XLR / DMX cable

[pagan_flame]

User manual for my (2, master/slave) barrel scanners says 'Use a DMX lead to connect master to slave and then connect a female terminator socket to the slave'.

But when I connect a common or garden 3-pin XLR / microphone lead between them with no terminator plug, all works fine.

Why should I shell out on the DMX cable and terminators, then? :confused:

[Paul James Promotions]

Usually, with a small number of lights, microphone cable will work fine. On a bigger system, as the resistance is different in the cable, you may experience odd behaviour from your effects.

The terminator plug stops any data being reflected back down the DMX chain, but I have never needed to use on, even with 30+ fixtures.

Regards

Jamie