FIELD GUIDESource-led reference
Port & Cable

E315 · Source-scoped pinout variants

FireWire 4-pin connector engineering reference

Named wiring from the pinout research; connector shape alone does not establish capabilities.

Open field noteSource trail

Source checked · no independent review claimed · Fabrication approved: no

FireWire 4-pin (IEEE 1394a 4-circuit, no power) engineering reference original orientation schematic
Original pinout diagram; read the exact variant and view below. Not to scale.

Orientation

How to read this profile

Read the exact variant view convention. Schematic layouts do not establish physical positions.

Source-scoped identification facts

Each value retains its exact example, role and measurement axis. Facts from different parts must not be combined into an invented component.

Documented examples; not a mating drawing or compatibility approval
Nominal contacts4S088Nominal contact count; some implementations may omit populated positions. It is not a wiring map.
Connector roleplug (1394_44_6)S938Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_44_6. Documented role: plug. Cablelength1828.8mm and packaging sizes are not connector geometry.; TE2011presentation also read:4pin PCB products have DIP/SMT/FPC options,M1.6/M2.1mounting screws and0.8/1.6mmPCBoptions; these are not exact cable-plug pitch or envelope.; No contact-row count,dimension,printedmark or exact receptacle part could be verified from accessible primary mechanical material.
ManufacturerStarTech.com (1394_44_6)S938Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_44_6. Documented role: plug. Cablelength1828.8mm and packaging sizes are not connector geometry.; TE2011presentation also read:4pin PCB products have DIP/SMT/FPC options,M1.6/M2.1mounting screws and0.8/1.6mmPCBoptions; these are not exact cable-plug pitch or envelope.; No contact-row count,dimension,printedmark or exact receptacle part could be verified from accessible primary mechanical material.
SeriesFireWire400 four-pin cable (1394_44_6)S938Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_44_6. Documented role: plug. Cablelength1828.8mm and packaging sizes are not connector geometry.; TE2011presentation also read:4pin PCB products have DIP/SMT/FPC options,M1.6/M2.1mounting screws and0.8/1.6mmPCBoptions; these are not exact cable-plug pitch or envelope.; No contact-row count,dimension,printedmark or exact receptacle part could be verified from accessible primary mechanical material.
Exact part / implementation1394_44_6 (1394_44_6)S938Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_44_6. Documented role: plug. Cablelength1828.8mm and packaging sizes are not connector geometry.; TE2011presentation also read:4pin PCB products have DIP/SMT/FPC options,M1.6/M2.1mounting screws and0.8/1.6mmPCBoptions; these are not exact cable-plug pitch or envelope.; No contact-row count,dimension,printedmark or exact receptacle part could be verified from accessible primary mechanical material.

Not recorded: Positions / cavity span, Populated contacts, Contact rows, Contact pitch, Dimensions / axis, Contact gender / arrangement, Mounting, Coupling / latch, Keying / polarization, Shell / form, Recorded markings, View convention. Unknown fields stay unknown; illustrations supply no measurements or pin assignments.

Recorded variant and source limits
  • Check the exact device manual before wiring or applying power.
  • IEEE 1394a legacy 4-circuit plug/socket: Plug face per FWDG Figure 2-6: 4-3-2-1 left to right.
  • IEEE 1394 4-position (unpowered) connector: Unresolved: no primary source located.
Report a correction to these facts →

Pins & wiring

Pinout

Choose the exact wiring. Pin numbers follow its stated view; a schematic does not establish physical positions. Check your exact device before wiring.

What the status labels mean
Confirmed
Recorded research passes agree within this variant; this is not independent human review or hardware validation.
Single source
Only one underlying document, or one pass, supports this assignment.
Device-specific
Supported for the named equipment or wiring only. Check your device’s manual.
Unverified
Missing or conflicting evidence. Do not wire from this row.
Not connected
The source explicitly says NC, no contact or no pin for this wiring.
Wiring variant

IEEE 1394a legacy 4-circuit plug/socket

View and evidence limits

Plug face per FWDG Figure 2-6: 4-3-2-1 left to right.

  • P105 FireWire 4-pin — **Single source only** — Pass A: 1 TPB−, 2 TPB+, 3 TPA−, 4 TPA+ (1394 Trade Association FireWire Design Guide, Internet Archive copy). Pass B found no qualifying source. IEEE 1394 is paywalled. Treat as **not yet independently confirmed**.
  • FWDG writes the complementary line of each pair with an asterisk (TPA*, TPB*); Apple and TI documents write the 6-pin equivalents as TPA-/TPB-.
  • IEEE 1394 standards are paywalled (IEEE Xplore) and were not inspected; the 1394 TA design guide is used instead.
  • No manufacturer device manual or connector drawing giving a 4-pin signal table was found in this pass; only one source supports these rows.
  • Only the plug face (Figure 2-6) is numbered in the inspected document.
FireWire 4-pin (IEEE 1394a 4-circuit, no power) engineering referencePlug face per FWDG Figure 2-6: 4-3-2-1 left to right.SCHEMATIC · physical positions unconfirmedNot to scale · check the named wiring and device manual1: TPB* (single_source)12: TPB (single_source)23: TPA* (single_source)34: TPA (single_source)4Shell: Shell (plug shell) (single_source)ShellpowergrounddataConfigshieldNCUnknown
Schematic only · physical contact positions unconfirmed. Original drawing · not to scale. Scroll sideways if needed.

Not yet independently confirmed. No settled pin table is available for this wiring.

Sources (1)
  • S717 · 1394 Trade Association · FireWire Design Guide

    FWDG 1.0TA, 03/02/2010 · Section 2.2, Figure 2-6 '1394b type 3 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 4-circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-4 'Legacy 4 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (4-circuit side columns)

IEEE 1394 4-position (unpowered) connector

View and evidence limits

Unresolved: no primary source located.

  • P105 FireWire 4-pin — **Single source only** — Pass A: 1 TPB−, 2 TPB+, 3 TPA−, 4 TPA+ (1394 Trade Association FireWire Design Guide, Internet Archive copy). Pass B found no qualifying source. IEEE 1394 is paywalled. Treat as **not yet independently confirmed**.
  • No pin rows: all four contacts unresolved.
  • A declared contact lacks a cited assignment and is shown as unverified.
  • IEEE 1394-1995 / 1394a-2000 are paywalled (IEEE). Searches of Apple, TI, TE, Molex and camera/camcorder makers found no manufacturer document giving 4-pin contact numbers with TPA/TPB signals. Allied Vision's 1394 cable datasheet URL redirects to a generic page; the TE 'Interconnects for IEEE 1394' catalogue (2011) has no extractable pin table. Pinout websites that list a 4-pin map were deliberately not used.
  • Apple's Xserve note says the 6-pin connector's pin-2 wire (ground) goes to the shell of a 4-pin connector in a 6-to-4 cable; this implies the 4-pin has no power/ground contact but does not number its contacts.
FireWire 4-pin (IEEE 1394a 4-circuit, no power) engineering referenceUnresolved: no primary source located.SCHEMATIC · physical positions unconfirmedNot to scale · check the named wiring and device manual1: Not confirmed (unverified)12: Not confirmed (unverified)23: Not confirmed (unverified)34: Not confirmed (unverified)4powergrounddataConfigshieldNCUnknown
Schematic only · physical contact positions unconfirmed. Original drawing · not to scale. Scroll sideways if needed.

Not yet independently confirmed. No settled pin table is available for this wiring.

Sources (1)

EXSYS EX-16600 external 4-pin FireWire1394a socket

Device-specific wiring. Check your device’s manual before connecting or applying power.

View and evidence limits

Source table/illustration labeled4-PinFireWire1394aBuchse/Port. Contact numbers1–4 are as printed; no termination-side view or cable-rear mirror is asserted.

  • Exact EX-16600 socket only; does not promote the unresolvedgenericB variant or prove every 4-pin implementation.
  • Manufacturer numeric socket figure is recorded as printed; solder tails, cable rear and PCB footprint are unverified.
  • No power contacts are added. Schematic listing only; not to scale; fabrication remains unapproved.
FireWire 4-pin (IEEE 1394a 4-circuit, no power) engineering referenceSource table/illustration labeled4-PinFireWire1394aBuchse/Port. Contact numbers1–4 are as printed; no termination-side view or cable-rear mirror is asserted.SCHEMATIC · physical positions unconfirmedNot to scale · check the named wiring and device manual1: TPB- (device_specific)12: TPB+ (device_specific)23: TPA- (device_specific)34: TPA+ (device_specific)4powergrounddataConfigshieldNCUnknown
Schematic only · physical contact positions unconfirmed. Original drawing · not to scale. Scroll sideways if needed.
EXSYS EX-16600 external 4-pin FireWire1394a socket — source-scoped contact map
PinSignalWhat it doesStatus
1TPB-Twisted-pairB negative conductor in this named card port.Device-specific
Sources
2TPB+Twisted-pairB positive conductor in this named card port.Device-specific
Sources
3TPA-Twisted-pairA negative conductor in this named card port.Device-specific
Sources
4TPA+Twisted-pairA positive conductor in this named card port.Device-specific
Sources
Sources (1)
  • S883 · EXSYS · EX-16600 Manual / Anleitung

    Vers. 1.0 / 26.10.22 (printed verbatim; date not reinterpreted) · PDF p. 2, printed p. 2, ANSCHLÜSSE:6-PinFireWire1394aBuchse and4-PinFireWire1394aBuchse numbered tables/illustrations; corresponding EnglishCONNECTORS on PDF p. 1, printed p. 5

Unknowns stay unknown.

  • Check the exact device manual before wiring or applying power.

Your next step

Use the detail without guessing past its limits.

Read the connector field note Recognition clues and practical checks.Work through a connection Keep exact equipment and cable requirements separate.

Source trail

Claims and sources

C803Ksource checked

IEEE 1394a legacy 4-circuit plug/socket: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

1394 Trade Association · FireWire Design Guide ↗
Section 2.2, Figure 2-4 '1394b type 1 cable assembly and schematic (Beta plug to Beta plug)' and Table 2-2 '1394b type 1 (Beta to beta) end-to-end connections'; Section 2.2, Figure 2-5 '1394b type 2 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 6 circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-3 'Legacy 6 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (6-circuit side columns); Section 2.2, Figure 2-6 '1394b type 3 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 4-circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-4 'Legacy 4 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (4-circuit side columns) · Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

C803Lsource checked

IEEE 1394 4-position (unpowered) connector: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Apple Computer, Inc. · Xserve Developer Note, Chapter 'Input and Output Devices', section 'FireWire Ports' (developer.apple.com archive HTML) ↗
Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-2 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Figure 3-2; Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-3 'Signals on the FireWire 400 connector' and Figure 3-3 · Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

C883Asource checked

EXSYS EX-16600 external 4-pin FireWire1394a socket: exact numbered manufacturer contact normalization. Device-specific source-backed research only; see per-contact source and scope.

EXSYS · EX-16600 Manual / Anleitung ↗
PDF p. 2, printed p. 2, ANSCHLÜSSE:6-PinFireWire1394aBuchse and4-PinFireWire1394aBuchse numbered tables/illustrations; corresponding EnglishCONNECTORS on PDF p. 1, printed p. 5 · 6-pin1 is called Power without a voltage/current here. Numeric socket figures are recorded as printed; no solder-tail/cable-rear mirror inferred. Printed date is preserved verbatim.

3 source records support this profile. No independent engineering review or hardware validation is claimed.

Evidence behind this page

Scope first. Source second. Approval separate.

3 linked sources · 3 scoped claims · 0 sources with inspection/access flags.

Page scope: Original schematic; not to scale and not fabrication approval.

Assessment 2026-10-22 · earliest scheduled source review 2027-01-18. This is a recorded-date assessment, not a live source check. Page-level independent review is not established by this panel.

Inspect 3 source scopes, access limits and dates

S717 · FireWire Design Guide

1394 Trade Association · Unclassified publisher domain · inspected 2026-10-20 · due 2027-01-18

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: Section 2.2, Figure 2-4 '1394b type 1 cable assembly and schematic (Beta plug to Beta plug)' and Table 2-2 '1394b type 1 (Beta to beta) end-to-end connections'; Section 2.2, Figure 2-5 '1394b type 2 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 6 circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-3 'Legacy 6 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (6-circuit side columns); Section 2.2, Figure 2-6 '1394b type 3 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 4-circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-4 'Legacy 4 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (4-circuit side columns)

S718 · Xserve Developer Note, Chapter 'Input and Output Devices', section 'FireWire Ports' (developer.apple.com archive HTML)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-20 · due 2027-01-18

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-2 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Figure 3-2; Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-3 'Signals on the FireWire 400 connector' and Figure 3-3

S883 · EX-16600 Manual / Anleitung

EXSYS · Unclassified publisher domain · inspected 2026-10-22 · due 2027-01-20

Within inspection window

Scoped support: EX-16600 named-card4-pin / 6-pin FireWire1394a socket assignments only.

Not established / limitations: 6-pin1 is called Power without a voltage/current here. Numeric socket figures are recorded as printed; no solder-tail/cable-rear mirror inferred. Printed date is preserved verbatim.

Locator: PDF p. 2, printed p. 2, ANSCHLÜSSE:6-PinFireWire1394aBuchse and4-PinFireWire1394aBuchse numbered tables/illustrations; corresponding EnglishCONNECTORS on PDF p. 1, printed p. 5

Trace 3 claims to their source records

C803K · P105

IEEE 1394a legacy 4-circuit plug/socket: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S717 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C803L · P105

IEEE 1394 4-position (unpowered) connector: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S718 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C883A · P105

EXSYS EX-16600 external 4-pin FireWire1394a socket: exact numbered manufacturer contact normalization. Device-specific source-backed research only; see per-contact source and scope.

Claim scope: Only the named implementation and explicit numbered rows; no universal family claim, independent confirmation, hardware verification or fabrication approval.

Source links: S883 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

Prepare this page for review → (private workspace)Read the evidence method →

Recorded evidence only. An inspection date, publisher label, source link or generated packet is not independent technical review, hardware testing, fabrication approval or a compatibility verdict.