Centronics Parallel Printer Cable

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

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Last modified: November 7, 2011

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