Mass Connector Returns

[bishopthomas]

What's the standard for wiring returns on the W4 Mass connector? Use the last available pins, or the next ones after the inputs? Say I need a 48x8 snake: Would the last pins (channels 51-58) be the returns or would adjacent channels (49-56)? I'm trying to keep my system compatible for future snake rentals if necessary. Thanks.

[Juan T.]

I would use 49-56. That is fairly standard. Whirlwind has only been offering the 58 pair cable more recently. I have a Whirlwind splitter panel that has 57 and 58 as male returns on the MASS panel as the splitter only has 56 transformers but I don't, as well as most people I know, have any fans or trunks that carry those extra "bonus" pairs at the moment.

Juan
Acoutech

[Remoteness]

The standard for wiring returns on a W4 MASS connector usually is the next available pins after the (input) sends.

But you have to ask yourself if your system is going to use a 56 or 58 pair snake.
As you already know the MASS W4 can handle up to 58 balanced pairs.
58 pair multicore is available...

So, if you want a 48X8 setup use 49 through 56.
Like you said, compatiblity is everything, but you have to decide if you're wiring a 56 or 58 channel system.

Most of our snake systems are 56 channel since they didn't have 58 pair snake when we first started out with the W4s.

With that said, we have some interface harnesses that include channels 57 & 58.
Any future snake purchases are wired as 58 pairs even though the upper two channels will not be available on our current systems.