Ilda cable sources

[tribble]

I used a 50' Cables To Go cable over the break and it seemed fine. No major faults to find, though I am far from an expert eye.

[White-Light]

I have to say Kvant ILDA cables are the dogs for quality if expensive.

Now if you could find comparable cable and similar quality DB25 plugs, and can be bothered to make them up, then that would be a real find...

One of the things I like best on mine is the heavyweight metal plugs. Not seen anything like them anywhere else. I'm sure they're out there, just not at major UK electronics parts stores that I've seen.

Edit: Forced to eat my words, just found something similar on AliExpress. Nothing in the UK though. Maplin don't even sell Db25 anymore: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/prod...874711492.html

Don't know how the quality compares and not cheap at $30 per plug (delivered).

[carlos3621]

Dont be fooled by those metal plugs,
My kvant cable with those metal plugs, failed in the first year i had them.

Reason: those metal amphenol plugs are really heavy, and created alot of stress/strain on the the tiny soldered wires, causing them to break off.
The strain releif, eventually loses grip on the cable, from constant flexing of the cable.

My cheapo molded cables/ plugs, are years old and abused, none have failed me to date.

[norty303]

Until I got my stage box sorted I was fairly regularly running 60m+ of C2G cables with at least one join with no problems at all. The ILDA cable I got from Goldenstar was unusable due to its increased resistance over the same distance which meant my safety interlock couldn't achievevenough voltage to disengage.

[White-Light]

Dont be fooled by those metal plugs,
My kvant cable with those metal plugs, failed in the first year i had them.

Reason: those metal amphenol plugs are really heavy, and created alot of stress/strain on the the tiny soldered wires, causing them to break off.
The strain releif, eventually loses grip on the cable, from constant flexing of the cable.

My cheapo molded cables/ plugs, are years old and abused, none have failed me to date.

I've had mine a couple of years and never had an issue. Then again, I don't use it commercially so that maybe the difference. Certainly had no problems though.

[norty303]

Life on the road can be far tougher. Some of my C2G cables were dragged 20m through thick mud under carpet on a get out of a very muddy festival about 3 years ago. They then dried out for a week before being jet washed and had an air line blown down the ends before having pins straightened with a screwdriver!
Still going strong today, mostly because the moulded ends kept a lot of the crap out. They get my vote for durability and price.

[neutrino]

Thumbs up for the C2G cables. They are all I use for all my beach parties. Sand and salt can be pretty harsh!

[mixedgas]

Over-Molded ends, a good shield layer, and gold plated pins are what I look for. On my home made ones, I back fill the shells with 5 minute epoxy. That stops the corrosion and the broken wires.

I think the worse thing you can do is make home made cables with the big shells with the loose cable clamps that let the cable twist and flop.
The second worse thing is to use the shells with the set screw that comes in from the side to clamp the cable. Hence the cheap JB-Weld epoxy I use for backfill.

I have L-com and home made. I'm happy with both.

How many of you guys actually use the 4-40 thumbscrews to lock the cable?

Steve

[Lazerjock]

How many of you guys actually use the 4-40 thumbscrews to lock the cable?

Steve

I do at the DAC. My projector doesn't have the mating parts so I can't on that end.

[norty303]

How many of you guys actually use the 4-40 thumbscrews to lock the cable?

Unless its on the bench at home, every time.

Why risk a failure over something so trivial. Often they'd be fairly inaccessible after rigging, so not a chance to take (imho).

I have managed to unscrew a few of the projector side fixings upon removal though, which is a pain to replace often. Must be heavy handed, they really only need pinching up.