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Difference between 2.5 "audio" jacks and the ones used in cameras/flashes?

Laurent

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Hi all,

I'd like to make an electric trigger for my F1's winder, but am stuck at the very beginning: when I use an "audio" 2.5mm jack, this triggers the motor as soon as I power it on, so the jack is shorting the contacts permanently.

BUT if I try using the sync chord of a Sunpak 4205G flash, it only triggers when I short the PC contacts.

Would you know where the difference comes from and, more importantly, WHERE THE HELL I could find a proper jack?

Thanks for your insight!
 

koraks

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These plugs come in different variants. You might try with the kind that's stereo and that also has a mic contact, so there will be 4 contacts in total. That way, regardless of the contact arrangement on the female connector, you should be able to find a set of contacts that works.

I buy most for this kind of stuff on AliExpress. It's made in China anyway. If you don't want to order from China directly, you could try something like tme.eu or Conrad.de
 

Dan Daniel

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Uh... I'm probably missing something, but sounds to me like the Sunpak cord is working? Cut off the PC terminal and install a momentary contact switch (closed when pressed), and there you go?

Are the assorted bands (tip/ring/sleeve/etc) the same on the two you tried? If so, then it is simply matching the Sunpak wiring on another cable. You need to the same ring pattern and then determine which wires do what.

Also, you say jack. Do you mean plug? Usually cords will have plugs and the jack will be mounted on the device. Plug is 'male' and jack is 'female.'
 

Pieter12

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I always thought they were all jacks, just male and female. Certainly, when referring to audio cables.
 
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Laurent

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Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I mean 'plug' aka the male part of it (always called it jack)

@koraks : I did not think of trying a stéréo one... this is worth a try. I boycott Amazon and Aliexpress, but Conrad wil be fine. ..

Have a great day
 

koraks

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Laurent said:
I did not think of trying a stéréo one... this is worth a try.
Click to expand...

Yeah, give it a try. Here's a quick screenshot of different types (from one of the sites you boycott):

The one on the right is the most flexible in terms of connections, but they were uncommon in the days when your photo gear was made.

One more thing that might apply here - sometimes the plug doesn't slide in all the way. In that case it can make either no contact, or it can short out the wrong pair of contacts.

I'm not familiar with the F1 winder so I can't tell which jack/plug type it's supposed to use.
 
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