19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

C

Cole Lofink

Sophomore
Jan 11, 2011
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NJ/NC
www.sonuspro.com
What are you guys using for your lighting connectors?

Here are the 3 options I've narrowed it down to for my company. I'm really only interested in the best.
These will be used in outdoor concerts and get rained on. Reliability is the most important thing to me.

Option 1
Socapex the actual "Socapex". These seem to be small and tough.

Option 2
Veam. These are the largest of the 3 options, don't know if thats a plus.

Option 3
Phase 3 Connectors. These are well.....blue. I think CBI re-brands these.

What are your thoughts. What do you use, and why?
 

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Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Cole Lofink said:
What are you guys using for your lighting connectors?

Here are the 3 options I've narrowed it down to for my company. I'm really only interested in the best.
These will be used in outdoor concerts and get rained on. Reliability is the most important thing to me.

Option 1
Socapex the actual "Socapex". These seem to be small and tough.

Option 2
Veam. These are the largest of the 3 options, don't know if thats a plus.

Option 3
Phase 3 Connectors. These are well.....blue. I think CBI re-brands these.

What are your thoughts. What do you use, and why?
Click to expand...

Socapex is the standard and will allow you to cross rent to and from others. i've no experience with the other two options, so i can't comment on whether they would be superior in outdoor conditions. i do know that well maintained Soca connecters can remain whatever proof and give decades of service. poorly maintained and beat upon ones will not. YMMV....
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

brian maddox said:
Socapex is the standard and will allow you to cross rent to and from others. i've no experience with the other two options, so i can't comment on whether they would be superior in outdoor conditions. i do know that well maintained Soca connecters can remain whatever proof and give decades of service. poorly maintained and beat upon ones will not. YMMV....
Click to expand...

They all interchange, so they are all crossrentable.

I like the LK 19-pin soca connector, but I've had good luck with the CBI as well.

When I wire soca, I take out the inner grounding ring, as there is always a chance you will use the soca cables for other things than 6-circuit par bars, and those other uses may not want the inner conductors bused together.
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Silas Pradetto said:
They all interchange, so they are all crossrentable.

I like the LK 19-pin soca connector, but I've had good luck with the CBI as well.

When I wire soca, I take out the inner grounding ring, as there is always a chance you will use the soca cables for other things than 6-circuit par bars, and those other uses may not want the inner conductors bused together.
Click to expand...

Did not know that. Which just goes to show that a Little Bit of Knowledge is a dangerous thing... :)

i'll go back to audio now and leave you lampies to your fancy blue connectors and the like...
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Cole Lofink said:
What are you guys using for your lighting connectors?


What are your thoughts. What do you use, and why?
Click to expand...


Option 1
Socapex the actual "Socapex". These seem to be small and tough.

My first run of used soca had these connectors... personally I find they suck, because there is a small locking channel on the half shells that mates with the end. Should that channel break off (which happens when someone over tightens) then the end will "free wheel". Now you can't mate the end up to the other end becuase the pin is in the wrong location. Also the cable strain relief is very close to the ends and if you have to rework them for any reason, it's just a bitch.

Option 2
Veam. These are the largest of the 3 options, don't know if thats a plus.

I like these because the shell is one piece and it allows you to service the end, re-solder etc. down the road very easily.
BUT - you might want to add some locktight on the collar. Again if the shell comes loose from end, you could be trying to tighten a soca and it's just spinning the shell...

Option 3
Phase 3 Connectors. These are well.....blue. I think CBI re-brands these.

I bought these recently ( last year) - I like the fact that the blue couplers indicate "lighting soca", vs the other stuff I have that I use for audio. (I turned the sexs around so I can't plug a lighting soca into a speaker array)
The only gripe I have about cbi cable is they are too flexable, and make wrapping it a chore, but other than that, I'd go with the cbi stuff.

BTw - they usually only have the ground ring when you order 14 conductor cable, but I could be wrong - when I ordered my CBI stuff it came pin for pin (1-19)
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Shane Presley said:
(I turned the sexs around so I can't plug a lighting soca into a speaker array)
Click to expand...

That works great till Dimmer land on one side of stage and audio is on the other. Respective cables end up at your speaker stack, or a run ends up from dimmer to amp rack. Some "helpfull stage hand" plugs an audio cable into a dimmer cable. You end up with an amp out to dimmer or lighting distro output together. With all the options avalible for non lighting connectors I think SOCA for audio is just a bad idea in general.
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Tom Bourke said:
That works great till Dimmer land on one side of stage and audio is on the other. Respective cables end up at your speaker stack, or a run ends up from dimmer to amp rack. Some "helpfull stage hand" plugs an audio cable into a dimmer cable. You end up with an amp out to dimmer or lighting distro output together. With all the options avalible for non lighting connectors I think SOCA for audio is just a bad idea in general.
Click to expand...

Agreed - I have identified my "audio soca" with coloured gaff that say audio soca on them, and I'm not quite big enough to worry about having multiple runs end up all over a stage mis-id'd , but yes in general probably not a good idea, but it works for me for now. Its easy to run one long 12 ga soca than 4 NL-4 runs across stage. runs tops and subs off one run. I do the same for monitors mixes... one soca, 4 mon mixes - then only short speakon to jump to each mix.
I also don't employ any "helpful" stage hands, I have regular hires and even if they have questions they ask.

As with anything proceed with caution ;)
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Yeah, they are convenient for audio too. Maybe Neutric can come out with something in the NL14 to NL20 range!
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Shane Presley said:
Agreed - I have identified my "audio soca" with coloured gaff that say audio soca on them, and I'm not quite big enough to worry about having multiple runs end up all over a stage mis-id'd , but yes in general probably not a good idea, but it works for me for now. Its easy to run one long 12 ga soca than 4 NL-4 runs across stage. runs tops and subs off one run. I do the same for monitors mixes... one soca, 4 mon mixes - then only short speakon to jump to each mix.
I also don't employ any "helpful" stage hands, I have regular hires and even if they have questions they ask.

As with anything proceed with caution ;)
Click to expand...

A local company uses 20A twist for all his audio connections and soca for lighting. He reportedly never has an issue with speaker cables walking away.
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

I think were straying from the question at hand. What is the BEST 19 Pin Connector (Socapex) for lighting applications? I don't care if they work for audio NOT now, NOT ever, thats what I have NL4 and NL8 connectors for.

These will be used to run from a lighting distro up to a break-out and into, MAC101s, MAC700s, Sharpys, various LED fixtures, 8 Light Moles, 4 Light Moles, and Lekos. They will not be used for Par Cans.
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Cole,

We have the Veam and LK connectors as well as Lex that has a LK/veam type as well.

All of these work well.
I personally do not like the Socapex brand

The newer molded ends are also nice from lex as was mentioned

db

Cole Lofink said:
What are you guys using for your lighting connectors?

Here are the 3 options I've narrowed it down to for my company. I'm really only interested in the best.
These will be used in outdoor concerts and get rained on. Reliability is the most important thing to me.

Option 1
Socapex the actual "Socapex". These seem to be small and tough.

Option 2
Veam. These are the largest of the 3 options, don't know if thats a plus.

Option 3
Phase 3 Connectors. These are well.....blue. I think CBI re-brands these.

What are your thoughts. What do you use, and why?
Click to expand...
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

IO Lab Corp has the SSX 19-pin Socapex compatible for about half the price. They also have a REVERSE GENDER one and a break-out Spider.
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Hello,


I'm sorry may be I write in wrong topic.
If you could help me, please reply me.


Could you please write where in USA or better in Europe buy SOCAPEX cables, except e-bay or gearsourse?
 
Re: 19 Pin Connectors (Socapex)

Sorry, may I ask you one more question:razz:

As I understand Socapex is a producer of connectors only, but they don't produce cables, yes?

If I'm right, could you please write what cables do you use with Soca connectors?
We need 12/19 multi cable.
 
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