Mini-6 pin and 5-pin DIN PS/2 compatibility

[NoSp]

I have a PCB with a PS/2 keyboard connector. The only problem is that it
uses a (standard size) 5-pin DIN female connector for some strange
reason, while all PS/2 keyboards I've come across use 6-pin mini DIN
connectors.

So I was wondering if it's possible to unsolder the 5-pin female DIN and
replace it with a 6-pin female mini-DIN, or is the pin placement and
spacing completely different?
(I know that there are adapter-connectors available, but I'd rather
avoid it in this case).

 

[Tilmann Reh]

I have a PCB with a PS/2 keyboard connector. The only problem is that it
uses a (standard size) 5-pin DIN female connector for some strange
reason, while all PS/2 keyboards I've come across use 6-pin mini DIN
connectors.

So I was wondering if it's possible to unsolder the 5-pin female DIN and
replace it with a 6-pin female mini-DIN, or is the pin placement and
spacing completely different?
(I know that there are adapter-connectors available, but I'd rather
avoid it in this case).

You'd better get one of those.
The footprints (and sizes) are *totally* different, and the pinout too.

Tilmann

 

[Prepair Ltd]

I have a PCB with a PS/2 keyboard connector. The only problem is that it
uses a (standard size) 5-pin DIN female connector for some strange
reason, while all PS/2 keyboards I've come across use 6-pin mini DIN
connectors.

So I was wondering if it's possible to unsolder the 5-pin female DIN and
replace it with a 6-pin female mini-DIN, or is the pin placement and
spacing completely different?
(I know that there are adapter-connectors available, but I'd rather
avoid it in this case).

The connectors are usually moulded onto the kayboard leads and not easy to
remove.

The adapter is the best way to go, get one with the flying lead rather than the
all in one moulded thing, it allows the external cable a bit of flexibility.

Peter
--
Peter A Forbes
Prepair Ltd, Rushden, UK
[email protected]
http://www.prepair.co.uk
http://www.prepair.eu

 

[Ken]

I have a PCB with a PS/2 keyboard connector. The only problem is that it
uses a (standard size) 5-pin DIN female connector for some strange
reason, while all PS/2 keyboards I've come across use 6-pin mini DIN
connectors.

So I was wondering if it's possible to unsolder the 5-pin female DIN and
replace it with a 6-pin female mini-DIN, or is the pin placement and
spacing completely different?
(I know that there are adapter-connectors available, but I'd rather
avoid it in this case).

If the wiring is the same (and it should be if it is simply a standard
PS2 keyboard) you could break off the unused pin on the keyboard plug.
Just make sure you do it to the correct one.

 

[Graham W]

I have a PCB with a PS/2 keyboard connector. The only problem is that
it uses a (standard size) 5-pin DIN female connector for some strange
reason, while all PS/2 keyboards I've come across use 6-pin mini DIN
connectors.

So I was wondering if it's possible to unsolder the 5-pin female DIN
and replace it with a 6-pin female mini-DIN, or is the pin placement
and spacing completely different?
(I know that there are adapter-connectors available, but I'd rather
avoid it in this case).

That 5-pin DIN is what keyboard connectors used to be before the P/S2
came out! So your first sentence is wrong - I don't think you'll find any
other reference to on that PCB to PS/2.

HTH

 

[me]

Huh?
The board is supposed to be a PS/2 keyboard interface for an old 80s
computer.
Are you saying that it's not PS/2, but another standard? Strange,
because the PS/2 keyboard works with it.

how do you know? Are you using an adapter (pS2 to 5-pin DIN) already?

What's that old standard called?

5-pin DIN keyboard connector...

 

[NoSp]

That 5-pin DIN is what keyboard connectors used to be before the P/S2
came out! So your first sentence is wrong - I don't think you'll find any
other reference to on that PCB to PS/2.

Huh?
The board is supposed to be a PS/2 keyboard interface for an old 80s
computer.
Are you saying that it's not PS/2, but another standard? Strange,
because the PS/2 keyboard works with it.

What's that old standard called?

 

[Michael Black]

I have a PCB with a PS/2 keyboard connector. The only problem is that it
uses a (standard size) 5-pin DIN female connector for some strange
reason, while all PS/2 keyboards I've come across use 6-pin mini DIN
connectors.

So I was wondering if it's possible to unsolder the 5-pin female DIN and
replace it with a 6-pin female mini-DIN, or is the pin placement and
spacing completely different?
(I know that there are adapter-connectors available, but I'd rather
avoid it in this case).

Make an adaptor. Or open the keyboard up and wire in a cable from
some other keyboard that has the mini-Din connector on it. Make
sure to look up the pinouts on the two connectors to get the
signals right.

Oh wait, you want to change the connector on the board. Get a
mini-Din female connector, and just wire it to the point where
the current connector is, you don't even need to remove the old.
Again, check the pinouts to get it right.

Of course, it's not PS/2 unless it's min-DIN.

On the other hand, the only difference between the PS/2 keyboard
and the AT keyboard that came before it was the connector.

However, the original IBM PC keyboard used the larger DIN
connector, but the keycodes were different, so you can't use
those with equipment that came later. There was a transition
period when the keyboards came with a switch to go between
the original keyboard and the AT keyboard, though I've also
seen older keyboards where the switch was inside the case, and
no easy way to change it without opening the case; I assume
those were old stock put in newer casing, at a time when the
demand for switchable keyboards had disappeared.

Michael

 

[NoSp]

I'm the original poster and I see that there's been some
misunderstanding regarding my request. Let me try to clear things up.

The PCB in question is a "QWERTYX" for the Atari ST which allows
standard PC type mice and keyboards to be used.
More info and a photo of the PCB here:
http://gem.win.co.nz/mb/atarihw/qwertyx.html

However, since most non-USB keyboards today use the smaller 6 pin
mini-DIN connector I thought it would be more handy and make it more
compatible if I change the existing 5-pin DIN connector to a 6 pin
mini-DIN.

The computer will be recased, and an adapter (yes, I have one of those
-works fine) will make the everything stick out quite a bit out from the
computer.

 

[Sarason]

I'm the original poster and I see that there's been some
misunderstanding regarding my request. Let me try to clear things up.

The PCB in question is a "QWERTYX" for the Atari ST which allows
standard PC type mice and keyboards to be used.
More info and a photo of the PCB here:
http://gem.win.co.nz/mb/atarihw/qwertyx.html

However, since most non-USB keyboards today use the smaller 6 pin
mini-DIN connector I thought it would be more handy and make it more
compatible if I change the existing 5-pin DIN connector to a 6 pin
mini-DIN.

The computer will be recased, and an adapter (yes, I have one of those
-works fine) will make the everything stick out quite a bit out from the
computer.

You can buy adaptors at any computer shop.

Andrew