making your own DMX cables

[five_pin_xlr]

Hi,

 

I want to start making my own 5pin DMX cables, just enough for when I do lighting, but I dont know anywhere on the net that sell rolls of DMX cable, and also apparantly you can get a clamp for a 5pin connector male & female, so when you solder its much easier, is there anywhere or has anyone got any tips on how to solder the cable to the connector correctly.

 

Best Regards

 

alex

[Andrew C]

Cable - any electronics supplier and/or theatrical suppliers

Tools - See above

How to solder - See the WiKi

 

This has all been covered before.

[paulears]

I always find a nice heavy pair of pliers, with and elastic band on the grips to keep them squeezed together, much more useful!

[bruce]

or take a corresponding chassis socket/plug, hold it in a small vice, and stick the plug/socket you're working on into that.

 

especially useful for (uck!) DIN connectors, to avoid the pins moving if the plastic softens!

[Guest lightnix]

I use one of those little "helping hand" things, with the sliding croc clips and the magnifying glass; you can usually get them from Maplins, RS or Farnell.

 

One handy hint I learnt (the hard way) the first time I soldered up XLRs, was to mate the connector I was working on with one of the opposite sex, before starting to solder. This helps to sink the excess heat and prevent the plastic surrounding the pins from softening too much. Even if the plastic does get soft, by using this trick will help keep the pins correctly aligned.

 

 

 

:huh: - "DMX" edited into title :blink:

[Ken Coker]

Don't bother would be my advice.....VDC is where I get mine.

 

 

ken

[Al Cain]

Cable:-

 

Stage :- Product no. CABDMXR 97p per meter. ring ur local branch for more info and better prices.

 

HTH

 

Alex

[soundguymark]

This may be slightly :huh: But didnt want to start a whole new topic for it.

 

Im normally an noise boy but sometimes do a bit of lights and am planning to get more into lights, I just wanted to know if the cable is not twisted pair cable is it OK for DMX cables.

 

I've used rolls of 2 core untwisted sheilded cable from cpc which ive used for some microphone cables for which they are fine but I just wanted to know if this would be OK for DMX.

 

Thanks

 

Mark

[david.elsbury]

Also, it is possible to use 110 ohm digital audio cable for DMX cabling, if you don't mind only connecting up pins 1 - 3. And audio shops should sell it, plus it may be a bit cheaper than named "DMX" cable.

 

David

(who agrees with using a connector of the opposite sex to hold the connector you're soldering)

[Simon Lewis]

Untwisted pair isn't recomended for either application.

 

Sure, you can "get away with it", but why not use the proper stuff and avail yourself of the improved noise rejection a balanced system with twisted cable offers?

[Ynot]

This may be slightly :huh: But didnt want to start a whole new topic for it.

 

Im normally an noise boy but sometimes do a bit of lights and am planning to get more into lights, I just wanted to know if the cable is not twisted pair cable is it OK for DMX cables.

 

In fact the whole "Will my soundcables be OK to use for 3-pin DMX" issue has been done several times before, but as a short & sweet response, the answer is a "Yes, but only in some circumstances".

 

DMX signals will work over audio cable BUT that option's best limited to short and temporary runs. Using non-DMX spec'd cable can cause problems with digital reflections and noise pickup, so in the long run it's better to use the right stuff for the job.

 

Tony

[Ken Coker]

Frankly, you can use wet string.............however, do you want to explain to the rest of the production staff that the control system has ####ed up because you ignored fairly well publicised recommendations on how to transmit lighting data?

 

My colleague and leader Mr. Lewis proffers a more moderate response and in tandem with that you might want to consider:

 

I) What is the frequency of and nature of a DMX signal compared to "normal" audio?

ii) What is CMO?

 

Cheers

 

Ken :)

 

(Mods - it is possible this post might be regarded as overtly grumpy; edit as required to present the friendly, cheery face of the Blue Room.)

 

Ken - indeed it is grumpy so I've added a smiley face after your name

[bruce]

To add to Ken's grumpiness :)

 

Standards are there for a reason. If you comply with the standard, your back is covered. If there's a fault, you can go and shout at someone else. You will not be the blamehound.

 

If you don't comply with the standard, it may well work. But it'll work by accident, not design. There's no guarantee that it will continue to work after tomorrow's modifications. That's no way to build a scalable, reliable system.

 

Bruce.

 

ps - it may be worth noting that one dictionary definition of a "standard" is "A flag that is raised before going into battle"...

 

[/grumpy]

[pritch]

apparantly you can get a clamp for a 5pin connector male & female, so when you solder its much easier

 

Personally, I'm a great fan of a pair of mole grips, gently clamped onto the connector.

[WillW]

Or you can just panel mount one of every connector (using electrically dodgy/broken ones), into the top of you workbench, which makes it really easy (and quick).

 

Will