// Retro Vintage Connectors

Centronics 36-Pin Parallel Printer

Centronics 36-pin connector is the original parallel printer port interface on printers from the 1970s through 2000s. The DB25 on the PC side connects via a parallel printer cable to the 36-pin Centronics on the printer.

// Specifications

Standard

IEEE 1284 Centronics

Pin Count

Speed

Up to 1 MB/s EPP mode

Interface

8-bit parallel bidirectional

Status

Obsolete replaced by USB

Use Case

Legacy parallel printers plotters scanners

// Pin Reference Table

Pin	Name	Function	Type
1	/STROBE	Data strobe active low	I/O
2	D0	Data bit 0	I/O
3	D1	Data bit 1	I/O
4	D2	Data bit 2	I/O
5	D3	Data bit 3	I/O
6	D4	Data bit 4	I/O
7	D5	Data bit 5	I/O
8	D6	Data bit 6	I/O
9	D7	Data bit 7	I/O
10	/ACK	Acknowledge active low	I/O
11	BUSY	Printer busy	I/O
12	PE	Paper empty	I/O
13	SELECT	Printer selected	I/O
14	/AUTO_FEED	Auto line feed	I/O
15	/ERROR	Printer error	I/O
16	/INIT	Initialize printer	I/O
17	/SELECT_IN	Select input	I/O
18-35	GND	Ground wires	GND
36	/SELECT_IN	Select input	I/O