How do you make a DMX terminator?

[gafftapegreenia]

Is a combined tester/terminator, with a 120 ohm resistor, as well as two LED's, across pins 2 and 3, still as effective as a stand alone 120 ohm terminator?

 

[icewolf08]

Is a combined tester/terminator, with a 120 ohm resistor, as well as two LED's, across pins 2 and 3, still as effective as a stand alone 120 ohm terminator?

Indeed it is. As long as you have that resistor it will function as a terminator.

 

[gafftapegreenia]

Thanks, its just something thats been tuggin' at the back of my mind for a while.

 

[derekleffew]

... Except that is important to remember that Gordon and his team invented the first Memory board, and he developed DMX. < or the original standard>...

I don't mean to make light of Mr. Pearlman's achievements, but both of these statements are highly debatable. Read The Speed of Light, by Linda Essig, in which she interviews Gordon and many other luminairies of our industry (some of whom are CB members ).

EDIT: On the SML, Mitch Hefter writes that Entertainment Technology (ET) is alive and well, but currently concentrating on control of architectural lighting rather than stage/studio. It makes sense--Philips doesn't need a bunch of companies all doing the same thing and thus competing with one-another. No word as to why their website is fubar.

 

[Jakob B.]

To make a 4-Pin DMX Terminator, do you still solder the 120 Ohm resistor between pins 2 &3? I want to make some for our Rosco I-Cues.

 

[GreyWyvern]

To make a 4-Pin DMX Terminator, do you still solder the 120 Ohm resistor between pins 2 &3? I want to make some for our Rosco I-Cues.

Yes, that is correct.

 

[icewolf08]

To make a 4-Pin DMX Terminator, do you still solder the 120 Ohm resistor between pins 2 &3? I want to make some for our Rosco I-Cues.

But really, with 4-pin devices you should have a return run to the PSU from the output of the last device in the chain. This not only provides termination for the DMX, but also helps maintain the correct operating voltage for the devices.

 

[coldnorth57]

Alway rember to loop your 4 pin back to powersupply

 

[BobHealey]

Alway rember to loop your 4 pin back to powersupply

That assumes the power supply both supports and has the connectors to do so.