Becker AR 4201

[John Foster]

I purchased a Becker AR 4201 out of a European glider, but it didn't come with a wiring harness. Any leads on a reasonably priced one? Also interested in a more detailed installation guide/electrical diagram of the output and power supply for this radio, as I may be able to make my own wiring harness if I just know which wires go where and for what. I'd also be interested in a functional used boom mike compatible with this radio. Thanks.

[Retting]

Wings and Wheels list 4201 hardness for $150, or will have one made.
I ‘searched‘ the item and a list of options came up.

R

[[email protected]]

On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 1:20:05 PM UTC-4, Retting wrote:
> Wings and Wheels list 4201 hardness for $150, or will have one made.
> I ‘searched‘ the item and a list of options came up.
>
> R

It's a standard DB25 connector (albeit in an atypical housing that locks on without screws - anybody know of a source for exactly such a connector?). For use in a single-seat glider (no intercom) probably only need 5 wires: ground, power, mic, PTT and speaker. $150 seems a bit high if you can solder your own. The owner's manual (available online) has the wiring info.

[OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 12:48:24 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 1:20:05 PM UTC-4, Retting wrote:
> > Wings and Wheels list 4201 hardness for $150, or will have one made.
> > I ‘searched‘ the item and a list of options came up.
> >
> > R
>
> It's a standard DB25 connector (albeit in an atypical housing that locks on without screws - anybody know of a source for exactly such a connector?).. For use in a single-seat glider (no intercom) probably only need 5 wires: ground, power, mic, PTT and speaker. $150 seems a bit high if you can solder your own. The owner's manual (available online) has the wiring info.

Love the Becker radios.

Three comments;

1) Use aviation Tezel wire. Wings and Wheels has that.
2) The connection to the microphone can be "tricky" due to the shielding and very fine wires.
3) The Becker version of the DB-25 connector can be purchased from http://cumulus-soaring.com.
4) The manual is online at http://www.becker-avionics.com/manuals/.

Unless you are confident with using a soldering iron, $150 seems pretty reasonable. This harness may be set up for a two seater. If you have a single seater W&W's may make a version for that also which could be cheaper. Call and ask.

Good luck.

- John

[JS[_5_]]

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 7:05:41 AM UTC-7, OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 12:48:24 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> > On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 1:20:05 PM UTC-4, Retting wrote:
> > > Wings and Wheels list 4201 hardness for $150, or will have one made.
> > > I ‘searched‘ the item and a list of options came up.
> > >
> > > R
> >
> > It's a standard DB25 connector (albeit in an atypical housing that locks on without screws - anybody know of a source for exactly such a connector?). For use in a single-seat glider (no intercom) probably only need 5 wires: ground, power, mic, PTT and speaker. $150 seems a bit high if you can solder your own. The owner's manual (available online) has the wiring info..
>
> Love the Becker radios.
>
> Three comments;
>
> 1) Use aviation Tezel wire. Wings and Wheels has that.
> 2) The connection to the microphone can be "tricky" due to the shielding and very fine wires.
> 3) The Becker version of the DB-25 connector can be purchased from http://cumulus-soaring.com.
> 4) The manual is online at http://www.becker-avionics.com/manuals/.
>
> Unless you are confident with using a soldering iron, $150 seems pretty reasonable. This harness may be set up for a two seater. If you have a single seater W&W's may make a version for that also which could be cheaper. Call and ask.
>
> Good luck.
>
> - John

Nice to do it right the first time.
The Becker 6201 uses the same wiring harness, if you decide to upgrade.
Jim

[Ross[_3_]]

I have made roughly 30 harnesses for 4201s and depending how many I make in one go depends on the time needed. 1=1 hour total time. 2=1:20 3=1:40
If you are in practice and know what you are doing they are easy

[[email protected]]

On Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 2:35:19 PM UTC-4, Ross wrote:
> I have made roughly 30 harnesses for 4201s and depending how many I make in one go depends on the time needed. 1=1 hour total time. 2=1:20 3=1:40
> If you are in practice and know what you are doing they are easy

Ross: where can you get the latch-on connector? (I can't seem to find just the connector on the cumulus-soaring website, only a full harness.)

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

For stuff like this in the US, I use Digikey or Newark Electronics.
Both can be a PITA to search unless you have a bit more info (like a PN or MFR), but they both have a lot.
Sometimes (not great for these parts), use McMaster-Carr.

[Ross[_3_]]

You are looking for a 25 pin MHED connector

https://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/1210451/D-SUB-housing----Number-of-pins-25----Plastic----180-45-----Black

[Karl Kunz[_2_]]

On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 9:58:52 AM UTC-7, John Foster wrote:
> I purchased a Becker AR 4201 out of a European glider, but it didn't come with a wiring harness. Any leads on a reasonably priced one? Also interested in a more detailed installation guide/electrical diagram of the output and power supply for this radio, as I may be able to make my own wiring harness if I just know which wires go where and for what. I'd also be interested in a functional used boom mike compatible with this radio. Thanks.

Do these use the high density pins or the regular pins? I have the crimper for the regular size pins but have been unable to find one that works with the HD pins.

[OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

The connector may not be listed on the Cumulus-Soaring web site. But I have bought the connectors through Paul before so I believe he stocks them. Drop him an email.

Unsure what you mean by high density versus regular pins. Do you mean HD = triple row of pins like a laptop VGA connector? The Becker connector is a double row of 25 pins. I cannot tell if the connector linked by Ross from Conrad.com has crimp type pins or solder type pins.

- John OHM Ω

[Jim White[_3_]]

At 19:54 04 October 2018, Ross wrote:
>You are looking for a 25 pin MHED connector
>
>https://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/1210451/D-SUB-housing----Number-of-pins-25----Plastic----180-45-----Black
>
The slide lock is sold separately from the plug and housing. Suitable parts
a manufactured by FCT / Molex and Harting.

I suggest you find a local stockist of these manufacturers.

http://www.harting-usa.com/home/ or
https://fctgroup.com/

Jim

[Karl Kunz[_2_]]

On Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 9:21:18 PM UTC-7, OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> The connector may not be listed on the Cumulus-Soaring web site. But I have bought the connectors through Paul before so I believe he stocks them. Drop him an email.
>
> Unsure what you mean by high density versus regular pins. Do you mean HD = triple row of pins like a laptop VGA connector? The Becker connector is a double row of 25 pins. I cannot tell if the connector linked by Ross from Conrad.com has crimp type pins or solder type pins.
>
> - John OHM Ω

There are two sizes of pins for D-Sub connectors. The high density ones are smaller and harder to crimp then the ones you see used for computers. Garmin products usually use the HD pins.

[Dan Marotta]

You /_can_/ solder wires into crimp pins.Â* Tin the wire first and use
care - not too much solder.

On 10/4/2018 10:21 PM, OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> The connector may not be listed on the Cumulus-Soaring web site. But I have bought the connectors through Paul before so I believe he stocks them. Drop him an email.
>
> Unsure what you mean by high density versus regular pins. Do you mean HD = triple row of pins like a laptop VGA connector? The Becker connector is a double row of 25 pins. I cannot tell if the connector linked by Ross from Conrad.com has crimp type pins or solder type pins.
>
> - John OHM Ω

--
Dan, 5J

[Tim Newport-Peace[_4_]]

At 15:17 05 October 2018, Dan Marotta wrote:
>You /_can_/ solder wires into crimp pins.Â* Tin the wire first and use
>care - not too much solder.
>
>On 10/4/2018 10:21 PM, OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
>> The connector may not be listed on the Cumulus-Soaring web site. But I
>have bought the connectors through Paul before so I believe he stocks
them.
> Drop him an email.
>>
>> Unsure what you mean by high density versus regular pins. Do you mean
HD
>= triple row of pins like a laptop VGA connector? The Becker connector
is
>a double row of 25 pins. I cannot tell if the connector linked by Ross
>from Conrad.com has crimp type pins or solder type pins.
>>
>> - John OHM Ω
>
>--
>Dan, 5J
>
It is a bog-standard DB25 25-pin connector as used to be used for RS232 PC
connection.

The pin-out can be found in the Installation Manual
(https://www.cumulus-soaring.com/becker/AR4201-Manual.pdf)

[OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

On Friday, October 5, 2018 at 11:30:05 AM UTC-5, Tim Newport-Peace wrote:
> At 15:17 05 October 2018, Dan Marotta wrote:
> >You /_can_/ solder wires into crimp pins.Â* Tin the wire first and use
> >care - not too much solder.
> >
> >On 10/4/2018 10:21 PM, OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> >> The connector may not be listed on the Cumulus-Soaring web site. But I
> >have bought the connectors through Paul before so I believe he stocks
> them.
> > Drop him an email.
> >>
> >> Unsure what you mean by high density versus regular pins. Do you mean
> HD
> >= triple row of pins like a laptop VGA connector? The Becker connector
> is
> >a double row of 25 pins. I cannot tell if the connector linked by Ross
> >from Conrad.com has crimp type pins or solder type pins.
> >>
> >> - John OHM Ω
> >
> >--
> >Dan, 5J
> >
> It is a bog-standard DB25 25-pin connector as used to be used for RS232 PC
> connection.
>
> The pin-out can be found in the Installation Manual
> (https://www.cumulus-soaring.com/becker/AR4201-Manual.pdf)

Tim,

As you said the d-sub connector (and shell) are about as common as dirt. But one way or another you need to securely attach the connector to the radio or risk things wiggling loose at an inopportune moment. Thus John Foster needing this Becker latch thingy.

The sliding latch arrangement used on Becker radios is not something I had seen prior to working with non-US avionics. FYI - Filser/Dittel radios have a yet another type of sliding latch arrangement.

What I commonly find on US equipment (and Australian Microaire radios) is that the connector shell has a captive screw which engages into the equipment's (radio's) matching threaded insert (called an "SAE 4-40 jack socket screw").

This "US" system is very (more?) secure but it is not as easy to engage in tight spaces as the simple "Euro" sliding latch. This "US" SAE 4-40 screw system will not work with Becker/Filser/Dittel radios unless their sliding latch system is replaced with a threaded insert (and the radio's hardware is metric).

Why hasn't the US gone metric? Hmmmmm.

- John OHM Ω