What wire do I use for DMX?
Network cable (Cat5, 5e or 6 cable) may be used to carry DMX in an installation; however special consideration must be given to shielding and termination. Under no circumstances should solid core cable like Cat5 be terminated into a screw down connector. ETC recommends the use of Belden 9729 for DMX installation.
What is the difference between 5-pin DMX and 3-pin DMX?
The key difference between 3-pin and 5-pin DMX is the size and layout of the pins. Because the two extra pins on 5-pin DMX are rarely used, many DMX cables on the market today actually leave them unconnected and only wire the main three pins.
How many pins does a DMX cable have?
3-pin
Perhaps a few of the more easily confused cable types are XLR and DMX. Both have the standard 3-pin configuration and similar builds, and maybe, in some cases, the connector is exactly the same on both.
Can I use CAT5 cable for DMX?
As mentioned above ESTA states 300m(1000ft) is acceptable for DMX over CAT5 cable. However, ETC supports DMX over CAT5 with maximum total wire length per run of 500m(1640ft). Cat5 or equivalent is not preferred as a portable cable since it is not as rugged as other DMX cables.
Can I use DMX cable for audio?
DMX for audio is just fine or even better than “ordinary” audio cable.
Can Cat 6 be used for DMX?
It’s generally acceptable to run DMX over Cat5 or Cat6 cable for up to 1000′. However, it’s important to remember that network signals can only travel 300′ – so if you go above that limit, label your cables carefully – computer networks will not work reliably at these lengths!
Are DMX and XLR interchangeable?
Though DMX cables and XLR cables are often both three-pin cables and look the same, they should not be used interchangeably, especially along longer cable runs. DMX cables and XLR cables are engineered to handle different types of information at different impedance.
Can you splice DMX cable?
DMX cable works from point to point, and what’s more, requires each one of those points to be terminated properly as “in” and “out”. You cannot splice DMX wires together to continue a DMX run. They should be properly terminated and grounded.
Can I use CAT5 for DMX cable?
Is DMX cable the same as microphone cable?
One of the most enduring mysteries among working musicians is the difference between Mic Cables and DMX cables. They look exactly the same. They both use three pin XLR connectors, mostly. A mic cable will send DMX signals and a DMX cable will send audio signals.