<html><body><div id="edo-message"><div></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I have built numerous enclosures for automation projects, requiring dozens holes for each. I recommend you invest in a set of panel punches, which will work for steel, aluminium, and plastic. The manual ones are not that expensive, and they produce high quality holes. Square, D-sub, round—all sorts of punches are available. McMaster, DIgikey, Mouser, Grainger were my sources. Alternatively, a set of step drills works pretty well for simple round holes in thin sheet metal and plastic.</span></div><div id="edo-message"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br></span></div><div id="edo-message"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">~Loren</span></div><br><div id="edo-meta"><div id="edo-signature" style="font-family: sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial;"><div>Loren Philip Schreiber, Professor Emeritus <div></div><div>School of Theatre, Television, and Film</div><div>San Diego State University</div></div></div></div><div id="edo-original"><div><br><blockquote type="cite" style="margin:1ex 0 0 0; height: min-content; border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:0.5ex;"><div><pre class="edo-pre">Today's Topics:
1. Building custom DMX relay box (Joe)
2. Re: Building custom DMX relay box (Jerry Durand)
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2026 07:33:53 +0000 (UTC)
From: Joe <jdunfee12@yahoo.com>
To: Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft@theatrical.net>
Subject: [SML] Building custom DMX relay box
Message-ID: <1571268821.3883020.1769931233464@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
I am working to make a custom DMX to Relay box.? The circuit board has Relays installed, and the power connections and DMX connections are all screw terminals.The reason I am not simply using a dimmer pack set to serve as on/off only mode, is that I have both 120v and 12vDC voltages. The 12vDC will be to trigger sprinkler valves that are part of two air-cannons. The 120v will be to power a miniature xenon strobe.? ?Though, perhaps I can use a standard dimmer pack, and just plug 12vDC power supplies for the two channels I need the DC control.? I am a little concerned that the inductive relays on the water valves may not play well with my 12v wall warts.? I suppose some diodes at the solenoid may solve that.
Note that the DMX, 3-channel Relay module I have, has screw terminals for all in/outputs.
When I have made a similar custom pack in the past. I obtained some XLR Panel connectors.? But, drilling the holes in the box was both frustrating and not really good enough, even if I got it to function.? I looked for, but didn't find any generic pre-punched panels to attach the two XLR connectors. Though, I did find ones with 4 or 8 locations.Also, the box has to provide for the 120vAC, and 12vDC in/out.? In the past, I just used cut extension cords, with a strain relief. The 12v was easy, just a circular panel mount outlet.
I feel I am somehow not finding the right stuff to do this easily, and professional looking.
As I wright this, I think I am convincing myself to just use a standard DMX dimmer pack.? But, decided to go ahead and post, in case anyone has anything to suggest.
Are there any 4-channel dimmer or relay packs that are for lower wattage, and so are packaged without the weight/size of the higher wattage units?? Perhaps in the form factor of a power strip? I know heavy-weight often means rugged. But there is also a kind of ruggedness that comes with things that are small and light weight.
-Joe
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End of Stagecraft Digest, Vol 138, Issue 1
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