SF Cable Blog - Get Expert Tips & Advice on Cables & AccessoriesIn our blog, we educate customers on the various types of cables, components and accesscories for computer, laptops and mobiles. Find More Blog
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SF Cable Blog - Get Expert Tips & Advice on Cables & AccessoriesIn our blog, we educate customers on the various types of cables, components and accesscories for computer, laptops and mobiles. Find More Blog
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If you've ever bought any gadget, whether it is a TV, a laptop, a camera, a tablet or a phone, in the past five years, you have met HDMI. Sometimes it is the regular HDMI, mini HDMI cable, or even a micro HDMI cable. As the name suggests, all three are different, the regular one being standard in most use cases. But then what do we need the other two for and how are they different?
The main difference in any cable standard is its usage. Since HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, you can use the cable for audio-video data transfer. The mini HDMI cable comes into play when you want to connect a gadget to perhaps a computer or a TV. The port is generally on devices that have less space to spare. For example, a DSLR camera, video cameras, and standard size tablets. All of these devices are compact to make it as portable as possible. On the other hand, the micro HDMI cable is for when there is an even smaller space than mini HDMI. The few examples of these are smartphones and smaller tablets. Let's take a detailed look at the different use cases of these two cables: 1. Photo Booth Photo booths are a popular party feature nowadays. While most people don't print photos nowadays, vintage photo booths did print photos. You can have a similar concept but with a digital camera and digital printing setup. You can have a camera set up on a tripod, and connect it to a laptop via the mini HDMI cable for quick edits. Add a printer to the laptop and you have your photo booth read! Add a funky backdrop, arrange some props for people to use and modify the camera settings for the situation. You can have a person taking the photos and another who can make basic alignment edits and print. If you wish, you can offer different types of prints as well, like the one that comes out of an instant camera, one with four pictures like a filmstrip, one simple average frame sized print, etc. Instant prints can be a hit because you'll be giving tactile souvenirs that people can put on their fridges and have framed rather than a 24-hour long story on a social media account. 2. Movie Night Powerful projectors are tiny now. They have so many features that they can even replace your TV. But if you just need one for cozy movie nights while camping, you don't need a high end one. Simply, get a lightweight one with decent inbuilt speakers that you can connect to your phone via a micro HDMI cable. And voila! There's a movie theatre in the middle of nowhere! Add some cheese popcorn, make some smores, fill up your hot chocolate mugs, and settle next to the fire for the best movie experience possible. Because of this, you don't need to watch movies on your phone alone. You can share the movie with your fellow campers! These are some of the unique advantages of HDMI cables. One can liven up a party with a fun photo booth, and another can take the big screen to a campsite! Article Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/different-use-cases-mini-micro-hdmi-cables-1746852.html If you found these blog useful, here are some other blog posts that may be of interest. A Guided Tour on HDMI Cables, Their Types, and Functionalities The Evolution of HDMI Cables Over The Years The HDMI Cables Dilemma: To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade? The Whats, The Whys, And The Hows of HDMI Cables Know Everything About HDMI Technology How To Choose The Right HDMI Cables After Upgrading To 4K HDR TV
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Two different standards. Used for different purposes. So similar yet so different!
NEMA and IEC are two known names when it comes to power cords and related stuff. But from an end user’s point of view, it is important to know the actual difference between these two. Read along to understand their major differences and find out which one is the best fit for your application. IEC Standard Power Cord International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a non-profit, non-governmental international organization. It develops and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and other related technology. It started in 1906 and has developed some well-known units of measure like Hertz and Gauss. Today it works with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to define global standards for over 40 sub-categories of electrical components. Some Highlights of IEC Power Cord:
NEMA Power Cord The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is the largest trade association of electrical equipment manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 1926, NEMA asked all the manufacturers to utilizes a standard frame size for their electrical components. This standardizes the components from different manufacturers and also gives them guidelines to develop the components with safety factors over and above their design ratings. Some Highlights of NEMA Power Cord:
The Difference Usage:
The Selection:
The Production:
The Security:
The Takeaway: The main difference between IEC and NEMA is that NEMA by design may save up to 25% service while IEC is more about space and cost savings. For example, AC-1 handles purely resistive loads or slightly inductive loads like a heater. Another utilization category AC-3 is for regular starting and stopping of squirrel cage size motor. AC-4 is similar to AC-3. But it includes inching and plugging. Common Misunderstandings Considering both the siders, NEMA looks larger than the IEC starter. But in reality, it is slightly oversized in design. Often the wrong IEC classification for any application can be utilized. Overall when you decide between IEC or NEMA, make sure you keep in mind your requirements, the specialization, and your budget. If you are looking for easy-to-select, long-lasting products then NEMA can be a perfect choice. On the other side, if you have specialized needs, you can go with IEC products. But most importantly, if you are in North America, you’ll likely be able to source NEMA products with more ease. And IEC in European parts. There are instances when each classification has its own merits. IEC is less expensive and smaller but it has well defined operating conditions. When it comes to devices whose load is not well defined, NEMA devices would be the best choice. Overall it is not as simple as we often make them. It is also not about which one is more robust and effective. But it is all about understanding your requirements and differences between the two systems and selecting the one which is proper for the job. Confused between NEMA & IEC power cords? No more. Here’s everything you need to know about them to make an informed decision. If you found these blog useful, here are some other blog posts that may be of interest. NEMA Power Cords Vs. IEC Power Cords- Difference Revealed! All You Need to Know About Power Cord Connectors Learn Why NEMA Power Cords are Here to Stay Everything You Need to Know About Nema Power Cords Most Important Types of Power Cords Everything You Should Know About Power Cords [Infographic] Your computer needs a power outlet. But so does your tablet, your mobile phone, your power banks, your wireless headphones, and your smart speaker. This is the situation of just a single workstation.
But since the appliances and gadgets that make our lives easier are only increasing in number every day, we need more than two power outlets in each room of our house. The most convenient and flexible option, in this case, is you get a power strip. It is almost as if someone predicted this gadget boom and made this fantastic solution. You can easily build a charging station to handle this situation. You can just plug in a power strip next to the computer for all of these devices to charge. This way, they always have power when you want to leave the house with them. Let's walk through each room of an average house to see how having a power strip can make your setup functional and clean:
Apart from a streaming box, you can also connect a smart speaker, a soundbar, a smart lights hub, and even a hub to have your smart lights responsive with the sound of the content playing on your TV.
With limited power outlets available, you have to unplug things to plug something else in the middle of cooking. Now if your hands are dirty or if you are handling something hot or cold, this can be an issue. Instead, you can place a power strip in a dry area where you can easily place these appliances. This way, all your appliances are ready to use when you need them. Happy cooking!
If you are ready to outfit your house with such setups, make sure to get power strips that have surge protection. It is easily available in plenty of electrical and departmental stores. Choose the right one so as not to damage your gadget. Article Source: https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles/power-strip-most-important-gadget-century-1746846.html Ethernet cables are one of the most important elements of any electric system. If they don’t work properly, the rest of the network would become nonfunctioning. Any type of disruption would make faulty Ethernet Cable’s performance slow.
Today we will be checking out some of the signs that indicate if your cable is performing up to the standard or not. It Often Loses Connection If you plug the cable into the Ethernet adapter and the light doesn't turn on, it could indicate a problem either with the cable or the adapter. Also, if you are seeing display messages like ‘network connection is lost’ or ‘no connection’, then something’s wrong with the system’s ethernet cable. In such cases, make sure that you’ve connected the cable properly. Otherwise, a bad cable will not work even if properly connected. You Always Have Slow Connection If your connection keeps dropping or runs very slowly, there are chances that you have a damaged cable. If there is a tear on your cable, it can break down the internal wire connection and can cause a short circuit. If you find a bent cable, try straightening it with your hands. In case it is too beat up, you will need to replace it. Connection Restored With A Wiggle Wiggling the cable re-establishes a failed connection. If you do this too often, it also means that you have a broken connector on your hands. Ethernet cables have a built-in plastic lever that secures the cable into place within the Ethernet adapter port. If this lever breaks, the connection will drop. Do You Keep Replacing Them? This is the ultimate sign that you need to check your network ecosystem. If replacing the ethernet cable eliminates the problem, then it’s well and good. But if the same problem persists with the new cable, the problem relates to the network. There could be some malfunction happening. In such cases, there are three types of network cable issues you should look for: Testing Connectivity Issues These issues are majorly because of a faulty cable. Consider taking a quick test to check the connectivity. To check, try plugging the suspected cable into the network device or network connector of another computer. Typically, the jack you plug the cable into is the part of a network adapter. It provides the interface between a computer/ network device and the network cable. These adapters have one or two LED lights which state that an established connection exists and transmission is happening on the line. After you plug the cable into the network adapter, the link LED should be on to indicate a connection. If it doesn't light up or flash, there might be a problem with the cable or its connector, or both of them. Testing Performance Issues If your connection is failing or transmitting data at much slower speeds, you have performance-related issues. This happens generally due to a damaged or bent cable. Usually, you can straighten a bent cable to solve the problem. And if the problem persists, you might have to replace the damaged cable. To troubleshoot, visually scan the length of the cable and look for sharp bends, kinks, or other physical faults in the cable. If you find a sharp bend or kink in the cable, straighten the cable and check if the problem is solved. Before replacing it make sure to shake the cable lightly at the connector side to see if the connection can be re-established. If so, then the problem is with the connector. Which also means that you need to repair or replace the entire cable. Testing Continuity Issues If there are any faulty connectors, bends in a cable, continuity issues can occur. They can also occur by a cut or a sliced cable, any kind of penetration by objects like a nail, staple, screw, etc. or electromagnetic interference. If you can visually scan the cable length, check for any of these causes. If not, test it with a continuity tester. An electronic device is specially made for this purpose. Such a device can help detect problems caused by EMI, or radio frequency interference. Still Got Problems? Even after doing all this if your network keeps failing, it is very likely that issues are with local network configuration, one or more of the network connectivity devices. Like adapters, switches, routers, and so on. Such faults will require a higher level of troubleshooting. If you are looking to buy new ethernet cables, you can navigate to our ethernet networking cables page from here. From Cat 5E cable, Cat6A cable to Cat 8 cable, we have all the cables to fulfill your requirements. Constantly getting bugged by the lost signal? Then here’s a guide to help you identify and solve the problems with your ethernet cables. Article Source: https://www.sfcable.com/blog/how-check-solve-ethernet-cable-problems/ If you found these article useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. The A, B, and Cs of Ethernet Cables: An Infographic How Strong Your Ethernet Cables Should be? Why Ethernet Cables are here to stay? Cat6 Ethernet Cables Ideal For Any Household 8 Ingenious Hacks to Hide Every Cable in Your Room They are female connectors used in data communication, usually for LAN wiring. Generally, the jack is set up in a patch panel or wall plate. There is a matching male connector which is a keystone plug, attached to the end of a cord or cable.
The name ‘keystone’ itself comes from the features of the jack. It resembles the standard RJ-11 wall jack that connects telephone sets, dial-up, fax machines to conventional telephone lines. Where Are They Used? The keystone jack is an important accessory for any high-end entertainment system, high-tech computer unit or any data-heavy communication unit in a busy office. Keystone jack and plug come in a snap-in package in various designs that you can use to mount any type of cable or cord. This setting will also include conductors attached to the electrical devices. If you are looking to buy keystone jacks for any use, it is important to know the correct type for your use. Here are the major types you can refer to:
Additional Information Required These small-sized keystone jacks are integral parts of any home system. These are available in various designs and every variation is suitable for different applications. Hence, choosing the right jack can benefit you with versatility. Knowing about specific types of keystone jacks with applications will help you make an informed decision. So, to further help you, we’ve listed out the most frequently used keystone jacks and their usage. RJ-11 And RJ-12 When you want to extend your phone, modem, phone connection to any room, there are the ideal connectors to look for. They are available in “toolless” varieties which means you can install the wires without using a screwdriver or any soldering device. If you are new to this, there is a plastic clamp hinge at the back of the unit which you can pull up. This is where you insert wires and then pull it down to secure the wires firmly into the sockets. They display various telecom colors. Two lines, one long and one short indicate the color of the wire which goes in a specific slot. The long patch of color indicates the primary color, while the shorter one indicates the stripe color present on a wire. Hence, it is important to make sure that you buy one that provides secure locking and shows the colors on the slots. Cat5e Keystone Jacks They are suitable in Cat5e cabling scenarios for both commercial and domestics settings. Its construction style is popular because you will not have to replace blades when you switch from keystone jacks to patch panels. Additionally, termination contacts made of the phosphor bronze of some high-quality Cat5e keystone jacks add plenty of robustness to the unit and allow it to withstand punch-downs without falling apart. When looking for buying Cat5e keystone jack, you need to ensure that it meets the relevant standards - TIA/EIA 568-B code. When you commit to buying the accepted standard, it ensures that your unit is durable, long-lasting and provides superior performance. You also need to ensure that the jack you buy has both wiring color codes labeled properly. Cat6 Keystone Jacks One of the most sophisticated and known for outstanding performance in both domestic and business settings is Cat6 Keystone jack. And the most important part, you can buy these jacks without making a hole in your pocket. You can use them for home entertainment systems and complex data communication systems in offices. Some of the high-grade varieties of this keystone jack contain phosphor bronze contacts with strain relief caps. These contacts spread the physical pressure which enables the jack to absorb punch-downs without breaking. Moreover, the contacts securely lock the cords and cables connected to the keystone making sure that there is no disruption in signal transmission. This termination contacts, in some models of Cat6 keystone jacks, may also be gold plated to provide an additional degree of sturdiness and increased conductivity. You can use these jacks with unloaded keystone wall plates and patch panels, angled multimedia wall plates, surface boxes and more. These jacks are available in a variety of colors to suit any particular housing requirement. When you consider buying such jacks, it is important to ensure that the ports on the unit contain color codes to guide you when inserting wires. Also, ensure that there is a secure locking mechanism for the wires. An Overall Digest While buying such keystone jacks or any other type, it is important that it has a compact company casing that fits into a standard-sized faceplate, panel, or outlet box without any efforts from your end. Apart from it, it is also important to make sure that the device fulfills all the required standards. They are not expensive but checking for these parameters will give you an assurance that you don’t have to be satisfied with the less-than-optimal performance or other issues. It will benefit your business in more than many ways. SF Cable offers all kinds of jacks under the sun, in varying lengths. You can browse them here. There is a wide variety of keystone jacks available in the market. And this is the guide that will help you make an informed decision. Everything you need to know about types of keystone jacks. If you found these blog posts useful, here are some other blog posts that may be of interest. Frequently Asked Questions about Keystone Jack Answered 3 Important Applications of Keystone Jacks in Day-to-Day Life How Do Keystone Jacks Keep Trip Hazards at Bay? Types of Keystone Jacks You Must Know About! Know About The Little Essentials Needed For Creating a Vast Network USB cables and chargers are everyday must-haves. Whether it is to connect your phone to the music system, transferring files to another device or just for charging. When our phones are running low on the battery we never think twice before borrowing chargers from others.
But it could be the biggest pitfall for your device. Because you never know the quality of their USB cables and USB adapters. According to an article by TechCrunch, a hacker was able to access the phone’s data through a simple iPhone USB lightning cable. They manipulated the cable and added a small Wi-Fi enabled implant that let hackers run commands from a nearby device or within the Wi-Fi range. A hacker who goes by the online name MG made these implants where he claims that he gave utmost attention to make them look like the original ones. Wondering, if it had already happened to you? Well, if you ever bought a cable from a shop which is not selling legitimate products or is just an unknown shop around the block, then there are chances they might’ve sold you so-called “MG cables”. As soon as you plug that cable to your device, hackers can access your data and easily transmit malicious payloads on your device. They can even send phishing pages to your screen, lock or even steal your data. MG attempted to implant firstly in iPhone cables. But anyone can use these implants in any cable to target whoever they want. In one of his interviews, MG said that “Most people know not to plug in random flash drives these days, but they aren’t expecting a cable to be a threat.” Why It Is Necessary To Avoid Fake USB Cables And Chargers? If we look at the basic operation of any cable, it has one particular job to do: supplying your device with power. The cable isn’t the only part of a phone charger. There are various other parts inside that charge your phone without damaging it. Like a regulator. This part notifies your USB adapter that your phone is full and doesn’t require power any further. Also, make sure you are not constantly overcharging a battery as it will shorten the lifespan of any device. When you opt for the fake chargers, it draws too little power to your device. Some chargers will show that your device is on charging, but after an hour when you check, all it did was just indicate that it is charging. It didn't actually pass any power to your device. All this can put your battery and to some extent your device to risk. How To Avoid Buying Fake USB Cables And Chargers?
The original chargers are the ones that would go a long way. Therefore, always carry them with you to save the day in case of emergencies. Some tips on taking good care of your original charging cables:
When you are considering another charger, it is important to check these things first. Usual chargers accept an input level of 100-240 V. So, plugging it to an outlet or another source above this range might destroy the charger. Plus, look for the output levels. If your battery needs 4.2 volts for full charging, you need a power adapter that can reach this level. An adapter with a capacity of 3 V will charge your batter but at a slower pace. Next, check the amperage. Usually, smartphone chargers can accommodate an output of 1 A. If a device requires less than 1 A, it will only pull what it needs. In case your adapter’s capacity is, for example, up to 500 mA, and if you charge your device with it then chances are it might damage your device.
There are certain certifications that show a manufacturer’s commitment to meet the regulatory standards of a particular area. CE certificates fall into that category. Additionally, RoHS certifications state that a product does not contain harmful materials. Additional Tip for iPhone Users: Look for the ‘Made for iPod’ logo whenever buying any peripherals for your device. This logo is Apple’s licensing program for the manufacturers developing peripherals for Apple.
Never go by their external looks and body. The fake ones would always look like the original ones. They might be showing the same brand name with certifications. But it might not have all of them which real one offers. consider checking their weight. Tap on the product to listen to how they sound. These steps are necessary to take when you think that you might’ve purchased a fake one instead of the original one.
It is important to have at least a 9.5 mm gap between the edge of the pin and the charger. To check this, you can use any ball-pen as they have 9.5 mm points. After doing it make sure that it plugs correctly and does not have heating issues. As it may lead to damage and fire issues. So, next time you go cable shopping make sure you are bringing home only the legitimate ones. Of course, using the original branded company charger is the number one solution to the ‘fake cable’ problem. Other than that, look for reliable sources that sell authentic merchandise. That includes online stores as well as retail stores. If you found these blog useful, here are some other blog posts that may be of interest. Understanding USB Cables & Their Types Some FAQs About USB C Cables Answered! Five Types of USB Type-C Adapters You Must Know About What Makes USB C Cables Better Than Other USB Cables? Why Should You Choose USB Type C Over All Other Cables? There are so many types of audio cables available in the market. And it's a very likely scenario that you bought the wrong audio cable for your music system. Don't worry, you are not alone in this. It is a mistake that everyone makes. Thus, this guide will explain the required basics along with the types and use cases.
1. Jack connector In any musical equipment, it is one of the most common connection found. The quarter-inch jack is best for electric guitars and amps. It is always ¼ inch or 6.3 mm jack with a single black hoop. It has an insulating ring towards its tip. Known as "Instrument cables", it is best for line-level connections, "Speaker Cable". They are an ideal choice for connecting speakers to amps, guitar heads to cabinets. Moreover, to convert any connector of cable you can use 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable or 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. In case you are looking to share your favorite songs with your near ones, you can use an audio splitter cable. 2. ¼-Inch Balanced Jack Connector This cable is capable of carrying two channels of audio. This does it via Sleeve design, Tip, Ring, the plug itself divided with two black hoops. There is a tip which is the pointy end. Then after the first black hoop, there is a ring section and the sleeve is after the second. The tip and the ring will carry the left and right channel signals. The sleeve acts as common earth. Its most common use is headphone output, on pianos, keyboards, mixing desks, guitar amps, and hi-fi equipment. Its balanced audio connections use TRS plugs to make a mono connection which is less susceptible to external noise, particularly when running long cables. You can find such connection on audio interfaces, mixing desks, recording equipment, and PA equipment. It will generally specify if your equipment needs balanced connections. 3. Stereo Mini Jack Connector It is among the most common audio connections. It is the plug that you usually find on MP3 player headphones, it is a smaller 3.5mm plug. It also has a TRS arrangement with two insulation rings. Also, the top and ring with a sleeve as a common ground carry the left and right channels. Portable music player headphones are the most common use for it. To connect MP3 players to car stereos and audio connections on devices. 4. The Rica Connector It looks similar to mini-jack plugs, as they are infrequent use in the home and other equipment. The RCA cable means the Radio Corporation of America is the one who developed this connection. They instigated the replacement of ¼" TRS jack connections on Phonographs in the 1940s to connect to amplifiers. They are mono connections and unbalanced which are commonly used on DJ mixers, audio interfaces, and frequently on the 'tape in' and 'tape out' connections on mixing desks, and usually features 'tap in' and 'tape out' connections on mixing desks. It features a red right channel connection and a white left channel connection. You can take this cable and share music with your loved ones using an audio splitter cable. 5. The XLR Connector This connection is common among so many audio applications. Its design is a barrel of approximately 2cm in diameter, with between 3 and 7 pins or holes. 3 pin XLR is the most common format for audio application. Cannon electronics released the Cannon X range. It made them known as 'Cannon' connections, Canon XL was the second revision, and XLR the third one. XLR connections are in use among a broad range of musical and audio applications. As a golden rule, female XLR plugs normally receive output signals from devices. And mostly you can use the male XLR plugs to plug input devices such as a microphone. Then you plug male XLRs into female sockets and vice versa. Hence, XLR is the trusty mic lead with a female XLR plug on one end and a male XLR on the other. The SpeakON Connector The recent audio connection which gives the most amazing audio connection is the speak ON connection. Neutrik developed this speakON connector which is available in 2, 4, and 8 pole iterations. 2 and 4 poles are the most commonly used in everyday audio applications. While designing, they kept in mind the compatibility with high current signals. The female plugs connect to male panel sockets and have a twist-lock mechanism that secures them into the socket. It makes Speakon connectors ideal for live sound applications, most commonly connecting power to loudspeakers. Hence, Speakon to XLR cables very common. In this article, we tried to cover the most common audio connections. After reading this article, you won't be surprised if your devices are compatible with the audio cable you recently bought. And by mistake, you buy 3.5mm cable in place of 2.5mm cable then you can always use a 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable to connect the 2.5mm device. Looking to buy audio cables for your new music system? Here’s how you can choose the right one for your use. If you found these articles post useful, here are some other articles that may be of interest. The Reason We Are Still Talking About Audio Video Cables in 2019 How to Choose the Correct Audio Cable Splitter for Headphones? All About Coaxial and VGA Cables! |
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