JAMMA harness connectors - how to connect them

maskdbandt

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I know this probably has been mentioned somewhere in the forum but I can't find any with searches I've tried.

I have the JAMMA harness all bundled up but not quite sure how the connectors go on the ends of the wires. I assume I strip the wires at the ends but then how do I connect the connectors? Do I just cram them in or do I need to use a tool?

Sorry this is my first time doing this and I'm pretty clueless. I'd appreciate any advice you can give or point me in the right direction.

Thanks!
 
What connectors are you trying to connect?

Most connectors, require a pair of crimpers, to attach the wires to the connector.

You strip the wires insulation back, push the wire into the connector, and crimp the connector on the wire.

Mike
 


There are many types of crimpers, and in the spirit of keeping it very simple you'll need something like this. You can pick them up from walmart or just about anywhere. This strips the wire and also crimps connectors onto the wire you have just stripped.

12704d1235502540-comprehensive-guide-splicing-speaker-wire-crimper.jpg
 
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All connectors that are standard with a jamma harness. Thanks so much both of you. I believe I get it now. I guess I wasn't sure how to make sure the wires stay in the connectors. I have actually a couple of tools that will work for the various connectors. Thanks!
 
Agreed, the one in the photo is truly awful. For about $10 you can get a racheting crimper from harbor freight (link) that gives better results on those terminals.
 
I was trying to keep it super simple by illustrating the type of tool needed that both stripped and crimped the wires. Without trying to explain the differences in crimpers, showing him multiple tools, etc. Baby steps. I own a racheting crimper myself and agree, but this guy had no idea what a crimper was.
 
I was trying to keep it super simple by illustrating the type of tool needed that both stripped and crimped the wires. Without trying to explain the differences in crimpers, showing him multiple tools, etc. Baby steps. I own a racheting crimper myself and agree, but this guy had no idea what a crimper was.

Still, you should at least guide him to a better tool than that one.

To the OP: the only thing the pictured tool is good for is pissing you off. Take it from a cheapskate who learned the hard way. You can't be without a good crimper if you plan on making harnesses. Lesson learned here.
 
I appreciate all of everyone's input. My question was how they connect. I have various crimpers. I will find out if they are crappy or good enough, soon enough. :)

I just wasn't sure what exactly to make the connection. I've never done it before and wasn't sure how to get the various connectors on the ends of the wires of the jamma harness.
 
Wait, I believe I mis-read something. You have a complete JAMMA wiring harness, and you're looking to get something on the ends of the wires to connect them to the various switches in your cab?

Ah.....for that you just need insulated spade connectors, like this:

1865x1__62385_zoom.jpg


The above pictured tool MAY work for these. Most of them are just solderless crimp connections. Insert stripped wire, and crimp the collar of the connector nice and tight.
 
Bingo! :) Thanks for that but yes I need to put those connectors on and the part I wasn't sure of was what I needed to do to get them actually in and to stay.
 
Video connection

Now I'm trying to figure out how to connect the monitor and it seems the cables coming out of the monitor are not what I expected. Their is a double black cable coming out with a connector of 2 wires. However on the JAMMA harness, there are 5 wires. I must be missing something or not seeing the appropriate connection to the monitor I should be trying to do. Can anyone please point me in the right direction? It's the black cable i'm referring to on the bottom left of the first photo that has the unconnected connector.

In another cabinet I have that works, it has the various colored wires as I was expecting.

I'm sure having a tough time with crimping connectors too. It's a pain in the a$$.
 

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Their is a double black cable coming out with a connector of 2 wires.

That's power. You would connect that to the feed coming from the isolation transformer in the bottom of the cabinet. It's not part of the JAMMA harness.

However on the JAMMA harness, there are 5 wires.

Those 5 wires would be red, green, blue, video ground, and video sync. They will plug into a connector found on your monitor's circuit board. It will look something like this:

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You will need to terminate your JAMMA harness wires with molex connectors to fit that header on your monitor's chassis. You won't need to connect to every pin on that header - monitors allow for various connections based on the type of sync signal your game uses. Basically, the pinout goes as follows from left to right in the photo:

1. Red
2. Green
3. Blue
4. Video Ground
5. Positive Vertical Sync
6. Positive Horizontal Sync
*space*
7. Video Ground
8. Negative Vertical Sync
9. Negative Horizontal Sync

As far as hooking up your JAMMA harness, you would be using pins 1,2,3,4 and 9 OR 1,2,3 7 and 9. JAMMA uses composite negative sync on pin 9, and pins 4 and 7 are interchangeable as video ground.

If you need help getting those connectors, just shoot a request to Bob Roberts via his website, and he can get you the parts you need.
 

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