DMX Cables?

[musictom]

Hi all,
Please pardon the noob question.
We're just now getting into some intelligents (well, a couple of Elation LED 60 strips to be exact), and need to run some DMX. I've read that I shouldn't use mic cables (of which I have hundreds upon hundreds of feet available!)
Do you guys make your own cables? Do you have a favorite source? What should I pay for say, 100' of DMX?
Thanks so much!!
Tom

[LD4Life]

To be perfectly honest, I almost always just use high-grade XLR (mic cable) for my dmx fixtures. Its a whole lot easier if its 3 pin, which your units are, but I do deal with converting 5 pin to 3 pin. I've also heard people say not to use XLR, but I have never had any problems with it. I buy high-grade cable and have had no problems with data transmission or the like. Plus, its cheaper that way.

[icewolf08]

While it has been said that you could run DMX down a barbed wire fence, it is not advisable. DMX cable is a data grade cable, where audio cable is not. If you get full 5 conductor DMX it will be more expensive than 3 conductor. I try to build my own cables as it is cheaper. Last time I bought DMX it was $0.44 per foot (plus connectors). You may be able to do better, but that was the best price I found at the time, from here. There are also a bunch of belden cables that are suitable for DMX. Here is a PDF from Belden explaining their cables that meet the DMX standard.

Also, you should build yourself a couple terminators.

[derekleffew]

The practice is frowned upon in the industry, but also done very often. Though it doesn't specifically address using mic cables for DMX, much valuable information about DMX can be found at Doug Fleenor's site, in the "Dr. DMX papers" section.

[LD4Life]

Yeah, I guess I should preface (though after the fact) my statement about XLR with this. I prefer to use industry standard DMX when possible. However, I work in educational theatre with a very tight budget. The venue I work in has a ton of high-grade XLR, so for budgetary issues it makes more sense to use XLR. I was stating that is was possible and that I had not had any problems with data loss. I'm sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

[musictom]

I sure appreciate the quick responses!!!

So I guess in a pinch, I can go to my audio cables, but I'll try and have my tech put some 3 pin DMX cables together.

Now, I just gotta figure out how to label them so they don't go in the audio cable bin!!!

Thanks again,

Tom

[avkid]

Originally Posted by musictom

Now, I just gotta figure out how to label them so they don't go in the audio cable bin!!!

What color are the connectors on your mic cables?
For example, if your mic connectors are black your DMX should be silver etc...

[JD]

Ummm.. covered in a lot of other threads, but basically, the cable is also a different impedance. (110 - 120 ohm.) Although you can run simple systems with mic cable and probably not have a problem, it is best to use DMX, especially if you plan on expanding. Whatever you do, don't mix cable types as the different impedance of the cable types may cause standing wave problems. (read as things may not work correctly at the darndest times!)

[musictom]

Originally Posted by avkid

What color are the connectors on your mic cables?
For example, if your mic connectors are black your DMX should be silver etc...

Unfortunately, our audio cables have both black and silver connectors!

Good thought, however.

Tom

[soundlight]

Use a band of electrical or spike tape on the connector. Or, plug the cable into itself, tape over the connection with masking tape, and spray paint the strain reliefs a dark color. It does show up on black connectors, this is how all of our cable types are denoted.