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Sending two universes down a single 5 core DMX cable?


ojc123

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Question from one of my student technicians. They do ask a lot of questions.

 

We have some 5 core DMX cable. Student asks if we can send two universes of DMX down this cable by replacing the 5 pin XLR plugs and sockets with two three pin plugs and sockets using two pairs and a common pin 1.

 

I hadn’t thought of this before and my response was that we might get away with it but it probably isn’t the best idea. This is based on limited knowledge and isn't a proper answer.

 

I’m not thinking of doing this because we have plenty DMX cables but I’m trying to answer his question as accurately as possible.

 

Would it work at all? What would be any potential problems from your experience/knowledge? Why would it not be a good idea?

 

Thanks in anticipation. (All opinions will be weighed carefully.)

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Yes, works perfectly fine. In fact early Avolites Pearls only had 2 DMX 5 pin connectors, from which the 4 universes were available, I still have a set of convertors in my tools. Companies like Siyan have 5 core FOH looms, on small jobs you use them without adaptors, on bigger jobs you can get 2(x) universes down the (x) cables in the loom.
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Works OK. Was standard practice with the Avo Pearl as that's how its XLR outs are wired.

It wasn't a Avo doing something abnormal as it's in the standard http://tsp.esta.org/...1_2006R2016.pdf, where it gives the pinout for a 5 pin XLR including both the primary and secondary data pair.

I've used it a few times over ~30m lengths, and never had any problems with it.

 

Edited by pjb304
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  • 1 year later...

Stereo mics often employ a similar approach using XLR5 on the mic and a breakout cable to split this to 2 x XLR3.

It may be an old post but one that could be useful to bump.I have several 5pin cables from 10m or so to 100m long, mostly using 9502 style cable and an assortment of adapter leads, my common temporary uses include: 2 mics, stereo audio, 2 way audio, radio mic power and audio, video and audio, DMX etc. The difficulty is remembering to use the correct adapters at each end when several are in use, I've tried to use a different colour cable per pair to help.

I try to avoid intercom as there is a common screen connexion and it's far too easy for it to cause problems.

 

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Stereo mics often employ a similar approach using XLR5 on the mic and a breakout cable to split this to 2 x XLR3.

It may be an old post but one that could be useful to bump.I have several 5pin cables from 10m or so to 100m long, mostly using 9502 style cable and an assortment of adapter leads, my common temporary uses include: 2 mics, stereo audio, 2 way audio, radio mic power and audio, video and audio, DMX etc. The difficulty is remembering to use the correct adapters at each end when several are in use, I've tried to use a different colour cable per pair to help.

I try to avoid intercom as there is a common screen connexion and it's far too easy for it to cause problems.

 

I'll add "DMX and power for the controller" to the list. One of the little 6-way DMX desks that could run from a 9V battery used to support this natively, with +9V on pins 4/5. The Phillips Sixer does not, but it's fairly easy to add a pair of 1N4001 diodes inside the box (there is already one for reverse polarity protection on the DC input socket). Makes it easy to walk around with the controller on a long lead when setting up!9V DC is within the RRS-485 voltage range, so you should even be safe if you manage to plug the wrong side into your DMX line!

 

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Stereo mics often employ a similar approach using XLR5 on the mic and a breakout cable to split this to 2 x XLR3.

It may be an old post but one that could be useful to bump.I have several 5pin cables from 10m or so to 100m long, mostly using 9502 style cable and an assortment of adapter leads, my common temporary uses include: 2 mics, stereo audio, 2 way audio, radio mic power and audio, video and audio, DMX etc. The difficulty is remembering to use the correct adapters at each end when several are in use, I've tried to use a different colour cable per pair to help.

I try to avoid intercom as there is a common screen connexion and it's far too easy for it to cause problems.

 

I'll add "DMX and power for the controller" to the list. One of the little 6-way DMX desks that could run from a 9V battery used to support this natively, with +9V on pins 4/5. The Phillips Sixer does not, but it's fairly easy to add a pair of 1N4001 diodes inside the box (there is already one for reverse polarity protection on the DC input socket). Makes it easy to walk around with the controller on a long lead when setting up!9V DC is within the RRS-485 voltage range, so you should even be safe if you manage to plug the wrong side into your DMX line!

 

My adapters are all a 5 pin plug or socket with 2 leads into appropriate connectors for the job. ie 5p XLRm to short 3p XLRf/DC plug and 5p XLRf to long [1m or so] 3p XLRm/DC plug for radio mic

I have a Transcension sdc816 [I think] and the radiomic adapters and PSU works perfectly with no room for error.

Edited by sunray
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