5 pin DMX to 3 pin DMX

[PadawanGeek]

I'm kind of a lighting newbie and I am wondering if there is a way to use something (like a moving light) that is 3 pin DMX with a 5 pin DMX controller (like an old EDI Minstrel Lite).

Thanks!

[BillESC]

Yes you can. All you need is a 5 pin to 3 pin adapter.

[gafftaper]

5 pin DMX has two lines reserved for future use when the instrument will talk back to the system. So far there are very few things out there that take advantage of that feature. So, many manufacturers have taken up using plugs that just use the three active channels. You can buy an adapter or make your own. Just be aware that DMX cable is much different than microphone cable. If you try to use mic cable for any sort of distance it is likely to degrade the signal and cause all kinds of weirdness. You will also find people who say they use mic cable all the time with no problems but it's somewhere I prefer not to gamble. Use the search function and you should be able to find info on making your own DMX cables. A recent thread discussed using ethernet cable to make DMX cables.

I suggest you read "Practical DMX" by Nick Mosby if you want to understand the wonders of DMX

[JD]

Pin 1 > 1:
Pin 2 > 2:
Pin 3 > 3:
Pin 4 > no connect:
Pin 5 > no connect:

In case you wanted to make your own. Also, mixing cable types is a bad thing. You can buy pre-made 3 pin DMX cables pretty cheap. Simply sub the 5 pin connector on one of them. The trend right now seems to be 3 pin connectors, but at some point in the future 5 pin will be the norm.

[Footer]

Don't forget to terminate your DMX, either a 100 or 120 ohm resistor across pins 2 and 3

[jmabray]

Originally Posted by JD

Pin 1 > 1:
Pin 2 > 2:
Pin 3 > 3:
Pin 4 > no connect:
Pin 5 > no connect:
In case you wanted to make your own. Also, mixing cable types is a bad thing. You can buy pre-made 3 pin DMX cables pretty cheap. Simply sub the 5 pin connector on one of them. The trend right now seems to be 3 pin connectors, but at some point in the future 5 pin will be the norm.

The problem with this is the standard is, and always has been, 5 pin cables. 3 pin cables and connectors are cheap alternatives to the standard. Is it done? yes. Should it be? not really. at least if you want to hold to the actual standard.

[Mayhem]

Originally Posted by jmabray

The problem with this is the standard is, and always has been, 5 pin cables. 3 pin cables and connectors are cheap alternatives to the standard. Is it done? yes. Should it be? not really. at least if you want to hold to the actual standard.

Does it make all that much different in reality?

I remember when bare ends and screw down terminals were the standard for speaker connections. Then TRS, then 3pin XLR, now Speakon. Most amps still come out with the screw terminals on them. From what I see in the industry, this is so that people can easily make up adaptors to suit their systems. I refitted all my amps and boxes with Speakon connectors some time back.

Driving on the Left-hand side of the road was also standard (yes, even in the US) until political reasons saw changes in the US and most of Europe. Should this be changed back?

My point is that things progress and just because someone sets "system A" as the standard that "system A" is always going to be the optimal system to use in the future. Besides, the manufacturers obviously do not follow so called standards.

Food for thought.

[DarSax]

Originally Posted by Footer4321

Don't forget to terminate your DMX, either a 100 or 120 ohm resistor across pins 2 and 3

Chewing gum works too.

I have a question, actually, with a probably-obvious answer. You shouldn't use mic cable for DMX applications, but what about using DMX cable for mic applications? If you had enough money, and there was no difference, couldn't you just buy loads of 3-pin DMX and avoid the confusion?

[jmabray]

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Does it make all that much different in reality?
I remember when bare ends and screw down terminals were the standard for speaker connections. Then TRS, then 3pin XLR, now Speakon. Most amps still come out with the screw terminals on them. From what I see in the industry, this is so that people can easily make up adaptors to suit their systems. I refitted all my amps and boxes with Speakon connectors some time back.
Driving on the Left-hand side of the road was also standard (yes, even in the US) until political reasons saw changes in the US and most of Europe. Should this be changed back?
My point is that things progress and just because someone sets "system A" as the standard that "system A" is always going to be the optimal system to use in the future. Besides, the manufacturers obviously do not follow so called standards.
Food for thought.

In reality, no it doesn't make all that much difference. But then why spend the time and money to write the standard in the first place?

The standard was written with 5 pin connectors for a reason [ A) to allow for a second universe down the second pair or B) to allow for device feedback down the second pair - depending upon who you talk to on a given day].

Some moving light manufacturers chose to put 3 pin connectors in simply because they were cheaper than 5 pin. A side benefit was that most clubs and dj's had 3 pin mic cable that could be used in a pinch to get by on. Does that make it right?

The standard is by no means "so-called." It was not something that people just arbitrarily decided to do. Unlike your Speakon connectors, this particular standard was well written, thoroughly researched and agreed upon documents written by a standard issuing agency - in this case, The United States Institute for Theatre Technology - USITT. The standard was written to allow for devices from different manufacturers devices to talk to one another. Before DMX, if you had a strand dimmer rack, you had to have a strand console to run them - an ETC console wouldn't necessarily talk to them without some sort of "Black Box" converter unit. The standard was written in 1990 originally and it was updated in 2004. It has been adopted by ANSI - The American National Standards Institute. This is a real deal thing here.

You can actually download and read the standard if you want by going to www.esta.org and looking under the Technical Standards program.

[jmabray]

Originally Posted by DarSax

Chewing gum works too.
I have a question, actually, with a probably-obvious answer. You shouldn't use mic cable for DMX applications, but what about using DMX cable for mic applications? If you had enough money, and there was no difference, couldn't you just buy loads of 3-pin DMX and avoid the confusion?

Absolutely. Its like saying not all rectangles are squares, but all squares are rectangles.

DMX cable is of much higher quality to allow for the data to pass through with out any signal degredation. Mic cable is usually of much lower quality. There is no harm that I have ever heard of in upgrading the quality of your mic cable.