Control/Dimming - Anyone try the TMB ProShell yet?

[gafftapegreenia]

TMB recently released a protective shell for RJ45 connectors. The most attractive feature of these is that they can be installed on any existing cat5 cable. While I still prefer the robustness of the Neutrik Ethercon connectors, these look like they might be a good alternative.

[epimetheus]

Any idea on cost? That would look cool on my patch panel at home!

[ship]

Originally Posted by epimetheus

Any idea on cost? That would look cool on my patch panel at home!

Nope... first I'm hearing of it.

[avkid]

For more info:
TMB Products - ProShell™

Pricing:
TMB Online Web Store :: ProShell

[pacman]

Looks clever & pretty nice, but expensive. I'm buying 50ft Cat5e (data grade) cables for less than what it would cost to equip both ends with a couple of these... and that's without the nifty tethered cap option, too.

Looks like you can get an Ethercon connector for about $0.60 more per connector, but those won't fit onto an existing standard cable, of course.

[epimetheus]

It looks to me like this wont work on a cable with molded-in cable boots ("snagless" cables). The molding between the connector and the cable, as well as the "snagless" thingie would be in the way. This looks to only work with the standard crimp on RJ45 shells.

[pacman]

Originally Posted by epimetheus

It looks to me like this wont work on a cable with molded-in cable boots ("snagless" cables). The molding between the connector and the cable, as well as the "snagless" thingie would be in the way. This looks to only work with the standard crimp on RJ45 shells.

Yeah, but most of those boots are easily cut away. Most of the time, they end up getting in the way & making it hard to unplug. I have seen some where you can simply slide them back down the cable away from the plug.

[epimetheus]

Originally Posted by pacman

Yeah, but most of those boots are easily cut away. Most of the time, they end up getting in the way & making it hard to unplug. I have seen some where you can simply slide them back down the cable away from the plug.

I agree on the ones that you can slide the boot back away from the plug, but I don't see those too often anymore, and that's not what I meant be molded. Most purchased cables these days that I've seen have molded plastic that extends up into the RJ45 shell. Trying to cut that off is too much of a hassle and a safety concern for me, not to mention the risk of damaging the cable.

I've been meaning to get a RJ45 crimping tool and learn how to make my own cables anyway. Maybe this shell is a good excuse.

[ship]

Originally Posted by epimetheus

I agree on the ones that you can slide the boot back away from the plug, but I don't see those too often anymore, and that's not what I meant be molded. Most purchased cables these days that I've seen have molded plastic that extends up into the RJ45 shell. Trying to cut that off is too much of a hassle and a safety concern for me, not to mention the risk of damaging the cable.

I've been meaning to get a RJ45 crimping tool and learn how to make my own cables anyway. Maybe this shell is a good excuse.

RJ-45 is a royal pain in the rear to crimp. Gotta get them wires straight and lined up and in the right configuration, than shove them into the plug and hope them wires line up with the holes in the plug designated for them to go into. Royal pain in the rear my guys have more patience for than I but that's also why they went in for fiber optic trainin instead of me. Pesky digital stuff...

Don't know who else sells such plugs but no doubt not unique, Clark Wire & Cable sells the EZ-RJ45 plug which allows for you to strip extra length on the conductors, feed them into the plug and with little holes in the tip of the plug allow those conductors to stick out a bit in verifying that your conductors got into the right holes and even were color coded correctly (between two systems for color coding.)

The crimp tool from them than cuts for the most part that conductor to its proper length. (Might need a utility knife blade to trim off what doesn't trim as well at times. Beyond that, I highly recommend a ethernet stripper tool that is adjusted for your cable size for stripping the outer jacket. One of each of these tools for each type of ethernet cable you might buy. Makes it easy and if factory adjusted as requested before you get it, you shouldn't need to tinker with the adjustment screws. Not a fan of automatic strippers but am a fan of such things for ethernet and BNC cables. One stripper per type of cable used - the normal construction grade stuff verses the stage rated jackets.

Further note, today I was shown an ethernet cable that didn't survive so well against touching a lighting fixture. Insulation was mented all about itself, conductors were now touching etc. Not aware of a 200c ethernet cable that is rated for touch to a lighting fixture yet it will be seen at times with a sloppy hang. Be ready for this, sharp edges in conduit that are like de-looming knifes in slicing a short in the cable and in general with ethernet cable that will at times at best last no longer than DMX cable.

[epimetheus]

I'm with you ship. I'm aware of most of the hazards you mention, partly the reason I haven't bothered with making my own cables. Buying them is just easier. I'm anal with cable management so tidying (sp?) up the excess isn't a problem. I have a stirpper, I forget the brand, that does coax and general stripping with an adjustable blade. Saved my but many of times.