Laser Interceptor design improvement?

[dorcse]

Here's what I would like to see.

The cable that comes out of each head could terminate with a male modular connector at a length of no more than 24 to 48 centimeters (2 to 4 feet). These male modular connectors would simply plug into female modular connectors at the ends of the long cables. The other ends of the long cables would connect to the cpu with male modular connectors (just as they do now).

Why is this a possible design improvement over current single length long cables that come out of the heads and terminate with male connectors at the cpu?

Because if the heads ever have to be removed for replacment or upgrade, you would simply unplug the male modular plug (at the end of the short length of cable running from the head) from the female modular plug at the end of the long cable that's located just inside the engine compartment of the car.

Currently you have to disconnect the male connectors from the cpu in the cabin of the car in order to remove the heads (the only other choice is to cut the cables. Not a good idea unless you have the right crimp tool AND know what you are doing).

Of course to unplug the heads you first have to get to the cpu box (in my car it is hidden above a panel under the dash) and then once you unplug the modular connectors plugs from the cpu, you have to pull them and the cable through the firewall.

Then to reconnect the heads, you have to run the plugs and the cables back through the firewall again and reconnect to the cpu. Believe me.. it's no fun to have to do this multiple times!

What do you think of the "short cables" connected to the "long cables" idea guys?

Best regards!

Ed

[Laser-InterceptorUSA]

Patience! Good things come to those who wait - Diageo

Cliff - C55

[noTe]

Sounds like it would be easier to steal the heads then and/or them accidentally getting unplugged for whatever reason.

Plus, you only install the heads once unless something happens to them.

[jwardell]

The problem is the more connectors you introduce, the exponentially higher your chances of a bad connection existing and causing issues. Especially with those type of connectors.

But they are just common phone cables, so if you wanted to do that you could easily splice in and add your own connectors and sockets.

[thestaton]

The problem is the more connectors you introduce, the exponentially higher your chances of a bad connection existing and causing issues. Especially with those type of connectors.

But they are just common phone cables, so if you wanted to do that you could easily splice in and add your own connectors and sockets.

that's what I did with my LPP's back in the day. makes it A LOT easier.

[TSi+WRX]

Here's what I said, on the LI forums, to dorcse's post and subsequent replies (i.e. along the lines of jwardell's) regarding the "modular connector" idea:

...You know, that's definitely a good point - more connectors, more chances of failure due to either faulty connectors or faulty connections.

But therein lies the problem...I can also definitely see where dorcse's idea would truly be handy.

One has to ask oneself what is the most likely point of failure, as well as what would be the best/easiest point of replacement.

Our cars are full of wires and connectors. Each headlight, for example, is usually connected to one or more sub-harnesses, which then leads back to a main harness that itself is in-turn connected to yet another harness (or more). Without doubt, wiring and connector faults can themselves create problems, but one would imagine that damage to the headlights and subsequent replacement is eased in this case by replacement of said damaged unit, disconnected at its umbilicus to the sub-harness, instead of having to tear out an entire light+harness trail.

I think the question here is truly whether or not such "sub-connectors," in order to make the units truly modular, can be made tough enough and weatherproof enough to allow for such modularity. While such connections for vehicle electronics are robust and are specifically designed to resist the elements (for not only years, but DECADES of all-weather operation), I am not certain of the situation with these fine electronics.

Certainly, I think there are many advantages to be had with such a modular system - the ability to easily and quickly swap-out damaged heads and/or to adapt such setups to multiple vehicles is but one such consideration, but another would also be hardware upgrades over time.

I'm no newbie at tearing apart my car - come-on, I was (and remain, at heart) a DSMer. But still, given the choice, I do think that there's much merit in what dorcse is proposing.

Whether or not it is currently technically (read: durability/reliability) as well as cost-ratio feasible, though.....I think that is the real question.