Which cable should I use for a power distributor?

For professional power distributors in event technology, use H07RN-F rubber cable with appropriate cross-section for the load. For 16A CEE distributors, 5×1.5 mm² (five-core: three phases, neutral, earth) is the minimum, though 5×2.5 mm² offers better safety margins and lower voltage drop. For 32A distributors, use 5×4.0 mm² or larger. Rubber-sheathed H07RN-F cable is oil-resistant, flexible and suitable for outdoor use, making it ideal for mobile event applications. Brands like Titanex offer enhanced durability for demanding touring environments.

What is the difference between 16A and 32A CEE connectors?

CEE 16A and 32A connectors differ in size, current capacity and typical applications. A 16A CEE connector (red, 400 V three-phase) handles up to 11 kW continuous load, suitable for most stage lighting rigs and small to medium PA systems. The 32A variant supports up to 22 kW, used for larger productions, multiple distributed loads or high-power equipment like large moving lights and amplifier racks. Physically, 32A connectors are larger with thicker pins, and they require correspondingly larger cable cross-sections (typically 5×4.0 mm² vs. 5×1.5 mm² for 16A). The two types are not interchangeable — a 16A plug will not fit a 32A socket.

When do I need a DMX terminator?

A DMX terminator is required on any DMX512 lighting control network longer than approximately 50 metres or with more than 20 fixtures in the daisy chain. The terminator — a 120-ohm resistor connected between DMX pins 2 and 3 (Data+ and Data–) — is installed at the last fixture in the chain. It absorbs signal reflections that would otherwise bounce back along the cable, causing data corruption, flickering or erratic fixture behaviour. Without proper termination, long cable runs or large fixture counts often result in unreliable operation, especially with fast-moving effects or strobing. Professional DMX terminators are available as XLR plug-in modules, or you can solder a 120-ohm resistor into a spare XLR connector.

What types of plug connections are used in event technology?

Professional event technology uses several standardised connector types. CEE connectors (IEC 60309) in 16A, 32A and 63A variants handle three-phase power distribution, with colour coding (blue for 230 V, red for 400 V) preventing mis-connection. Schuko (Schutzkontakt) plugs and sockets are standard for 230 V single-phase equipment. XLR connectors in 3-pin and 5-pin versions carry DMX lighting control and analogue audio signals. powerCON connectors (by Neutrik) provide a locking mains connection for powered loudspeakers and lighting fixtures, safer and more reliable than IEC C13/C14. Speakon connectors (also Neutrik) are the professional standard for speaker cables, offering secure locking and high current capacity. Each connector type is optimised for its specific application, ensuring safety and reliability in demanding production environments.

How do I calculate the load for a power distributor?

To calculate the load for a power distributor, sum the power consumption (in watts) of all connected equipment, then divide by the supply voltage to obtain current in amperes. For single-phase 230 V loads, use the formula: Current (A) = Power (W) ÷ 230. For three-phase 400 V loads, the calculation is: Current (A) = Power (W) ÷ (√3 × 400) ÷ efficiency factor. Always add a 20–30% safety margin to account for inrush currents, power factor and future expansion. Ensure loads are balanced across all three phases (L1, L2, L3) to prevent neutral overload. Check that the total current does not exceed the distributor's input rating (e.g. 16A for a CEE 16A input) and that individual outlet circuits remain within their rated capacity.

Which DMX cable should I buy for stage lighting?

For professional stage lighting, always use purpose-designed DMX512 cable with 110-ohm impedance and twisted-pair construction. Look for cables with robust shielding (foil plus braid, minimum 90% coverage) to prevent interference from nearby power cables. Brands like Sommer Cable, Cordial and Helukabel offer high-quality DMX cables with flexible, durable jackets suitable for touring. Choose 3-pin XLR for standard applications or 5-pin XLR for future compatibility and enhanced grounding. Avoid using standard microphone cables for DMX — they lack the correct impedance and shielding, leading to signal errors and unreliable operation. For permanent installations, specify UV-resistant or flame-retardant jackets as required by the environment.

What does IP44 protection mean for power distributors?

IP44 (Ingress Protection rating 44) indicates that a power distributor is protected against solid objects larger than 1 mm (e.g. wires, small tools) and against water splashes from any direction. The first digit (4) denotes protection against solid particles; the second digit (4) denotes protection against water. IP44 is the minimum standard for outdoor event equipment, ensuring safe operation in rain, damp conditions and dusty environments like festival sites or construction areas. However, IP44 does not mean the equipment is waterproof — it should not be submerged or exposed to high-pressure water jets. For harsher conditions, look for IP54 (dust-protected) or IP67 (dust-tight and waterproof) distributors.

How long can a DMX cable run be before signal quality degrades?

A properly terminated DMX512 cable run can reliably extend up to 300–400 metres before signal degradation becomes problematic, though the official DMX512 specification recommends a maximum of 250 metres. Beyond this distance, signal attenuation, capacitance and electromagnetic interference increase the risk of data errors, resulting in flickering, colour shifts or fixture dropouts. For longer runs, use a DMX splitter or booster to regenerate the signal — these devices receive the incoming DMX data, clean it up and retransmit it at full strength, effectively resetting the distance limit. Optical DMX systems extend this further, converting electrical signals to light and transmitting over fibre-optic cable for distances exceeding several kilometres with zero signal loss or interference.

Cables, Connectors & Power Distributors

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Mono, Nickel /Endkappe Schwarz

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Mono Nickel housing Black end cap

Black end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 2 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18...

€2.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Mono, Nickel/ Endkappe Grün

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Mono Nickel housing Green end cap

Green end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 2 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18...

€2.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Mono, Nickel/ Endkappe Rot

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Mono Nickel housing Red end cap

Red end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 2 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18 AWG...

€2.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Mono, Nickel/ Endkappe Blau

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Mono Nickel housing Blue end cap

Blue end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 2 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18 AWG...

€2.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Mono, Nickel/ Endkappe Gelb

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Mono Nickel housing Yellow end cap

Yellow end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 2 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18...

€2.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Stereo, Nickel/ Endkappe Schwarz

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Stereo Nickel housing Black end cap

Black end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 3 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18...

€2.85 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP 6.3 mm. Klinkeverbinder Stereo, Nickel/ Endkappe Blau

DAP-Audio 6.3 mm Jack Plug Stereo Nickel housing Blue end cap

Blue end cap : Flashover Voltage: 1000 V • Impedance: 100000 Ω • Pins: 3 • Wire Connection: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size: 1 mm² • Maximum Wire Size AWG: 18 AWG...

€2.75 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA04 - RCA/M to mini-jack/F

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

Express delivery possible

€4.35 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Express delivery possible

Availability:

Delivery time: 1-3 days

Delivery time: 1-3 days

DAP-Audio XGA05 - RCA/M to Jack/F

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€5.75 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP XGA07 - Mini Klinke/M mono > Mini Klinke/F

DAP-Audio XGA07 - mini-jack/M mono to mini-jack/F

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€2.29 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA18 - Jack/M stereo to 2x RCA/F

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€3.95 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA19 - Jack/M mono to 2x RCA/F

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€3.95 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA23 - XLR/F 3P to Jack/M mono

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€8.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA28 - XLR/M 3P to Jack/M stereo

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€6.45 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA30 - XLR/F 5P to XLR/M 3P

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€10.90 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP-Audio XGA33 - XLR/F 3P to RCA/F

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€7.95 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

DAP XGA40 - Mini Klinke/M > 2xMini Klinke/F inkl. 2x10 kilo-Ohm

DAP-Audio XGA40 - mini-jack/M to 2 x mini-jack/F - incl. 2 x 10 kilo-Ohm resistors

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

Express delivery possible

€4.75 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Express delivery possible

Availability:

Delivery time: 1-3 days

Delivery time: 1-3 days

DAP XGA41 - Jack/M mono > 2 x RCA/F inkl. 2 x 10 kilo-Ohm

DAP-Audio XGA41 - Jack/M mono to 2 x RCA/F - incl. 2 x 10 kilo-Ohm resistors

You don’t want to busy yourself with details? Things of minor importance like adapters? DAP developed a new series of high quality Audio adapters so that you don’t have to pay attention...

€4.35 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Cablehood Side Entry PG29 Grey, 16/72 Pole

ILME 16/72P Cablehood Side Entry PG29 Grey

Hood for two levers, size "77.27", side entry, Pg29, metal version, IP66, grey, 16/72-pin. : Pins: 16 • Cable Entry: Pg29 • Length (mm): 93.5 mm • Height (mm): 63 mm...

€14.50 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Cablehood Top Entry PG29 Grey, 16/72 Pole, High-model

ILME 16/72P Cablehood Top Entry PG29 Grey - high model with clips

Hood with two levers, size "77.27", top entry, Pg29, metal version, IP66 (EN 60529) and IP69 K (DIN 40050 - 9) degree of protection, high model, grey, 16/72-pin. : Pins: 16 • Cable...

€39.00 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Audio Insert Female Without Contactpins, 72 Pole

ILME 72P Audio Insert female Without contactpins

Female insert, 72-pins + PE, crimp connections, 10 A 250 V, 4 KV, 2, size "77.27", CLASS insert series. Delivered without contact pins. : Rated Current (A): 10 A • Pins: 72...

€12.90 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Audio Insert Male Without Contactpins, 72 Pole

ILME 72P Audio Insert male Without contactpins

Male insert, 72-pins + PE, crimp connections, 10 A 250 V, 4 KV, 2, size "77.27", CLASS insert series. Delivered without contactpins : Rated Current (A): 10 A • Pins: 72...

€12.90 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days

AC-C-XM-90

AC-C-XM-90 XLR male 90° angle adapter Practical 90° XLR male angle adapter for space-saving and flexible cabling. Ideal for tight installations, stage and studio environments. Robust...

€1.27 *

incl. tax, plus shipping costs

Availability:

Delivery time: 3-5 days

Delivery time: 3-5 days