Will
this product help. Its a little cheaper too.
.
It splits one input into 8 outs and amplifies the signal too ???
Will this help ?
Thanks
When it comes to splitters, there are ones that just split the signal by using multiple transceiver chips. One is used for the input or receiving the signal. The output of that chip is then sent to how many ever outputs through one chip per output in the transmission mode. This type of splitter uses only one
power supply for all of the chips.
The most advanced splitter goes a
bit further. It uses one chip for receive, one each chip for each output to transmit, but also uses and isolation chip on each of the output chips and uses separate
power supplies to
power the input circuitry, and one for each output. Those are referred to as Optoisolated splitters or generally in a shorter form as "optosplitter".
The advantage of the
opto splitter is the security it provides to the devices attached. Let us say that you have many different types of devices that require the
DMX signal. You may want to put all of the moving heads of one manufacture on one output. On another output, you may want to put all of your
scroller power supplies. Other devices such as "
shoebox dimmers" may go on several different outputs based on their location. Now if say one of the
shoebox dimmers shorts internally putting mains
power on the
DMX line, It will only destroy the other devices on that output of the optosplitter. All of the devices on the other outputs will be protected because there is no direct signals with
voltage on them that connect between ouputs.
The type that has no isolation through optical coupling risk the possibility of every device being damaged when one device shorts internally or cables shorting to higher voltages.
The device that you are looking at on ebay is almost for sure to be the non-optoisolation type distributor. Considering the price and the single
power input. That having been said and considering the low cost and the 3 pin connectors, that you seem to have on the rest of your
system, and the fact that they can probably ship from China to Sri Lanka, more easily than from the US or Europe, I would say that it would be worth your while. It mentions in the add and the broken english, "485". I think that means that it is splitting and distributing RS485, the transmission standard of
DMX.
While isolation is desireable, having the ability to splitt some of your signals will certainly help with the distances. I think that I am going to buy one just to have as a backup for other things that I do at my
theatre. I have 24 outputs of
DMX, all isolated through out my
theatre, and a couple of 4 output
portable that I can use as neccessary. The price of that Chinese one is low enough for me to just buy one and take it apart to see how they have done it.
Tom Johnson