Commodore 64 Vic-20 Keyboard Connector

thingiverse

I'm working on a custom keyboard for my Commodore 64. I need to attach it with a special keyboard connector cable. To simplify things, I decided to use a Dupont male-to-male ribbon cable instead of dealing with 19 individual wires. I created this adapter to hold all the wires together in order and match the original connector as closely as possible. If you're repairing an existing keyboard, you'll only need one end with the connector attached; just solder the leads onto the motherboard. Here's what you'll need: A single or double-sided Dupont male connector cable of your chosen length. I recommend getting at least 20 connectors. A male header with at least 20 pins. JB plastic weld glue. Tape, clamps, or any other tool to hold the connector in place while it dries. Now, let's move on to construction: Take your male header and snap it so one end has 20 connectors. Remove the second pin from the header connector. Connect 19 of the Dupont connectors to the header pins. The first one goes to pin 1, skip the removed pin, and connect to what was pin 3. Continue connecting the rest of the pins in order, making sure the cable isn't twisted and that they're all connected correctly. Once you've connected all 19 Dupont connectors, separate the remaining wires. Take the bottom piece, which has a block for pin 19. Coat it generously with glue on both sides of the pin block. Clean up any excess glue from the outside of the connector. Carefully fit the connectors into the bottom piece since they're already connected to the header. Once properly placed, coat the top with glue and then attach the top to the connector. While holding the top in place, carefully remove the header pins. Clean up any remaining glue and ensure all Dupont connectors are at the right depth when you look inside the connector. Tape or clamp the connector until it's dry. Repeat this process for the other side if necessary. Carefully examine your work to make sure everything is secure.