sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems ESI Telephones & Systems Trouble with ribbon cables

Is it just me or has anyone else had problems tring to remove the ribbon cables from the CS 100,and had it happen on a E-class. I was replacing a 6x8x4 with a DLC12 and messed the ribbon cable up , cable came off but connector was still in main board.

Funny....i was just talking to one of my techs about this. I have had problems with ribbon cables on both the older E, X and S class systems as well as the Communication Servers. I can't see any easy / safe way of consistently removing the cables without damaging them. ESI will send you a couple of new ones at no charge.

I have already gone through the free ones(used my last one on a job earlier today). I just sent ESI a product enhancement e-mail, anyone that has had problems PLEASE send an e-mail..

I had an issue on the first E Class I did (about 3 years ago) since then, no issues.

I'll still send an email in. They should set them up like the IDE ribbon cables you find in most PC's. The "loop / handle" makes it really easy to pull out.

Well, they have already admitted that they are 1 time use anyway.

But, it is possible using a scribe or very small screwdriver to wedge them up from the ends...

We have had this happen quite a bit on the CS as well. I will send an email in too.

Even if they are "1 time use" you should be able to remove the cable without half the connector getting stuck in the port card.

I've had it happen to me as well.... on my first 100 too. Since then I'm "very" careful on removing them. They fit tight so it's easy to just yank and separate ribbon cable.

They suck! I had to learn the very hard way about them, I'm extra careful now but I still hate doing it. I had a real bad experience once taking out all of the port cards on a double cabinet E-Class and putting them in an X-Class.
I sweat alot that night for doing something non-physical.

I hate those ribbon connectors. This is a huge flaw. I have *^%$%^%$*& a few of them also. I don't feel replacing them with freebies from ESI is a very good way to go. I agree they need to find a new connector. Who wants to go to a site and change a port card out, break the ribbon from the connector and wait for ESI to send new ones. It makes us look inadequate as technicians to our customers. I now carry extras with me, although I feel I shouldn't have to.

I don't know what the rest of you are doing but I haven't damage a ribbon cable yet. When the time comes to remove a ribbon cable from the connected location I grasp it with my thumb and finger by the plastic ends and rock it gently back and forth to loosen it slightly and it comes right out.

I consider it part of my business to know how to work on an ESI component without damaging it.

In simple terms I ask, are you really certified by ESI if you can't remove a ribbon cable without tearing it to shreds.

I think this is a WWJD scenario and the J doesn't stand for Jesus.