Terminator, DMX

A male XLR connector, either 3- or 5-pin, with a 120 ohm, 1/2 - 2W, resistor soldered across pins 2&3, plugged into the output of the last DMX device in the line. Easily built oneself (see http://www.bigclive.com/dmxtest.htm), or available for purchase from many manufacturers, one example: DFD Base Model, or (a fancy one with a "DMX-signal present" LED indicator: DFD Deluxe Terminator).

The terminator is required to prevent reflections from causing data transmission errors on all DMX streams, except those ending with an ETC Source Four Revolution® or SmartPack, which cleverly switch in the resistor if they sense nothing plugged into their DMX out port. See also this thread: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting/9116-dmx-termination-plug.html.

For more information, see the "Dr. DMX" article, Why Terminate?.

Steps to build one's own:

1) Obtain a 1/2 W, 120 Ω resistor. (Available from any quality electronics component dealer: Allied, DigiKey, Mouser, Newark, etc.)
2) Solder the resistor between pins 2&3 of a Male XLR (5-pin or 3-pin as appropriate) connector.
proxy.php

DL's Photobucket
3) Reassemble the connector and LABEL IT CLEARLY, as it will look just like an un-wired male XLR connector otherwise.

This page has been seen 5,802 times.

Industry Advertising

Recent Activity

Readability Information

An automated review of this page attempts to determine its readability in English (US). The page contains roughly 186 words across 15 sentences.
Readability score
36.42
Readability score: 36.42
Grade level
11.3
For the information in this page to be accessible to the widest audience of readers, both a high readability score and a low grade level are ideal.

Icon Legend

  • Normal page
  • Color code

    • Content has new updates
    • Content has no updates

CB Advertising

Back