A breakout box is an electrical device, usually housed in a box

Box

Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles for permanent use as storage, or for temporary use often for transporting contents. The word derives from the Greek πύξος , "box, boxwood"....

, in which a compound electrical connector

Electrical connector

An electrical connector is an electro-mechanical device for joining electrical circuits as an interface using a mechanical assembly. The connection may be temporary, as for portable equipment, require a tool for assembly and removal, or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two wires or...

 is separated or "broken out" into its component connectors. Compound connectors (which are often proprietary

Proprietary hardware

Proprietary hardware is computer hardware which is owned by the proprietor.Historically, most early computer hardware was designed as proprietary until the 1980s, when IBM PC changed this paradigm...

) are used where sufficient space for (or access to) connections is unavailable. If there are only a few connections, then a breakout cable (also octopus cable) may be used, as is common on smaller notebook computers.

Examples

• Personal computer
  Personal computer
  A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
  
   sound card
  Sound card
  A sound card is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. The term sound card is also applied to external audio interfaces that use software to generate sound, as opposed to using hardware...
  
  s. A DA15 connector on the outside of the board is often broken out into DIN connector
  DIN connector
  A DIN connector is a connector that was originally standardized by the , the German national standards organization. There are DIN standards for a large number of different connectors, therefore the term "DIN connector" alone does not unambiguously identify any particular type of connector unless...
  
  s for MIDI. Some professional audio applications use rackmount breakout boxes. A patch panel
  Patch panel
  A patch panel or patch bay is a panel, typically rackmounted, that houses cable connections. One typically shorter patch cable will plug into the front side, whereas the back holds the connection of a much longer and more permanent cable...
  
   can also function as a breakout box, in the case of multi-channel DB25 (or other) connectors used for multi-track recording.

• Docking station
  Docking station
  A Docking station or port replicator or dock provides a simplified way of “plugging-in” an electronic device such as a laptop computer to common peripherals...
  
  s for notebook computers. These draw the signal for multiple connectors from the pins of one connector.

• A piece of electronic test equipment
  Electronic test equipment
  Electronic test equipment is used to create signals and capture responses from electronic Devices Under Test . In this way, the proper operation of the DUT can be proven or faults in the device can be traced and repaired...
  
   used for diagnosing
  Diagnosis
  Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
  
   problems in computer communications, typically over a serial port
  Serial port
  In computing, a serial port is a serial communication physical interface through which information transfers in or out one bit at a time...
  
  . The breakout box sits between two pieces of equipment and usually has some LEDs to display the status of the different signals in the serial cable. It will also often have DIP switch
  DIP switch
  DIP switches are manual electric switches that are packaged in a group in a standard dual in-line package...
  
  es to let the user connect or disconnect different signals in the cable, and it will usually have connector pins that let the user short pins together using electrical jumpers
  Jumper (computing)
  In electronics and particularly computing, a jumper is a short length of conductor used to close a break in or bypass part of an electrical circuit...
  
  , or gain access to individual signal lines with an oscilloscope or other test equipment.

• Electronic control unit
  Electronic control unit
  In automotive electronics, electronic control unit is a generic term for any embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a motor vehicle....
  
  s (ECUs) in automotive engines have proprietary connectors that are densely packed, environmentally sealed and difficult to gain access to without causing damage. The manufacturer sometimes provides a breakout box to allow service engineers to test the unit.

External links

• OBD II and Heavy Duty Breakout Boxes