SCART
SCART, an acronym for Syndicat des Constructeurs d’Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs (also known as Péritel in France or Euroconnector), is a 21-pin analog connector standard developed in France for interconnecting audio-visual equipment such as televisions, VCRs, DVD players, and set-top boxes, primarily in Europe.[1] It enables the transmission of standard-definition video signals including composite, S-Video, and RGB, along with stereo audio, in a single cable, supporting bidirectional communication for both input and output between devices.[1] Introduced in 1977, SCART was designed to standardize AV connections and future-proof television systems amid evolving European broadcast formats like PAL and SECAM, becoming compulsory on new TVs in France from 1980 and widely adopted across the continent for its versatility in handling multiple signal types without separate cables.[1] The official specification is defined by the CENELEC EN 50049-1 standard (also known as IEC 60933-1), which outlines the pin assignments, voltage levels, and impedance for reliable signal integrity.[1] Key features include support for RGB video, composite video input/output, stereo audio channels, and control signals for audio/video switching and RGB detection, allowing devices to automatically select the highest-quality input.[1] Its robust, flat trapezoidal design with 21 pins facilitates easy connection but results in bulky cables, contributing to its decline in favor of digital interfaces like HDMI by the early 2000s.[1] Despite obsolescence in modern consumer electronics, SCART remains notable in retro gaming, vintage AV restoration, and professional broadcast adaptations for converting to digital formats such as SDI.[1]History and Development
Origins in France
The Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs (SCART), a French trade association representing manufacturers of radio receivers and televisions, originated in the mid-20th century to coordinate industry standards and interests. Records document its existence and activities as early as 1958, when it participated in discussions on merging with other electronics syndicates to form a national federation.[2] This organization later gave its name to the SCART connector, also known initially as Peritel in France, reflecting its central role in developing the interface.[1] Development of the SCART connector began in the mid-1970s, driven by the need for improved interconnection standards following France's adoption of the SECAM color television system in 1967.[3] SECAM, which transmitted color information sequentially using frequency modulation, highlighted the shortcomings of existing composite video connections, particularly for achieving higher-fidelity RGB signal transmission amid the rapid growth of color TV ownership in Europe.[4] French electronics firms, coordinated by the SCART syndicate, designed the connector in 1976 to enable unified cabling between televisions and audio-visual peripherals, prioritizing compatibility with both SECAM and PAL systems. It first appeared on television sets in 1977, marking a shift toward integrated audio-video setups.[1]Standardization and Adoption
The formal standardization of SCART took place in 1978 with the publication of the CENELEC EN 50049-1 document, which defined it as a 21-pin audiovisual connector for interconnecting consumer electronics.[1] This standard, sometimes also referred to as IEC 933-1, built on initial French developments from the mid-1970s and aimed to unify AV connections across Europe by supporting multiple signal types in a single interface.[1] Adoption began mandatorily in France, where the government required all televisions sold after 1980 to include a SCART connector, accelerating its integration into domestic AV systems.[5] By the early 1980s, SCART had become the voluntary standard across the European Union, spreading through VCRs and early home entertainment devices despite initial resistance from the UK, which relied on established RF connectors, and Japan, which favored its own proprietary standards like those for NTSC-based systems.[1] Usage peaked in the 1990s alongside the widespread integration of VCRs and DVD players, which commonly featured SCART for seamless connectivity.[1] A key driver of SCART's success was its promotion of higher-quality RGB video signals over traditional composite video, enabling sharper images and better color fidelity in European broadcasting and playback systems.[1] By the mid-1990s, the vast majority of new European televisions were equipped with SCART ports, solidifying its role as the dominant AV interface on the continent until the rise of digital alternatives.Physical and Electrical Design
Connector Pinout and Interface
The SCART connector is a 21-pin trapezoidal interface standardized for audio-visual connections in Europe, featuring two parallel rows of flat pins arranged in a D-shaped or trapezoidal housing to ensure correct orientation and prevent reverse insertion. The design includes male variants typically used on source devices such as VCRs or DVD players, and female variants on display devices like televisions, facilitating a secure push-fit connection without a mechanical locking latch, relying instead on friction and the connector shell for retention. The overall connector housing measures approximately 52 mm in width, 39 mm in length, and 20 mm in height, with the pin array spanning about 21 mm across the narrower top row (8 pins) and wider bottom row (13 pins).[6][1] The pin assignments are defined in the CENELEC EN 50049-1 standard (also known as IEC 933-1), supporting bidirectional audio, composite video, RGB video inputs, and control signals through specific voltage levels and impedances. Audio signals operate at 0.5 V RMS with low output impedance (<1 kΩ) and high input impedance (>10 kΩ), while video signals use 75 Ω impedance with peak-to-peak voltages of 1 V (including sync) for composite and 0.7 V for RGB components; control signals tolerate 0-2 V for low states and up to 12 V for high states. The 21st "pin" is actually the metal shell providing chassis grounding and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding via continuous contact between connector housings, reducing crosstalk and external noise ingress without additional ferrite components. Backward compatibility for mono audio is achieved by linking left and mono signals on pins 3 and 6, allowing single-channel sources to drive both stereo inputs.[1][7] The following table summarizes the standard pinout for a full-featured SCART connector (Table 1 configuration from EN 50049-1), focusing on primary functions, signal directions (from the perspective of the connected device), levels, and notes:| Pin | Function | Signal Type | Level/Impedance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audio output right | Analog audio out | 0.5 V RMS / <1 kΩ | Stereo right channel from source |
| 2 | Audio input right | Analog audio in | 0.5 V RMS / >10 kΩ | Stereo right channel to source |
| 3 | Audio output left/mono | Analog audio out | 0.5 V RMS / <1 kΩ | Stereo left or mono from source |
| 4 | Audio ground | Ground | - | Common for pins 1, 2, 3, 6 |
| 5 | Ground (RGB blue) | Ground | - | For pin 7 |
| 6 | Audio input left/mono | Analog audio in | 0.5 V RMS / >10 kΩ | Stereo left or mono to source; mono compatibility via pin 3 link |
| 7 | RGB blue input | Analog video in | 0.7 V pp / 75 Ω | Blue component from source |
| 8 | Switching / fast blanking | Control in/out | 0-2 V (low: composite), 9.5-12 V (high: RGB/AV) / >10 kΩ | Selects RGB mode or aspect ratio |
| 9 | Ground (RGB green) | Ground | - | For pin 11 |
| 10 | Data 2 (AV.link) | Control/bidirectional | 0-5 V / >10 kΩ | Optional communication bus |
| 11 | RGB green input | Analog video in | 0.7 V pp / 75 Ω | Green component from source |
| 12 | Data 1 | Control/bidirectional | 0-5 V / >10 kΩ | Optional data line |
| 13 | Ground (RGB red) | Ground | - | For pin 15 |
| 14 | Data ground | Ground | - | For pins 8, 10, 12 |
| 15 | RGB red input | Analog video in | 0.7 V pp (RGB) / 75 Ω | Red component; also used for chrominance in S-video variants |
| 16 | Blanking signal input | Control in | 0-0.4 V (low: composite), 1-3 V (high: RGB) / 75 Ω | Enables RGB display mode |
| 17 | Composite video ground | Ground | - | For pins 19, 20 |
| 18 | Blanking ground | Ground | - | For pin 16 |
| 19 | Composite video output | Analog video out | 1 V pp (incl. sync) / 75 Ω | From display to source (e.g., TV out) |
| 20 | Composite video input | Analog video in | 1 V pp (incl. sync) / 75 Ω | From source to display |
| 21 | Shell/chassis | Shield | - | EMI shielding via metal contact |