Creating your own HOT shoe 2 extension cable.

[Nabil-A]

I thought id create a step by step procedure to assist those people who would like to extend their hotshoe 2 cable via the methods previously posted - that is via 6 pin mini din plugs.

It worked for me and i was able to extend up to 10m without a problem

PLEASE READ COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT, TO ENSURE YOU ARE CERTAIN OF ANY
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS


Firstly you will need the following tools.
-----------------------------------------------
Multimeter - for checking continueity
Solder
Soldering Iron
2 male 6pin din connection plugs
2 female 6 pin din connection plugs
6 core cable - not necessarily shielded, but multistrand wiring not single core.
Some cutting pliers - for cutting wire
some wire strippers preferable although not necessary - scissors, teeth can be used.
HEATSHRINK (not compulsary but recommended)

some of these tools are displayed below.

[Nabil-A]

Stage 1 - wire stripping
--------------------
First strip the 6 core cable so that it is as shown in first picture below.
Use your wire stripper or any other means to do this.
Perform this task to both ends of the cable.
Twist the multistrand wires together as shown

IMPORTANT
DO NOT CUT YOUR HOTSHOE 2 CABLE YET !
SImply work with your extension cable first. - see if you can actually perform the tricky soldering of the extension cable and plugs first, then decide if you would like to modify your hotshoe 2 cable.

Stage 2 - wire lead tinning
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The next thing to do is what is called tinning.
With your soldering iron and solder , cover the exposed wire ends with solder.
This can be done by securing the leads with a weight so they dont move during this procedure
and passing your soldering iron and solder just touching over the length of wire.
This procedure is necessary to simplify the connection of the wire to the plug lugs in later stages.
Make sure you solder around the complete circumference of cable multistrand wiring.
Do this to both exposed wire ends stripped in stage 1

[Nabil-A]

STage 3 - Plug Connection Details
----------------------------------------
Now we proceed with soldering the wiring of the cables to the plugs.
So disassemble the plugs as shown in my first post pics

We will be wiring the plugs according to the following diagrams.
If you do not have the same core colours, substitute the colour you have
for the ones i used, but be consistent throughout your soldering of plugs and wires.

Note the diagrams below relate to all male plugs on extension cable only (for hotshoe plugs see last stage.
Note the diagrams below relate to all female plugs on extension cable only (for hotshoe plugs see last stage.

In my diagrams below, follow the following legend.

B - Black wire
R - Red wire
Bl - Blue wire
Y - Yellow wire
G - Green wire
W - White whire

You will notice from the diagrams below, that the front sections of male and female when connected together have corresponding wire colour pin locations... ie if black lines up with black etc.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU PLACE THE PLUG COVERS ON WIRE FIRST BEFORE YOU SOLDER THE CONNECTIONS - OR EVEN BEFORE YOU TIN THE CABLE SO YOU DONT FORGET

[Nabil-A]

Connection of plugs continued
----------------------------------------------------
Perform the soldering for the male plug only on the extension cable.
See my pics below.

Pics of soldered connections are shown below. (Make sure to follow the diagram i have provided.
Make sure that the soldered wires are not in contact with one another.
It is a little tight for space around the lugs and care is required not to over solder the connections. I think i did.

FOr extra safety that the wiring does not come into contact with outer plug cover, you could apply heatshrink cable over the entire soldered wire - in my case i didnt.

Ive only shown the male plug below.. you should not have started the female plug connections until you read stage 4 - checking.

[Nabil-A]

Stage 4 - Continuity Checking
------------------------------------------------------------
Using a multimeter in continuity mode,

Check that each wire and pin corresponds to my diagram in stage 3. ie black wired pin corresponds to black wire etc.

Check also that each pin only corresponds to one wire ( if not you have contacting soldered wire connections and these will need to be checked).

When you are satisfied, you can reassemble the plug connection.

I RECOMMEND YOU ASSEMBLE THE PLUGS AS A LAST STAGE SO THAT YOU CAN CHECK YOUR WIRING COMPLETELY FIRST

NOTE the plug and wire pic below is showing a female plug with male connection to it.. (just illustrative continuity check procedure) - you will not have started the female connection.

[Nabil-A]

STAGE 4 - Continued
------------------------------------
Now perform stage 3 and 4 again for the female plug
and this time, ue the other male connection (not used yet) plugged into the female socket during your
continuity check procedure. ie checking complete male plug pins with female socket (now with male plug plugs attached). (see previous pic showing continuity check procedure).

[Nabil-A]

STage 5 - Assembly
----------------------------
If you were able to create the extension cable without too much problems and continuity was all good.

Ie one pin on the male plug corresponds to the correct 1 pin (ONLY) on the female plug. Then you have done well !!

And should now have a working extension cable.

NOW ALL YOU NEED IS TO CREATE THE RELEVENT CONNECTION POINTS ON THE HOT SHOE CABLE.

You can now assemble the plugs as shown in the below pic.
Pic shows only one side assembled.

AS mentioned before, ensure soldered wires do not contact the outer cover.
Heatshrink cable can be put onto seperate the connections from outer cover. (THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE before wire is soldered to plugs).

[Nabil-A]

picture shows one plug complete. you should have two complete.

[Nabil-A]

HOtSHOE 2 Cable - Plugs
-----------------------------------------
Okay so youve decided to modify your hotshoe 2 cable.

Firstly
word of advice.

If you found the mods to the extension cable going tough, then you probably shouldnt touch your hot shoe 2 cable.

Otherwise read on.
-------------------------------------
For safety cut your hotshoe 2 cable square in the middle. (This gives you more wire to play with should your attempts the first time round be unsuccessful - you can chop the plugs off, buy some more and try again.

In my case i chopped the cable more to one end of curly section - closer to the flash hotshoe connection , so that when plugged onto the camera i dont have the connecting point anywere near my hands.

IMPORTANT
--------------------------------
Below you will see a complete pic and a diagramatic pic indicating corresponding hotshoe contacts.
Pay attention to the following information
It doesnt matter which colour you solder to your plugs from the hotshoe, but so long as you record the the pin and the colour and follow the same for the other plug.. you should have something similiar to my schematic from stage 3 (ie reverse pin colour locations).

again perform continuity checks after each plug is soldered. Check your cable works on its own without
the extension cord. This will identify if you have soldered the plugs on correctly to the original cable first.

DONT FORGET TO PUT YOUR PLUG COVERS AND (optional heatshrink on) before you perform any soldering.

GOOD LUCK
Hope this helps.

[PacAce]

Cool, Nabil-A. Nicely explained and illustrated! I'm sure this will come in very handy for someone. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

[F. Stop Fitzgerald]

Nabil,

Great job. Thanks for taking the time to post this tutorial. It would never have crossed my mind to use a DIN connector!

In lieu of the heat shrink tubing, you can use plastic electricians' tape. Heat shrink would be more professional though and wouldn't likely slip from heat.

Nice stuff!

[Curtis N]

Great job, Nabil!
I hope you can add a link to this thread in a sticky somewhere.

[Nabil-A]

Thanks

I have placed a link from the EOS Flash Sticky.

http://www.photography-on-the.net/fo...09#post1032009

[thebrewer]

Nice tutorial. Thanks for taking the time to post a ver detailed procedure.

I am planning to get a cord and cut it up soon. I will be picking up a ps2 keyboard extension cable too!

An old trick from modifying old Commodore 1541 drive cables that might help those with rusty soldering skils:

When soldering the pins on the Din connector, have it plugged into another Din connector. This will help keep pins straight if the Din pins are overheated during soldering and the plastic starts to get soft.

[bbulldog]

great instructions, i have just got a Cable 2 second hand and have found the cable actually comes out of the hot shoe? It is different to the cable in the pictures. So really i just need to get a longer cable between the two flash shoes..
It also has a small round cell battery in it, is this another type of cable? it is original Canon.