lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Hi, My local theatre desperatly needs a DMX splitter. We have the lx desk at the front of the stage and dimmers in front and behind. At the moment we are running a system where we loop back from the stage bars, but for safety reasons and other major re-wiring solutions we are going to have to stop doing it - too many cables. I therefore think we need a splitter. But splitters are not going to fit in with the budget, so I am wondering if they are makable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henny Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 one cheep option to cut down cableruns use CAT5 and send your DMX bothways down it, ive been using it for yesars for lone movers or dimmers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Hi, My local theatre desperatly needs a DMX splitter. We have the lx desk at the front of the stage and dimmers in front and behind. At the moment we are running a system where we loop back from the stage bars, but for safety reasons and other major re-wiring solutions we are going to have to stop doing it - too many cables. I therefore think we need a splitter. But splitters are not going to fit in with the budget, so I am wondering if they are makable? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You might get away with just joining the cable in the middle. I have in two venues and it works. Effectively a Y lead. Good solder joints in a screened case, and terminate or not depending on what works. If you have cheap movers or other below spec kit it may all fall over, or not work at all. Please don't all shout "It'll never work!", it does in my cases; live with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 ok that sounds good. So a Y split out of the desk, one going to front and other to back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketil B Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 If you can find a copy of Elektor Electronics form May 2003, there is a design for a 3 way DMX splitter. Edit Its right hear DMX 3 in 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 ok that sounds good. So a Y split out of the desk, one going to front and other to back?<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Or a single lead to a convenient point and split there. Please try it out before you commit ££ or too much time to an install. It might not work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 yer, but I have to pay ** laughs out loud ** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 Are there any places that offer free resources for electronics - apart from Elektor? Tried Big Clive, thats not got anything, so any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mush Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 yer, but I have to pay ** laughs out loud **<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Been some discussion of this over at rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft. Cheaper than chips option from Dan Mills >>>A two way passive DMX splitter!Each data pin on the output socket is connected to the input socket by a51ohm resistor, make it in a little diecast box (just space enough for theconnectors). Each output will see the a 2.5V swing (given 5V RS485 on theinput side & correct termination), which is way more then the 200mV whichis the required level for correct performance in an RS485 line RX. All lines see the correct load impedance and life is good...<<< optoisolated on input but not outputs: http://users.skynet.be/kristofnys/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 eh? Whos Dan Mills? And are the above instructions for how to make one or how it works? Sorry - I have a GCSE in electronics and thats about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mush Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 eh? Whos Dan Mills? And are the above instructions for how to make one or how it works? Sorry - I have a GCSE in electronics and thats about it.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Mr Mills original poster on RATS: http://groups.google.co.uk search stagecraft then topic`build your own` both assembly and theory of operation. 51 R (ohms) resistor on both output sockets on both + and - data lines, four resistors, presents closer to 100R impedence to transmitter than straight Y spilt, think. Creative use of heatshrink could probably put resistors in output socket shells. Cheaper than chips reference is that it dosent use any. Krsitoff Nys option does , but provides optical isolation to incoming DMX line , but not between outputs more discussion on this in above topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 Is putting resistors on the split going to work for definate or is it like what Andrew said where it may work and may not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 It will stack the odds further in your favour. I'd forgotten about that thread on RATS, must have been all of 10 days ago that I read it. :( Senility gallops on apace! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxdave Posted February 27, 2005 Author Share Posted February 27, 2005 I think I will do what it said on http://users.skynet.be/kristofnys looks easy enough, and I get 4 ways rather than two, and it can go in me 'hire stock', if you can call it that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxkev Posted February 27, 2005 Share Posted February 27, 2005 Dont do a Y split!! ESTA say no! ive worked in many venues and found major errors in the DMX due to Y-splits. Like bringing up a dimmer and you get the smoke machine puffing stuff out. Good idea to run CAT 5, 2 reasons cheaper then DMX, ESTA have said it works ok, and with more and more gear having ethernet ports, makes you ready for the future!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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