Dan_Nailed Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Just got this from Ebay as a replacement for a worn out jack, turned up and has 4 connectors. I'm only used to seeing 3 connector versions, what's the best way to wire this? Obviously the ground is the same but it's the other 3 that I'm unsure on! Cheers, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mottlefeeder Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 [quote name='Dan_Nailed' post='351245' date='Dec 10 2008, 09:24 PM'] Just got this from Ebay as a replacement for a worn out jack, turned up and has 4 connectors. I'm only used to seeing 3 connector versions, what's the best way to wire this? Obviously the ground is the same but it's the other 3 that I'm unsure on! Cheers, Dan[/quote] Assuming it is a quarter inch jack socket, it is unusual. I would suggest getting a battery, wire and torchbulb and a three pole jack plug, and checking what connects to what before and after plugging them together. You could have a mono change-over switch + earth. If it is an 1/8 inch (3.5mm) jack socket, they make a four pole version for video cameras. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisba Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 (edited) Is one of them a switch for an active amp, so that when a plug is inserted into the socket, a switch is closed to turn on the amp ? Edited December 10, 2008 by chrisba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Nailed Posted December 11, 2008 Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 It's 1/4" so I was a little surprised, it looks identical to a normal stereo bu there's an extra, shorter plug next to the tip and ring connections...odd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 (edited) I'm no expert, but I imagine it is one of a couple of things: I would have thought it is a [b]mono[/b] socket where there are actually two smaller connectors, that serve one of the following functions: The two connections are for a separate circuit and are linked or broken when a plug is inserted for something like turning an active preamp on/off as chrisba said. OR The two connections could be connected (one each) to the sleeve and tip tags with no plug inserted and then the connections broken when removed, kind of like a patchbay socket, for allowing "normalised" signal to flow through until it is interrupted by a new source from the jack. I have not seen this type of socket so couldn't say for sure. A friend with a multimeter (or battery and bell ) would be good to confirm this. Again, this is only a "IMO". Experts flame away! Edited December 11, 2008 by Huge Hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escholl Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 it's actually also entirely possibly that the fourth connection is just a solder/screw lug, and is not connected to anything. I've not seen this on jack sockets before, but it's pretty common practice on barrel-plug DC sockets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 The easiest way to find out is to plug a stereo jack into it and do a continuity check between the terminals on the plug and those on the socket. My guess is that there's either some separate switching mechanism in the socket or there are separate terminals on the socket for the "sleeve" contact as well as the body of the socket itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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