OK, after thinking this through[I did go to school for Electronics MANY years ago lol], I think I can wire the battery/charger ends however I want to?!?! I can wire the FEMALE 5.5x2.1mm ends onto the batteries, and make the RING=POSITIVE and TIP=NEGATIVE, exactly like I would on my Schoeps VMS cable, since the VMS requires that TIP=NEGATIVE! Right That way it doesn't matter which is which, as long as they are all wired the same! So my charger end will be TIP=NEGATIVE, and RING=POSITIVE, and so will my batteries and VMS cables!
That should do it, correct?
Correct. You can wire the connectors in either orientation (tip-positive or tip-negative), so long as you are always consistent. With power cables, use a healthy amount of heat shrink tubing to cover exposed contacts and always use a multi-meter to check your finished work before plugging it into your gear, ensuring that the pinout is correct and that an unexpected short hasn't developed.
I'm not a fan of tip-negative gear, so if I were creating a battery solution I would wire everything tip-positive. For any piece of gear that requires tip-negative power, I would then make a special cable with a permanently affixed label so that it is never used with any other piece of gear. "Tip-swapping" (i.e. with adaptaplugs) is OK in a pinch, but is really asking for trouble in the long run. Better to have a dedicated cable.
Wiring best practices aside, I would really try to choose a replacement connector that locks. Tamiya connectors may not be perfect, but are far better for field recording than a non-locking barrel connector and when they wear out, re-crimping is easy.
Thanks for the info Hi/Lo
That's about what I was thinking, so now I have the confidence to do it!
And yes, ask ANYONE that has ever made me cables! I ALWAYS use heat shrink, probably sometimes too much lol
And yes, I always verify my work with a multi-meter as well
I totally see what you mean about leaving the TIP=POSITIVE, but since my 9.6v NIMH batteries are ONLY for my VMS, I don't need to worry about swapping gear and I don't mind all of the TIP's=NEGATIVE
But I DEF see where you're coming from, and the more I think about it, wiring all of my batteries TIP=POSITIVE is probably a good idea! Then I can just make the VMS power cable with the TIP=NEGATIVE, and leave everything else TIP=POSITIVE! That way I could use the batteries for other things than JUST the VMS
I guess I'll decide which to do soon!
I agree, I really wish I had the $$ to order mini XLRs for my VMS batteries/cables/stuff, but I can easily throw a piece of tape over the 5.5x2.1mm connectors so they NEVER come undone while in use, and I don't have to worry about the Tamiya connector getting FUBAR'd at a festie and almost leaving me without the VMS at all, which happened the last festie I did
Plus, ALL of my cables are SUPER NEAT in my bags and accessing ANY cables like that, once I'm running my gear, is damn near impossible because of my OCD neatness lol
So I don't EVER see the VMS power cable coming undone because of the 5.5x2.1mm connectors! But I do agree that locking connectors are better! I'm actually saving up for the nicer "Series 712" Binder connectors for my KCY cables, and I already have the 5.5x2.1mm connectors, so no extra $$ for the mini XLRs right now! Maybe I'll just wait until I can afford some Mini XLRs? Who knows? lol. I just wish the Yamiya connectors weren't just sitting "loose" in their barrels! It allows them to twist and do things you DON'T want them to do haha
Thanks for the info Hi & Lo, I really appreciate it!
Bean