SCART Socket Durability

[undamned]

I'm choosing an AV connector for an upcoming project and am considering using a SCART socket, but someone mentioned that for applications with frequent (weekly?) plugging/unplugging, it's not the most robust interface (socket wearing out easily).

I have a few devices with SCART sockets, but I seldom change my setup, so I cannot speak on the subject of durability. Does anyone have experience with high cycle count on SCART sockets?

On a related note, I don't see much of a selection in style/quality on SCART sockets (I'm seeing about 1/2 dozen styles, and of the same quality). Any recommendations outside the standard cheap Chinese stuff (most shops seem to just be selling rebadged Chinese parts)?
-ud

[MKL]

The only real problem is with scart sockets that are PC-mount type and don't have any fasteners (i.e. no mounting lugs/screws etc.) so that all the stress is on the solder joints. Almost all TVs/VCRs were like that and the frequent issues with broken solder joints led to the common belief that scart sockets are unreliable. But if the socket is properly screw-mounted on a panel I don't see any problems at all.

[undamned]

The only real problem is with scart sockets that are PC-mount type and don't have any fasteners (i.e. no mounting lugs/screws etc.) so that all the stress is on the solder joints. Almost all TVs/VCRs were like that and the frequent issues with broken solder joints led to the common belief that scart sockets are unreliable. But if the socket is properly screw-mounted on a panel I don't see any problems at all.

Yay, a word from experience! You'd mentioned before that you'd spent a fair amount of time in the AV industry (esp. repairing stuff), so I thoroughly appreciate your take on the subject.

For my application, I had already planned on mounting the connector to the case (had my eye on 2 different styles, both of which have screws on left/right) because I've seen some pretty hefty looking SCART cables that could practically be used as boat anchors and I'll need to be able to support all that weight without breaking anything.
-ud

[gray117]

You'll likely be fine with cheaper options.

Standard analogue considerations - lower the resistance and better the shielding the better the time you'll have. But at a certain level it's the emperor's new clothes and audiophile silliness whether any of the objectively more thorough/expensive designs actually result in an appreciably better picture/audio. Especially if you're not running long cables and/or wrapping them around loads of power cables.

If you're being particular:
Scart cable head is fragile in terms of being dropped/stepped on...but you know; what isn't...though more of a concern was subsequent socket damage if dumbos were ramming mushed cables into the back of their sets...but again, if you're not yanking stuff about and repeatedly connecting/disconnecting (?) there's not too much of a problem.
Cable itself can be a little brittle when bent excessively - just because there can be so many wires in there that your essentially stretching them against each other when bending acutely.
A fully wired can be thick which can exasperate above issues. Most of those wires/pins are going to be surplus to our typical requirements. However, you'll often find these tend to be some of the better made cables about if you're just buying blind... though if you're not bundling/squashing/stretching them into something, then it isn't going to be a problem...
Some particularly cheap cables may not have full rgb wiring...though to be honest that was probably a more 'back in day' shortcut/scam/fault ...

[viletim]

I'm choosing an AV connector for an upcoming project and am considering using a SCART socket, but someone mentioned that for applications with frequent (weekly?) plugging/unplugging, it's not the most robust interface (socket wearing out easily).

SCART sockets are quite durable, as long as mechanically supported. There are some differences in the sockets that you should be aware of at the design stage.

Loose fit:


Tight fit:


The size of the 'pin 21 hole' (ie. the cavity around the edge for the shield metal) has an effect on how tightly the SCART socket is gripped. The other factor is the amount of pins in mating SCART plug. A fully pinned SCART plug in a tight fit socket will takes two hands and mild swearing to remove. A SCART plug with only the required pins fitted (eg. 10 pins) will fall out too easily if plugged into a loose fit socket.

Pin 21 of a SCART socket always wears out much faster than the other pins. This is because the metal shield is not pliable like the other pins are. Sideways insertion/extraction force will distort the pins unless the user is very careful. The loose fit socket suffers from this more than the tight fit one. After 10 insertions the contact resistance of pin 21 has risen significantly. After 100 insertions the pin is effectively broken. This normally isn't a problem in practice as SCART cables usually couple of ground pins. Many don't even bother to connect pin 21.

On a related note, I don't see much of a selection in style/quality on SCART sockets (I'm seeing about 1/2 dozen styles, and of the same quality). Any recommendations outside the standard cheap Chinese stuff (most shops seem to just be selling rebadged Chinese parts)?

Not many distributors stock SCART this connectors any more. SCART A/V is well obsolete and the connector itself has no other use I'm aware of. The general public doesn't need them any longer.

This is a consumer A/V connector, they are all made in China. Factories in Europe, USA, Japan stopped making parts like this 15+ years ago. A Chinese factory that has been making these connectors for a long time usually has a large variety to choose from, but sometimes the MOQ is high for the specialised types. Do you just need one for a personal project or a sustainable supply for production?

[undamned]

Thanks for more info, guys!

I'm choosing an AV connector for an upcoming project and am considering using a SCART socket, but someone mentioned that for applications with frequent (weekly?) plugging/unplugging, it's not the most robust interface (socket wearing out easily).

SCART sockets are quite durable, as long as mechanically supported. There are some differences in the sockets that you should be aware of at the design stage.

Nice, I never knew about the "tight fit" connectors. Good to know about the durability of Pin 21. I'll be sure to connect all the other grounds, as to not fully rely on Pin 21. One of the Chinese sources was claiming 5000 insertion cycles, but I'm guessing that's either A) rubbish, or B) based on a test mechanism which perfectly inserts/extracts in a way that is not realistically comparable to the way a human would (sometimes funky angles, excessive force, etc.).

Do you just need one for a personal project or a sustainable supply for production?

Sustainable supply. Yeah, most Chinese sources I'm seeing have MOQ of 1000+, but the cost is so low, it's not of great concern.
-ud