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Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

RJ45 to Clamp Style or IDC DMX Adapter Cable Information

When making an adapter cable, pin-out locations do NOT match.

Start with a Cat5e or Cat6 cable of desired length.

Use an ETC 3-pin or 8-pin Clamp Style or IDC Connection Kit:

  • Standard Pin-out is:
    1.  Common - Brown/White
    2. Data Negative - Orange
    3. Data Positive - Orange/White
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  • Adapter cable listed here assumes a single data cable connection: +, -, Common.  Not intended for DMX 1 & 2 on same cable.
    • If this is desired, Pinouts on the Clamp/IDC side would need to match across a single cable based on T586B (noted below), instead of what is noted in the Clamp Style DMX Connector Termination Guide.

Use an ETC RJ45 Termination Kit:

Terminate all RJ45 connectors according to connector cable colors.
  • HUBBELL

    • Terminate as instructed in the kit. This connector follows the T568B standard.
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  • PANDUIT

    • Terminate as instructed in the kit.
    • clipboard_eb25fd1cd36e2e9b5487015135b563145.png
    • Note that the T568B Standard pin-out has pins 1/2 swapped compared to this connector, as well as 4/5 & 7/8.
    • This is resolved when we look at the underside of the orange piece.  Several pins are crossed in this connector:
    • clipboard_e8e7fa458c85c07cb0f1534ce289039c8.pngclipboard_e285282a5cb3877835fba42122ed1d12a.png
    • The crossing only affects how the connector is terminated, not the pin-out at the connection edge. RJ45 male connection matches the T568B Standard.
    • Note that terminating this connector requires you to follow color/listed number. If you use the standard 1-8, this will not work.

PLASA/ESTA ANSI E1.11 RJ45 DMX Standard T568B:

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  • Please note that the RJ45 pin-out is different than a standard DMX cable pin-out.
  • Do NOT use termination layout above in lieu of the connector instructions.
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