Page 1 of 1
XLR-Cat5
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:52 pm
by mikey9206
hey guys,
just a quick question, does anyone use/have used cat5 cables within their lighting rig? the only thing is, my church has built in a load of cat5 cables going from the production line to stage...i was wondering whether its a good idea to use a converter on each end to utilize the cat5, or whether its best just to keep running out a long XLR cable each sunday (still in the process of renting venues to hold the congregation so were having to build the whole rig every week, maybe using the inbuilt cat5 would be easier?)
if you have used a converter before, whats your experience been like with it? and where would you suggest getting one?
thanks, Mikey
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 9:59 am
by Andre
No problem using CAT5 cables done all the time with Art-Net and DMX Over Ethernet.
Daslight did do an interface that used DMX Over Ethernet for a very short while but discontinued it. Sunlite still do.
So it should be no problems using a convertor, you must ensure that absolutely nothing else is using these cat5 cables if using convertors or making your own.
You could also look into using wireless DMX transmitter and receiver(s) that works as well. I think there are 2 types, one that does not use the same frequency as WiFi and cordless phones. I think that is the one you should get, just do a bit of homework.
Hope that helps,
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 10:58 am
by mikey9206
hey andre, thanks for the reply. Thats good news, gonna speak to the events manager about the converters...he told me yesterday that he put up something like 5 of them, and only 3 are used so woop woop!
thanks for the tips about wireless aswell
Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 2:34 pm
by Andre
Wiring pinout for CAT 5 to DMX
RJ45 Pin - Colour - DMX Pin (5-pin XLR) - DMX Function
1 - White/Orange - 3 - Data 1+
2 - Orange - 2 - Data 1-
3 - White/Green - 5 - Data 2+ (optional)
4 - Blue - not connected
5 - White/Blue - not connected
6 - Green - 4 - Data 2- (optional)
7 - White/Brown - 1 - Data Link Common for Data 1
8 - Brown - 1 - Data Link Common for Data 2 should be connected even if Data 2 is not present.
If going to 3-pin XLR then no connection on 3, 6 or 8 as well as the the ones mentioned above.
Use XLR chassis connectors rather than RJ45 as much more robust. Only use CAT 5 for fixed installs as not suitable for touring as not flexible enough. CAT 5 patch leads are flexible because not made from same wire as normal CAT 5 cable.
If going onto existing cabling with RJ45 connectors in place then make little Patch leads up to convert between the two.
Check this document out
http://www.alia.com.au/features/dmx.pdfNot sure where you are from mikey, so this might not be of use to you
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=219904Hope that helps,
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 6:31 pm
by mikey9206
man your a legend!
so for 3 pin XLR:
white/brown goes to pin 1
white/orange goes to pin 2
orange goes to pin 3
Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 5:27 pm
by Andre
Thank you
Nope I make it
White/Brown to Pin 1
Orange to Pin 2
White/Orange to Pin 3
Pin 3 is always
HOT with DMX512, PIN2 HOT is "no longer used" except some older Martin Fixtures and some weird fixtures.
If you look at the Wiring pinout I supplied the description is above the pinouts.
RJ45 Pin - Colour - DMX Pin (5-pin XLR) - DMX FunctionHope it helps,
Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 5:13 pm
by mikey9206
i bought some
they wired it:
brown-1
green-2
orange-3
doesnt really matter i suppose as long as its the same on either end...
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 12:28 pm
by tatakis
Hello Guys,
Please help, I'm desperate!
I want to connect 2 XLR (one male one female) AND 2 Bnc over Cat5
Any wiring suggestions?
My application:
This is intended to go between two technicians carts on a film set that cannot always be placed immediately next to each other.
Side A. Will send 1 channel of line level audio. On this end, we will have a male xlr feed going to the cat5 box.
Side B. Will receive this audio, terminating to male xlr and send 2 channels of bnc video and one channel of xlr line level audi back the other direction.
My client doesn't have a pinout for his cat5 box. Is there something standard used?
Thanks in advance
George
Takias
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:46 pm
by overington99
Umm somethings wrong there... But I can't quite put my finger on it...
Re: XLR-Cat5
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:46 am
by don4547
Use XLR chassis connectors rather than RJ45 as much more robust. Only use CAT 5 for fixed installs as not suitable for touring as not flexible enough. CAT 5 patch leads are flexible because not made from same wire as normal CAT 5 cable.
If going onto existing cabling with RJ45 connectors in place then make little Patch leads up to convert between the two.
Check this document out
http://www.alia.com.au/features/dmx.pdfNot sure where you are from mikey, so this might not be of use to you
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=219904Hope that helps,
Thanks for the Maplin link. First document expired though.
Re: XLR-Cat5
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:32 pm
by Makayla
mikey9206 wrote:hey guys,
just a quick question, does anyone use/have used cat5 cables within their lighting rig? the only thing is, my church has built in a load of cat5 cables going from the production line to stage...i was wondering whether its a good idea to use a converter on each end to utilize the cat5, or whether its best just to keep running out a long XLR cable each sunday (still in the process of renting venues to hold the congregation so were having to build the whole rig every week, maybe using the inbuilt cat5 would be easier?)
if you have used a converter before, whats your experience been like with it? and where would you suggest getting one?
thanks, Mikey
"Mikey" it will be an honour for me to tell you, Legend*
Makayla
Re: XLR-Cat5
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:36 am
by kimhudges1
I must say here, in my view and perspective, Pin 3 is always HOT with DMX512, PIN2 HOT is "no longer used" except some older Martin Fixtures and some weird fixtures.