The ubiquitous SCART (Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs) connection also known in Europe as the PERITEL or EURO AV BUS connector. The SCART connector is not usually found in equipment outside of Europe.

The SCART connector was developed by the French, originally for the sole purpose of preventing foreign TV imports, previously the French had legislation that prevented any TV imports unless the set was capable of receiving the old French 819 line monochrome system. This effectively stopped any foreign sets from being imported, but the demise of the 819 line system prevented this from being a valid reason for banning imports, so in order to try and maintain their private market they introduced the SCART socket, and passed legislation that said all TV's sold in France since 1980 must have a SCART socket. This was obviously much less of a deterrent, it was far simpler for TV manufacturers to add a SCART socket than to produce a dual-standard set, and the SCART was actually useful elsewhere with the development of cheap home video recorders. 

A SCART socket is a 21 pin connector fitted on many European TV, VCR, and Satellite products, it provides stereo sound and video signals both in and out of the item of equipment (obviously depending on the particular type of equipment), it can also provide RGB signals, which can be useful for connecting Video Game Consoles or Digital TV Set Top Boxes (STB's). The main reason for using a SCART lead is to provide stereo sound from a stereo VCR, STB or satellite receiver, this is the only way to get stereo from these sources via your TV, a NICAM (or other kind of stereo TV) won't provide stereo sound unless the source includes a stereo encoder (NICAM or other), and these are too expensive for domestic equipment. It may also provide slightly better picture quality, but with the high quality modulators used these days it often doesn't - and in fact sometimes seems slightly worse.

In my own opinion the SCART connector although rather useful and versatile, seems to be a rather fragile setup and is outclassed by other professional standards. Nonetheless, we seem to be stuck with it, at least for the present time anyway so we shall have to make the best of it.

Here are the Pin designations for this versatile connector. 

 

The SCART - SCART connector as supplied by IXOS

RGB Connection Output connector Input connector 1 Audio right out 2 Audio right in 3 Audio left (or mono) out 6 Audio left (or mono) in 4 Audio return 4 Audio return 7 Blue out 7 Blue in 5 Blue return 5 Blue return 11 Green out 11 Green in 9 Green return 9 Green return 15 Red out 15 Red in 13 Red return 13 Red return 16 RGB status out 16 RGB status in 14 RGB status return 14 RGB status return 19 Sync (composite video) out 20 Sync (composite video) in 17 Sync return 18 Sync return 21 Shield 21 Shield S-Video Connection Output connector Input connector 1 Audio right out 2 Audio right in 3 Audio left (or mono) out 6 Audio left (or mono) in 4 Audio return 4 Audio return 15 Chrominance out 15 Chrominance in 13 Chrominance return 13 Chrominance return 8 Video status out 8 Video status in 19 Luminance out 20 Luminance in 17 Luminance return 18 Luminance return 21 Shield 21 Shield Composite Video Connection Output connector Input connector 1 Audio right out 2 Audio right in 3 Audio left (or mono) out 6 Audio left (or mono) in 4 Audio return 4 Audio return 8 Video status out 8 Video status in 19 Composite video out 20 Composite video in 17 Composite video return 18 Composite video return 21 Shield 21 Shield (Composite) Decoder Connection Receiver connector Decoder connector 1 Audio right out 2 Audio right in 2 Audio right in 1 Audio right out 3 Audio left out 6 Audio left in 6 Audio left in 3 Audio left out 4 Audio return 4 Audio return 8 Video status in 8 Video status out 19 Baseband out (scrambled) 20 Baseband in 17 Baseband out return 18 Baseband in return 20 Composite video in (unscrambled) 19 Composite video out 18 Composite video in return 17 Composite video out return 21 Shield 21 Shield

The Peritel SCART Connector Signals 

• * Note that pin 21 is actually the metal housing of the Peritel SCART connector

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Make a DIY - Video to Hi-Fi Audio output cable

The details contain herein should give you enough information to be able to construct a SCART cable yourself for use in your A/V system. One particular permutation of cable that I have found useful is to have a 21-Pin SCART to 2 Phono outputs for recording the Stereo sound channels from my Satellite Receiver.   Using this cable I can have Satellite radio from Europe playing on my HiFi without having to have the TV switched on.

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Only three pins are needed retrieve a stereo audio signal from a video cassette recorder or television to a HiFi unit using the SCART connector. The relevant pins are as follows:

 

• Pin 1 - Right Audio Out
• Pin 3 - Left Audio Out / Mono Audio Out
• Pin 4 - Audio Ground

 

The connecting cable should consist of a cable of the type normally used for connecting Hi-Fi components.

The left audio line should be connected to pin 3 and the right audio line should be connected to pin 1. The shield of each cable should be connected to pin 4.

If the video recorder or television provides a mono output only, then a connection need only be made to pin 3 although the output may also be present on pin 1 on some equipment.

Because audio signals are sensitive to distortion and interference it is necessary to use suitable cable for all connections to avoid crosstalk interference and other problems.

If there is interference on the sound channels, such as mains hum; it may be necessary to leave the shields unconnected at the Hi-Fi inputs or leave the shield connections to pin 4 at the SCART connector off (separating the two cable shields at that point). Some experimentation may be necessary to remove any interference.

I have personally found that the IXOS range of SCART connections are one of the most robust and well manufactured of the many connectors available to the home electronics enthusiast.

 

 

 

 

Mick Evans 1999-2001

  [email protected]

[email protected]

 

see also http://www.lpilsley.demon.co.uk

http://www.netcentral.co.uk/satcure/scarts.htm

http://www.sesworld.com/info/scart.html

http://www.sparkysworld.co.uk/connectors.htm

 

 

DISCLAIMER!!!!!

This information is given in good faith, based on several years of workshop experience.  No responsibility will be accepted for any death, damage or injury caused either directly or indirectly by the use of this information. The reader should check the facts himself. It is assumed and stressed that the reader will be familiar with good, safe, electronic workshop practice and will be familiar with all tools, components and terms used. If there is any doubt about the reader's ability to carry out such work competently and safely, the work should be referred to a specialist engineer.