About XLR Pinout (3-Pin, 5-Pin & 7-Pin)

 

About XLR Pinout (3-Pin, 5-Pin & 7-Pin)

XLR connectors are used in audio (mic level & line level) and DMX lighting control (DMX) applications.

                             3-Pin XLR and 7-Pin XLR Audio Pinout

The following is the AES industry standard for balanced audio XLR wiring, commonly known as “pin-2 hot”. 3-Pin XLR connectors are standard amongst line level and mic level audio applications. The above diagram shows you the pin numbering for both Male and Female XLR connectors.

3-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = Shielding (Ground)
Pin2 = Hot (Positive), +
Pin3 = Cold (Negative), –

7-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = B+
Pin2 = Pattern
Pin3 = 6 Volts
Pin4 = Gnd
Pin5 = Out
Pin6 = Out
Pin7 = Gnd

                   3-Pin XLR and 5-Pin XLR DMX Lighting Pinout

The ESTA standard known as Entertainment Technology USITT DMX512-A – Asynchronous Serial Digital Data Transmission Standard for Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories, also known as DMX512-A. DMX512 data are transmitted over a differential pair using EIA-485 voltage levels.

DMX is the primary method for linking controllers, dimmers, advanced fixtures and special effects devices such as foggers and moving lights. A DMX512 controller is connected to fixtures or devices in a daisy-chain link. Each device has a DMX in and generally a DMX out XLR 5 pin connector – sometimes marked as DMX thru. The DMX out on the controller is linked via a DMX512 cable to the DMX in on the first fixture. A second cable then links the DMX out on the first fixture to the next device, and so on – up to 32 devices. In general, the final, empty, DMX out connector should have a DMX512 terminating plug attached into it, which is simply a 120ohm resistor joining pins 2 and 3 of the connector. Many modern devices negate this requirement as they are capable of auto-terminating the link.The DMX connector including 3-pin XLR and 5-pin XLR.

3 Pin XLR connectors are used primarily in lighting control applications as a DMX signal. This DMX specification allows for one channel over the one 3-pin connector. And another DMX specification allows for two completely separate data channels over the one 5 pin connector.

3-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = Shielding (Ground)
Pin2 = Data 1-
Pin3 = Data 1+

5-pin XLR Pinout:
Pin1 = Shielding (Ground)
Pin2 = Data 1-
Pin3 = Data 1+
Pin4 = Data 2-
Pin5 = Data 2+

XLR connectors are available from a number of manufacturers and are covered by an international standard for dimensions, IEC 61076-2-103. Applies to a range of circular multipole connectors with or without latching device, having a nominal outer shell diameter of 19 mm, with 3 to 7 contacts (type ‘XLR’). They are superficially similar to the smaller DIN connector range, but are not physically compatible with them.

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