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Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:15 am
by D2O
I had comms problems on Monday and decided to take my Buzzcom intercom home to check, but the connector that plugs into the radio was stuck. Long story short, I had to break it out. :oops: Now I cannot determine the wire connections going from the Buzzcom intercom to the Vertex radio connector. I have seen the connector diagram of the Vertex connector elsewhere on the forum, but it appears the wire colouring on this one is different, and I want to make sure I connect it back right.
plugs.jpg
The wires on the diagram indicate colours as being red, black, white, and the braided screen wire that go to the Vertex radio connector, but these wire colours on my Buzzcom intercom are red, white, yellow, and the braided screen wire. (**)

This is my thoughts on the wire colours:
Red - PTT
White - Audio
Yellow - Mic
Braided screen wire - Ground

Can anyone confirm this? ZULU1?

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:17 am
by Tailspin
Hey D2O

Eish the colours depend on the cable you are using. Rather take a multi meter and confirm the cable connections / colours with the correct position on the Plug.

That is about all the advice i can give with Buzz Comm stuff.

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:36 am
by D2O
Thanks Tailspin. I think the main concern is that the moulded connector which plugs into the Vertex radio appears to be non-standard, when comparing it to the wire colours of a standard Vertex Connector. This was wired into the Buzzcom intercom, and I need to make sure of where the wires from the Vertex connector are supposed to go on the Buzzcom intercom.
The wiring on the Vertex connector isn't a problem. I have a diagram for that. It's where those wires go on the Buzzcom intercom that I don't have info. on. I've even opened up the buzzcom intercom, and am no further at resolving this. A multimeter will not help here, as I need a circuit diagram, or some indication of where the inputs & outputs go. ($$) ($$)

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 11:55 am
by ZULU1
Unfortunately there is no such thing as a standard colour code for the CT96 or the CT91 cables for a Vertex. You have no choice but to use a multimeter. Sorry not much help but 3 out of 10 are all different. The pic i posted is the 7/10 ones !

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 1:33 pm
by Tailspin
D2O

Where you located Dude :?:

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 2:04 pm
by D2O
Tailspin, I'm in Randburg.
I'm going to hook up the intercom tonight and run some tests before I connect to the Vertex.
Hopefully the signals will give me a clue as to what's the mic output, headphone input, and what's the PTT.
When I know, I'll post my findings to help someone else some day :wink:

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:43 pm
by D2O
Ok problem solved vhpy
As suspected:
PTT: Red
White: audio
Screen: earth
Yellow: mic

Because of the PTT switch, it was easy to check with a multi-meter which one was PTT, as it shorts out when the switch is pressed.

Ok, on the Buzzcom board side:
pcb wiring from left to right (wires on top, pcb showing component side up):
red - PTT
White - Audio
Braid - Earth
Yellow - mic

The Vertex connection is as per the diagram posted earlier

Maybe this will help someone else one day :wink:

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 10:46 pm
by D2O
Oh yes, I found the source of my mic problem too...turns out the headset design used a conductive wire to act as the mic boom. It was causing interference with the mic, as the mic casing is also connected to the mic gnd. Simple insulation tape between the mic and the boom which it attaches to fixed the problem!
Right, anyone with problems with their "Buzz"com? I can help!

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:30 am
by Koevoet
Also ussing buzzcom intercom, my aux plug - ear phone jack that is used to plug in music, wiring came lose on the board and i can not see where it connects, maybe u can show me a pic of yours fitted. jaco

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 6:00 pm
by D2O
Koevoet, I'll forward you a pic :wink:

Just an update, my problems are not over :(
I have to remove the whole intercom now, and make up a circuit diagram of this "buzz"-com thing to sort it out.
Just can't afford Airmagic, otherwise I would've changed over in a heartbeat :(
Made a temporary plan using the adapter that came with the Vertex for radio comms, but sadly no intercom for pax for now :evil:

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:28 pm
by ZULU1
D20, talk to me (or Tailspin) see if we can sniff out a recon unit..we will make a plan somehow....just be careful with the CT96 cable. May i suggest that at this stage you put a Binder 710 series 4 pin plug on it to allow easy removal from the intercom. The Yaesu/Vertex CT 96 is brilliant and it does as it says, its waterproof but they dont like continual unscrewing. So we put a Binder 4 pole 710 series quick connect on it. Available from RS components and a real bastard to solder but they work. When installing the system be careful of the ground connections also as any aircraft powered GPS has a switch mode regulator that can (correction will) give a rf ingress. Pop a diode across the feed line to nail this. Its imperative to isolate the mic ground from this preventing line noise. Best to power the intercom from its own battery power thus ensuring this isolation.

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:40 pm
by D2O
Thanks for the valuable advice ZULU1! (^^)
I think I'll take your advice with the quick connect. As careful as I have been with the connector, it decided that it had enough and wasn't coming out without irreversible damage, so a quick connect will solve my problems, as I don't trust leaving my radio in the aerie.

Re: Buzzcom intercom wiring to Vertex 220

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:53 pm
by ZULU1
See the quick connect on this system, just keep the cable length as short as possible between the intercom and radio. This may need a rf bead around it as this cable is the source (antenna) of rf ingress.