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Parallel Pinout Diagrams
 
Centronics Pinouts

 

Pinning 36 pin Amphenol
 

 

Male

Female

Pin

Signal

Abbr.

Source

1

Data Strobe (low)

STROBE

Computer

2

Data Bit 1 (LSB)

D1

Computer

3

Data Bit 2

D2

Computer

4

Data Bit 3

D3

Computer

5

Data Bit 4

D4

Computer

6

Data Bit 5

D5

Computer

7

Data Bit 6

D6

Computer

8

Data Bit 7

D7

Computer

9

Data Bit 8 (LSB)

D8

Computer

10

Acknowledge (low)

ACK

Printer

11

Busy (high)

BUSY

Printer

12

Paper End (high)

PE

Printer

13

Select (high)

SEL

Printer

14

Supply Ground

 

-

15

Oscillator Transmit

 

Printer

16

Logical Ground

 

-

17

Chassis Ground

 

-

18

+5 Vdc

+V

Printer

19

Return Data Strobe

 

-

20

Return Data Bit 1

 

-

21

Return Data Bit 2

 

-

22

Return Data Bit 3

 

-

23

Return Data Bit 4

 

-

24

Return Data Bit 5

 

-

25

Return Data Bit 6

 

-

26

Return Data Bit 7

 

-

27

Return Data Bit 8

 

-

28

Return ACK

 

-

29

Return BUSY

 

-

30

Return Input Prime 

-

31

Input Prime (low)

 

Computer

32

Fault (low)

FAULT

Printer

33

-

-

-

34

-

-

-

35

-

-

-

36

-

-

-

 

Pinning Sub-D25
 

 

Male

Female

Pin

Signal

Abbr.

Source

1

Data Strobe (low)

STROBE

Computer

2

Data Bit 1 (LSB)

D1

Computer

3

Data Bit 2

D2

Computer

4

Data Bit 3

D3

Computer

5

Data Bit 4

D4

Computer

6

Data Bit 5

D5

Computer

7

Data Bit 6

D6

Computer

8

Data Bit 7

D7

Computer

9

Data Bit 8 (LSB)

D8

Computer

10

Acknowledge (low)

ACK

Printer

11

Busy (high)

BUSY

Printer

12

Paper End (high)

PE

Printer

13

Select (high)

SEL

Printer

14

Auto Line Feed (low)

LF

Computer

15

Error (low)

ERROR

Printer

16

Initialize Printer (prime-low)

PRIME

Computer

17

Select Input (low)

SEL

Computer

18

Return/ground

GND

-

19

Return/ground

GND

-

20

Return/ground

GND

-

21

Return/ground

GND

-

22

Return/ground

GND

-

23

Return/ground

GND

-

24

Return/ground

GND

-

25

Return/ground

GND

-

 

Functional Description

STROBE:

Active low pulse used to transfer data into the printer.

Pulse with must be between 0.5 and 500 microseconds for most printers.

ACK:

Active low pulse indicates that data has been received and the printer is ready to accept more.

 

BUSY:

A high signal indicates that the printer cannot receive data.

 

PE:

A high signal indicates that the printer is out of paper (Paper End)

 

SELECT OUT:

A high signal indicates that the printer is on-line

 

AUTO FEED:

A low signal indicates to the printer that a line feed is required after each Carriage return.

This signal is used as a ground line by some manufacturers.

OSCXT:

A 100-200 KHz signal used by true Centronics printers only.

 

+5V:

+5Vdc

Not provided by all manufacturers

PRIME:

A low signal resets the printer to its power-up state and the printer buffer is cleared

 

FAULT:

A low signal indicates that the printer is in an off-line or error state

 

LINE COUNT:

Used by true Centronics printers only.

Most of the time not used

LINE COUNT:

See 34

 

SELECT IN:

A high signal indicates to the printer that a DC1/ DC3 code is valid.

This signal is used by a few manufacturers