Technical > Electronics > Belden For In Wall Serial

Belden For In Wall Serial

I'd check to see if all 9 conductors are being used, most likely not.

Rather then running cable dedicated for RS232, I'd run cat rated cable (4-pair 8-conductors) and use an adapter to convert it to DB-9 or DB-25. Then in a few years when all but us old timers have never heard of RS232 the cabling will still be useful for high speed networking.

/tom

reply to Edrick
Are you sure you need *all* nine conductors for serial communication? The vast majority of RS232 control in AV applications only use 3 conductors, a few use 5 or 6, and very rarely anything beyond that. That said, CAT5 or CAT6 cable is perfectly fine for this kind of application, I use a RJ-45 to DB-9 adapter on each end.

reply to Edrick
That's what I'm wondering most applications I've seen just have TX / RX and a shield. So I wasn't sure if there was a specific cable that would be best. As far as running a datacable, it's not being run back to a central point where there will be a network switch and data will already be there. So I'm just wondering what recommendation AV installers have used. I don't see RS232 going anywhere anytime fast in pro-av installs.
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Edrick Smith
Independent Film & Broadcast Producer
»edricksmith.com

What information is the RS232 bringing to the projector? Because I thought projectors use RGB through VGA cables (Component signal)

»www.instructables.com/id/Make-yo···5-cable/

Otherwise, ya, find out what pins you need, because CAT5 or better, CAT6, can do the job, as long as you don't need more pairs

reply to Edrick
For all the Extron installs I've done, we've only used 3-conductor cable (Tx/Rx/Gnd). You'll still get turn on/turn off, power state, lamp hours, etc. No need for a full serial cable.
--
University of Southern California - Fight On!

reply to Edrick
On all my AV installs, serial communication is done using either standard CAT5e cable or if it's a simple Common, TX, RX, then Belden 9451 is acceptable. My preference is CAT5e cable so that when it's time to upgrade, you have an option to go ethernet for control.

Perfect, that's what I figured was i'd just need three conductor. I'll also entertain running Cat for certain installs. When running cat what's the serial distance?

I take it you're just using those plastic serial to RJ45 adapters?

I've got both 8451 and 9451, one thing I'm confused about what is the actual difference between the two models?

Both are identical in electrical spec, but the 9451 has the foil shield bonded to the outer jacket of the cable, so that when you strip it off, the foil is stripped off with it. A real time saver when you're terminating hundreds of cables (I know).

The 8451 is the older brother, but after stripping off the outer jacket, you'd often have to get a pair of nippy cutters to cut back what remained of the foil shield, and then you really needed to put a heatshrink tube to prevent any foil shield leftovers from shorting out with other cables or the connector shell. You could get away from having to put a heatshrink tube on the 9451, but I do it anyway out of habit and proper workmanship.

Interesting, I suppose I just over looked that fact, but now it seems obvious. I'm still learning about proper cable termination. I've noticed some people when they make XLR cables for example shrinktube the cable jacket, the ground and then over the pins.

What do you do, what do you consider proper?

reply to ArthurS