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Socapex connectors
  Published:2012-03-21 11:39:31   Views:

Socapex connectors are 19-pin electrical connectors used in film, television and stage lighting to terminate the ends of a multicable. They are wired with six hot pins, six neutral pins, and six grounded pins, the final pin being a center pin used to help the male end of the connector align properly with a female receptacle. While "Socapex" is a brand name owned by Amphenol-Socapex, the term is often applied to similar off-brand connectors. "Breakouts" are used to connect the fixtures to the cable. The breakout consists of a male socapex connector with six "tails" with female Edison plug, stage pin connector or CEE/BS4343 16A (IEC 60309). A "breakin" is the opposite, consisting of "tails" with male Edison, stage pin connectors or CEE/BS4343 16A feeding a female socapex connector. These are used to connect Socapex cables to dimmer packs that don't have Socapex outputs.

Socapex is also occasionally used for other high-current applications within live events; most commonly, it is used as a trunk cable to connect PA speakers or stage wedges to amplifiers, usually using breakin and breakout cables to NL2/NL4/NL8 or EP5. While some companies use Socapex as a rigging motor power cable, this is generally not recommended as differences in voltage (i.e., 400V vs. 230V) can be misinterpreted, causing extensive equipment damage.