Cat5e

[AllenM]

I use a multi-cable style cable that contains a 2 conductor shield (Audio) and 3 conductor non-shield (Power) for making rig snakes from pedal board to amp.. there are other configurations that even allow say Audio + Midi + Power and the individual paths are separated (jacketed) inside a larger jacket...

here is an example..

http://www.van-damme.com/21.html

AllenM

[jtn191]

I did a little more research and the noise seems to be related to if there's shielding or not. Also found these http://www.pedalsnake.com/page.php?id=63
http://www.lavacable.com/index.php?id=150

This seems like a pretty cool idea! keep us posted on how it turns out

[chromesphere]

I've tried cat5 before but I didn't like it personally.  Very brittle and quite stiff.  Maybe that's my anti-solid core preference coming through, but I do use cat5 for breadboard links.  Works well!

[culturejam]

May be a hair brained idea BUT:
Just picked up a VHT Special 6.  Looking at the mods others are doing.  Saw a guy put a 9v out on the back of the amp to power his pedalboard (visual one spot in the chassy). 

What I love about the VHT 12/20 is that it has a 9VDC output on the back for pedals. Brilliant idea.

[PhiloB]

That's where the guy got the inspiration.  He used plastic ties to secure the transformer inside the amp and hooked it up to the on/off power switch.  Drilled a hole for the DC near the external speaker outs.

[PhiloB]

Chromosphere, I had a Line6 footboard that ran off Cat5.  It is stiff but I never had any problems with it.
That is my hesitation though, I don't want to put a Ethernet port on the back of the amp to find out I don't like it!

[lincolnic]

Just wanted to chime in and say that the headphone system at my studio (6-channel mixers) uses CAT5 only, for both power and audio. However, it's a bit of a pain in the ass. The connectors and the jacks can get loose, which means sometimes you'll randomly drop a channel until the cables get reseated. Not the biggest deal, but not something you want to happen in the middle of a gig either.

[PhiloB]

lincolnic, definitely something to think about.  I'm considering building two boxes to test it out before permanently drilling the amp.

[Muadzin]

Why bother? They're working on wireless power distribution. 

http://www.rezence.com/alliance/about-a4wp

[oldhousescott]

The Furman studio headphone system used Cat5 for analog audio and power distribution (power, 1 stereo, 4 mono channels). You might be able to find some diagrams for pinouts, etc. Definitely use molded or strain-relieved plugs. Regular crimped connectors are the weak link in that scenario. Trust me.

[PhiloB]

Thanks oldhousescott!
Anybody with experience using this type of cabling for any purpose recommend a vendor for the supplies?

[pickdropper]

Thanks oldhousescott!
Anybody with experience using this type of cabling for any purpose recommend a vendor for the supplies?

I would probably check out Markertek first.

[chromesphere]

Chromosphere, I had a Line6 footboard that ran off Cat5.  It is stiff but I never had any problems with it.
That is my hesitation though, I don't want to put a Ethernet port on the back of the amp to find out I don't like it!

Hey Philo.  Helps if I read the thread properly before responding I thought you meant using the wires from cat5 for building!  Yeah im sure reliability wise cat5 would be fine.  No idea about power handling but I would expect it to be low...whats a high bit of a transmitted digital network signal?  5v? Anyway, would be interesting to see other applications for cat5.  Interconnecting between pedals etc.  Prob better suited to the digital world though.

[lincolnic]

The Furman studio headphone system used Cat5 for analog audio and power distribution (power, 1 stereo, 4 mono channels). You might be able to find some diagrams for pinouts, etc. Definitely use molded or strain-relieved plugs. Regular crimped connectors are the weak link in that scenario. Trust me.

This is exactly the headphone system I mentioned in my earlier post. You'll definitely want to make sure you're using stronger connectors if they exist.

[Leevibe]

I'd be curious about capacitance per foot. It would be worth it to shoot out X number of feet of cat5 against the same length quality instrument cable being fed with an unbuffered signal.

I use a 6' cat6 in my test rig and it works beautifully to carry signal and power to and from the enclosure. I use stranded wire where it breaks out to test clips because the solid core is way too stiff to be useful in that application.