SCART (Peritel) - The European AV Connector

21-pin standard connector for analog AV equipment - RGB, composite, S-video and stereo audio in a single connection.

The SCART connector (also Peritel or Euro-AV) is a 21-pin connector that became the European standard for analog AV connections from the 1980s on. It combines composite video, S-video, RGB, stereo audio and control signals (e.g. slow-switching for 16:9 toggle) in a single connection. Standardised in EN 50049-1. Today largely replaced by HDMI - but still important for older home cinema gear, retro game consoles and video surveillance systems.

Technical Specifications

Standard	EN 50049-1
Pins	21 (asymmetric trapezoid)
Signals	Composite, S-video, RGB, stereo audio, control
Max resolution	576i (PAL) / 480i (NTSC)
Audio	2 x line in/out (stereo)
Latching	Mechanical via tapered contour
Typical length	1.5 - 5 m

Matching products in the shop

SCART cables and adapters
AV connection cables

Frequently Asked Questions

Which signal types can SCART carry?

Composite video (1 pin), S-video (2 pins for Y/C), RGB (3 pins), stereo audio (2 channels in and out) plus control signals like 16:9 slow-switching and automatic TV switching.

Is a passive SCART-to-HDMI connection possible?

No. SCART is analog, HDMI is digital - an active converter with power supply is needed, which also scales the resolution.

What do SCART pins 16 and 8 mean?

Pin 8 is the status / slow-switching signal (source tells the TV that it is active and the format), Pin 16 is the RGB-switch signal (toggle from composite to RGB).

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