Accessories

Accessories
Communications Cables

model

Communications Cables

Alicat Scientific offers many cable types and lengths to connect your mass flow meter, pressure gauge or controller to a computer or programmable logic controller (PLC). Many cables are available in both single-ended and double-ended variations. Custom cable lengths are available for all single-ended cables.

If you don’t see what you need on this page, call 520-290-6060 or email us to speak with a sales engineer about a custom cabling solution. We will do all we can to get you connected!

See available electrical connectors

8-pin mini-DIN cables (DC series)

Wire colors for 8-pin mini-DIN cables are labeled according to our standard 8-pin mini-DIN pinout:

Black – primary 4-20 mA current analog output
Brown – secondary analog output (if used, DC only)
Red – RS-232 digital serial input
Orange – setpoint input or remote tare (via grounding)
Yellow – RS-232 digital serial output
Green – primary 0-5, 1-5 or 0-10 volt DC analog output
Blue – DC power input
Purple/White – ground

DC Series double-ended 8-pin mini-DIN cables

Single-ended 8-pin cables

Single-ended 8-pin mini-DIN cables transmit power, analog and digital signals. They have a male 8-pin connector on one end and are blunt cut on the other end, for custom wiring of your Alicat instrument to your system. Single-ended 8-pin cables come in the following lengths. (Custom lengths are available.)

6 ft/1.8 m (DC-61)
6 ft/1.8 m with right angle connector (DC-6RT)*
25 ft/7.6 m (DC-251)
50 ft/15.2 m (DC-501)
75 ft/22.9 m (DC-751)
100 ft/30.5 m (DC-1001)

*The DC-6RT has a right-angle connector for use in tight spaces. This cable is only available in the 6-foot length (1.8m).

Double-ended 8-pin cables

Double-ended DC Series cables have male 8-pin connectors on both ends and carry power, analog and digital signals. They are available in the following lengths:

6 ft/1.8 m (DC-62)
25 ft/7.6 m (DC-252)
50 ft/15.2 m (DC-502)

Double-ended 8-pin RS cables for BB3 and BB9

Double-ended 8-pin mini-DIN RS cables are perfect for connecting your instruments to a BB3 or BB9 multi-drop breakout box. RS cables have male 8-pin connectors on both ends and carry only power and digital (RX/TX) signals.

3 ft/0.9 m (DC-32RS)
6 ft/1.8 m (DC-62RS)

6-pin locking industrial cables (IC series)

Wire colors for 6-pin locking industrial cables are labeled according to our standard 6-pin industrial pinout:

Black – ground
Brown – primary DC voltage or 4-20 mA current analog output
Red – DC power input
Green – setpoint input or remote tare (via grounding)
Blue – RS-232 digital serial output
White – RS-232 digital serial input

IC Series single-ended 6-pin locking industrial cables

Single-ended 6-pin cables

Single-ended 6-pin locking industrial cables transmit power, analog and digital signals. They have a male 6-pin connector on one end and are blunt cut on the other end, for custom wiring of your Alicat instrument to your system. Single-ended 6-pin cables come in the following lengths. (Custom lengths are available.)

10 ft/3.0 m (IC10)
20 ft/6.1 m (IC20)
50 ft/15.2 m (IC50)

Double-ended 6-pin cables

Double-ended IC Series cables have male 6-pin connectors on both ends and carry power, analog and digital signals. They are perfect for connecting your meters and controllers to a BB3 or BB9 multi-drop breakout box. They are available in the following lengths:

10 ft/3.0 m (IC102)

9-pin and 15-pin D-sub cables (DB series)

Double-ended D-sub cables

Double-ended (female-female) D-sub cables can be used to connect Alicat instruments with male D-sub connectors to programmable logic controllers (PLC’s) and other devices with the same connector.

9-pin: 10 ft/3.0 m (Part 510199)
15-pin: 15 ft/4.6 m (Part 510368)

*Note: Alicat instruments equipped with 9-pin D-sub connectors do not have the same pinouts as common serial cables. Proper connection to computer serial ports is accomplished via our MD8DB9 8-pin mini-DIN to serial adapter cable.

510199 double-ended 9-pin D-sub cable

510368 double-ended 15-pin D-sub cable

Single-ended D-sub cables

The 15-pin D-sub cable is also available as a single-ended cable in custom cable lengths of less than 25 feet. The blunt end of this cable is labeled with colors and pin numbers that correspond to Alicat’s several 15-pin D-sub pinout options.

15-pin: 15 ft/4.6 m (Part DBC-251)

DBC-251 single-ended 15-pin D-sub cable

Conversion Cables

8-pin mini-DIN to 9-pin serial (D-sub)

The best way to connect a single Alicat device to a serial port on a computer is by using our MD8DB9 8-pin mini-DIN to 9-pin serial adapter cable (6 ft/1.8m length). This cable directly converts the ground, transmit and receive signals from the 8-pin mini-DIN that is standard on most Alicat instruments to the corresponding pins on a computer’s 9-pin D-sub serial port.

To connect multiple Alicat devices to a computer with a single serial port, please see our multi-drop breakout boxes.

MD8DB9 double-ended 8-pin mini-DIN to 9-pin serial conversion cable

8-pin mini-DIN to USB 2.0

Alicat instruments may be connected to computers USB ports by using our 8-pin to USB conversion cables.These cables transmit serial communications (RS-232 or RS-485) but will not power your Alicat instrument from a computer’s USB port. Your computer may require the installation of a USB device driver.

RS-232: 6 ft/1.8 m (USB-MD8-232)
RS-485: 6 ft/1.8 m (USB-MD8-485)

Other connectors are possible on this custom USB conversion cable: