Pinouts of Connectors

Centronics printer connector pinout

layout
schematic diagram
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One of the most used printer interfaces, since every Intel/DOS/Windows based Personal Computer today has a Sub-D25 female connector which is called LPT1, printer-side connector

36 pin CENTRONICS FEMALE connector pin-out & layout
36 pin CENTRONICS FEMALE connector  at the printer
Pin Name Dir Description
1 /STROBE <-- Strobe
2 D0 <-> Data Bit 0
3 D1 <-> Data Bit 1
4 D2 <-> Data Bit 2
5 D3 <-> Data Bit 3
6 D4 <-> Data Bit 4
7 D5 <-> Data Bit 5
8 D6 <-> Data Bit 6
9 D7 <-> Data Bit 7
10 /ACK --> Acknowledge
11 BUSY --> Busy
12 POUT --> Paper Out
13 SEL --> Select
14 /AUTOFEED <-- Autofeed
15 n/c - Not used
16 0 V --- Logic Ground
17 CHASSIS GND --- Shield Ground
18 +5 V PULLUP --> +5 V DC (50 mA max)
19 GND --- Signal Ground (Strobe Ground)
20 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 0 Ground)
21 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 1 Ground)
22 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 2 Ground)
23 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 3 Ground)
24 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 4 Ground)
25 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 5 Ground)
26 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 6 Ground)
27 GND --- Signal Ground (Data 7 Ground)
28 GND --- Signal Ground (Acknowledge Ground)
29 GND --- Signal Ground (Busy Ground)
30 /GNDRESET --- Reset Ground
31 /RESET <-- Reset
32 /FAULT --> Fault (Low when offline)
33 0 V --- Signal Ground
34 n/c - Not used
35 +5 V --> +5 V DC
36 /SLCT IN <-- Select In (Taking low or high sets printer on line or off line respectively)
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.
Dn:Data lines, high is a one. 
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:+5VdcNot 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
SELECT IN:A high signal indicates to the printer that a DC1/ DC3 code is valid.This signal is used by a few manufacturers

Note: Direction is Printer relative Computer.

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Pinouts.ru > Pinouts and schemes of parallel ports connectors >  Pinout of Centronics printer connector and layout of 36 pin CENTRONICS FEMALE connector

Source(s): Connectivity Knowledge Platform (Made IT), from Hardware Book, Peter Korsgaard, Petr Krc
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