Notice: Be sure to follow figures two and three when making your own cables. Do not use the ground
lug on the XLR connector. Do not connect the cable’s shield conductor to the ground lug or allow the
shield conductor to come in contact with the XLR’s outer casing. Grounding the shield could cause a
short circuit and erratic behavior.
Special Note: Line Termination. When longer runs of cable are used, you may need to use a terminator
on the last unit to avoid erratic behavior. A terminator is a 110-120 ohm 1/4 watt resistor which is
connected between pins 2 and 3 of a male XLR connector (DATA + and DATA -). This unit is inserted
in the female XLR connector of the last unit in your daisy chain to terminate the line. Using a cable
terminator (ADJ part number Z-DMX/T) will decrease the possibilities of erratic behavior.
1 Ground
XLR Pin Configuration
Pin 1 = Ground
Pin 2 = Data Compliment (negative)
Pin 3 = Data True (positive)
DMX-512 OUT 3-PIN XLR
XLR Male Socket
2 Cold
DMX-512 IN 3-PIN XLR
COMMON
DMX +
DMX -
1
3
2
1
3
2
3 Hot
XLR Female Socket
1 Ground
3 Hot
2 Cold
3
1
2
Termination reduces signal errors and avoids signal
transmission problems and interference. It is always
advisable to connect a DMX terminal, (Resistance
120 Ohm 1/4 W) between PIN 2 (DMX-) and PIN 3
(DMX +) of the last fixture.
5-Pin XLR DMX Connectors. Some manufacturers use 5-pin DMX-512 data cables for DATA
transmission in place of 3-pin. 5-pin DMX fixtures may be implemented in a 3-pin DMX line by using a
cable adapter, which are readily available at most electronics stores. The chart below details a proper
cable conversion.
3-Pin XLR to 5-Pin XLR Conversion
Conductor
3-Pin XLR Female (Out)
5-Pin XLR Male (In)
Ground/Shield
Pin 1
Pin 1
Data Compliment (- signal)
Pin 2
Pin 2
Data True (+ signal)
Pin 3
Pin 3
Not Used
Do Not Use
Not Used
Do Not Use
D M X S E T U P
10