof (one way of connecting only) and come ready made with cable clamping and strain relief and are relatively inexpensive: what's not to like?
So I decided: I would replace the banana plugs on my controllers with XLR male connectors and make up XLR-female-to-whatever connectors. And so I did. I actually require 5 different hookups: we now use 110V 3 prong plugs on our local club tracks: I used DS three prong plugs at the Tacoma 24 hour; alligator clips at the TT race in Edmonton; and banana plugs are always good to have. This in addition to the XLR's used at the Michigan 24 hour.
Over the past few days I have therefore been replacing the connectors on my controllers and making up the appropriate adapter pieces. And I like it!
My collection:
Now to find something else to do.... Oh yes, that ridiculous maybe-5,000RPM motor in my Carrera 1/24 Ferrari P4 has GOT to go .....
Anyway: because I do a bit of racing in several different places, over time I have needed different controller hookups. So I made some VERY Heath Robinson adapters. Basically just left the banana plugs on my Slot.it controller and made up whatever I need from that. But it looked awful and it was rather fragile. I did not use any kind of proper strain relief so over time the adapters, that looked hokey to start with, went steadily downhill. And a lot of the connectors were not very robust and actually rather vulnerable.
In terms of really bulletproof connectors, XLR has stood the test of time in millions of concerts and musical performances across the world for many years. They are strong, lock well, have great continuity, can be quickly and easily connected/disconnected, are idiot-proof (one way of connecting only) and come ready made with cable clamping and strain relief and are relatively inexpensive: what's not to like?
So I decided: I would replace the banana plugs on my controllers with XLR male connectors and make up XLR-female-to-whatever connectors. And so I did. I actually require 5 different hookups: we now use 110V 3 prong plugs on our local club tracks: I used DS three prong plugs at the Tacoma 24 hour; alligator clips at the TT race in Edmonton; and banana plugs are always good to have. This in addition to the XLR's used at the Michigan 24 hour.
Over the past few days I have therefore been replacing the connectors on my controllers and making up the appropriate adapter pieces. And I like it!
My collection:
Now to find something else to do.... Oh yes, that ridiculous maybe-5,000RPM motor in my Carrera 1/24 Ferrari P4 has GOT to go .....
Comment