2005Center Post forum
Adding extra wiring capacity to a 1.5-inch center post for additional video feeds and accessories
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The standard 8-pin Lemo connector on typical 1.5-inch posts limits wire capacity, with amperage dropping from 13 amps at 8 pins to 9 amps at 12 pins as pin count increases.
- Upgrading to a larger Lemo connector requires extensive modifications to both the post and junction boxes, plus new machining, making it expensive and potentially costing several hundred dollars per connector.
- Alternative approaches include using a 10-pin Lemo connector with thicker gauge cable, which may fit in existing posts if only the connectors are swapped out.
- Some manufacturers offer 2-inch posts with smaller connectors or multi-pin systems that can carry multiple video feeds, tally signals, and camera data simultaneously through a single post.
- Auxiliary power ports designed for specific base plates can be repurposed to free up additional conductor lines in existing connector systems.
- Direct soldering of cables without connectors allows maximum wire capacity limited only by post inner diameter and collapse specifications, though this sacrifices serviceability and repairability.
Depends on
- Amperage ratings decrease as connector pin counts increase, potentially creating power delivery constraints.
- Heavily modified posts become difficult to repair in the field and may require spare units to be built.
- Switching to larger connector systems forces complete rewiring of upper and lower junction boxes.
- Some solutions mentioned were based on product specifications from 2000-era catalogs and may not reflect current offerings.
- The discussion does not conclusively determine which off-the-shelf solution best meets multi-video requirements.