Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Has anyone located a bargain source for dmx cables? I am going to need four 50 footers and one 20 footer. I don't mind using standard xlr mic cables if they will work no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 http://www.pssl.comSearch for DMX cable.I believe you can use standard XLR cables unless you are using the 5 pin versions.Don't know if they have the best prices or not.EDIT:Found some more info about using standard XLR mic cables.Officially DMX is carried on 5 pin connectors, which carry the data (RS485) on pins 2 & 3, screen (and common mode reference) on 1. There is a second data link on pins 4 & 5 the format of which has never been well defined and it is seldom used in practice. This means that at an electronics level, the signal is sent through 5-core cable (but only 3 are ever used) consisting of 0v, +ve and -ve signal wires. Cable for DMX-512 installations should be 110 ohm impedance shielded twisted pair cable. A normal microphone cable (shielded twisted pair) works OK for short runs, but can cause problems in long runs (so using it is not recommended). In DMX-512 world there has been a long debate on 3-pin vs 5-pin connector. The official standard says 5-pin connector. Unfortunately some manufacturers use a cheaper 3-pin XLR connector instead of standard 5-pin. Cheaper/budget lighting kits (like many disco effects) are almost always 3 pin, probably because the plugs are cheaper! It seems that 3 pin is becoming the modern de-factor norm (although not conforming to the DMX512 standard) and 5 pin is becoming more unusual. Current Martin kit uses 'pin 3 +ve' but older Martin stuff is the other way round. It's therefore worth carrying 'change-over' connectors as well as 3-to 5-pin adaptors if you are working with systems consisting of components from many different manufacturers.Source: http://www.sound-light-company.co.uk/technicalpages/dmx-512.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 CUTTHEMUSIC wrote: http://www.pssl.comSearch for DMX cable.Don't know if they have the best prices or not.Wow, $30 for a 50 footer 3 pin and out of stock to boot. Got to be a little better deal out there.http://tinyurl.com/37h3pr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 bhays wrote: Wow, $30 for a 50 footer 3 pin and out of stock to boot. Got to be a little better deal out there.http://tinyurl.com/37h3prI agree! pssl.com was the first site that came to my mind. I personally would make my own cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 CUTTHEMUSIC wrote: bhays wrote: Wow, $30 for a 50 footer 3 pin and out of stock to boot. Got to be a little better deal out there.http://tinyurl.com/37h3prI agree! pssl.com was the first site that came to my mind. I personally would make my own cables.Tim, DMX is getting a lot of attention with this new addition from LOR. I know the cord is pretty standard, but wiring the connectors is key. Any chance of a How To on the DMX cables? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I jsut searched through my list of sites and stumbled across bulk cable for those who wish to do it themselves:http://www.cheaplights.com/eshop/product.php?productid=629&cat=89&page=1I have never bought from them so I don't have any expirience with that particular company. Making custom cables is the way I'd go, especially if you have to make adapters from 3-5 and reverse pins for older Martin fixtures.Will Sanders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Here is a website I deal with alot for musical equiptment. They have XLR cable and the cheapest I found was 17.99 for 50ft.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/navigation?q=xlr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FBW4 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 Thank you- the Musician's Friend link seemed to be the cheapest XLR cables I found.Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaness Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 You might also try Cheaplights. They're out of Houston, TX, but they're back operational after Ike.http://www.cheaplights.com/cart/page38.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobinFL Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 You could also buy some connectors from Cheaplights.com and some Cat 5 cable and make your own. I run 50+ feet and no problems.HTH,,Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Jones Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 just a word of warning:If you use an 3 pin XLR (mic cable) there is a strong possibilty that you might run into problems. Especially if you use cheap cable. DMX uses 120ohm cable. The capacitance of the cable must also be taken into account, especially in a long cable. the longer a cable takes to discharge voltage ultimately distorts the DMX waveform.An alternative would be to use cat 5 cable and solder your own connectors on. Both DMX and Cat5 cables are designed to handle RS485.In DMX-512 world there has been a long debate on 3-pin vs 5-pin connector. The official standard says 5-pin connectorI understand this is me nit - picking, but this statement is incorrect. USITT DMX512 does not make any desigination on what the type of connector is to be used.on the otherhand - USITT/ ESTA DMX512A does specify the connector as a 5 pin XLR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 You can get the XLR connectors at Iofast for 57 cents each.http://www.iofast.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=XLR&x=19&y=12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobinFL Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Denny good find...great price! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denny Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I got a dozen each of the male and female, not that I anticipate ever needing that many, but you can't beat less than $20 for a couple dozen connectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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