Elation DMX 101 Handbook Download Page 13

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3.3 Summary

So how does all this information relate to controlling a light fixture?  Think of it in terms of the simple DMX 
Controller Console (Figure 4).  The console may have up to 512 control faders on it (8 in this example).  Each 
fader controls the intensity of one light (using one DMX Channel).  The position of the fader represents an 8-bit 
value (DMX Value) between 0 and 255, where 0 is off and 255 is full on.

Up to 32 devices may be connected in a daisy-chain, with a terminator on the last device.  Using a DMX splitter/
repeater (opto-isolator) can extend both cable distance (as the signal is regenerated and re-transmitted) and the 
number of devices (up to 32 per branch).

Figure 4

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Summary of Contents for DMX 101

Page 1: ...DMX 101 A DMX 512 HANDBOOK 7 92 87 21 20 6 1...

Page 2: ...DMX 101 A DMX 512 Handbook 2 Elation Professional Handbook Revision May 2008...

Page 3: ...6 3 Theory of Operation 7 3 1 The Cable TV Analogy 8 3 2 DMX Communications 11 3 3 Summary 13 4 Protocol Specifications 14 4 1 Connectors 15 4 2 Cabling 16 4 3 Data 17 5 Sample Applications 18 5 1 Dim...

Page 4: ...l channels used on one network segment often called a universe of devices In a simple dimming system one channel controls the intensity of one dimmer A single intelligent fixture however may require s...

Page 5: ...X 512 protocol USITT ESTA ANSI EIA TIA 2 1 USITT The United States Institute of Theatre Technology USITT supports develops and promotes a wide variety of standards for the theatrical and entertainment...

Page 6: ...r Controlling Lighting Equipment and Accessories ANSI E1 20 Entertainment Technology RDM Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512 ANSI E1 17 Entertainment Technology ACN Architecture for Control Net...

Page 7: ...an engineer most people are not familiar with how all this techno gibberish actually accomplishes lighting control This section will attempt to explain how DMX operates in a simplified and easy to und...

Page 8: ...ble TV system Figure 1 with four major components Cable TV Company Cable Decoder TV Figure 1 The Cable TV Company broadcasts many channels at once in a mixed signal over a single cable The Cable carri...

Page 9: ...ontrol Console will broadcast up to 512 channels over one DMX Cable Some of these channels may not be used but will still be transmitted as required by the protocol The Decoder in this example is buil...

Page 10: ...controlling four Light Fixtures Figure 3 it must know which four control channels to receive This is accomplished by setting a base address or the DMX address for the first Light Fixture channel 005 i...

Page 11: ...transmission data is sent one byte at a time Asynchronous devices do not require perfect synchronization but their timing signals must be close within about 5 This method is relatively simple and ther...

Page 12: ...e 1 to device 2 and so on The final device in the daisy chain must be terminated The terminator absorbs signal power which would otherwise be reflected back into the cable and degrade the data A termi...

Page 13: ...ch fader controls the intensity of one light using one DMX Channel The position of the fader represents an 8 bit value DMX Value between 0 and 255 where 0 is off and 255 is full on Up to 32 devices ma...

Page 14: ...ole in the proper functionality of the protocol The DMX standard specifies exactly what types of connectors and cable may be used It is also important to understand the logic behind the data that is t...

Page 15: ...mation back to the controller lamp hours operating temperatures etc Figure 5 Figure 6 Table 1 DMX 512 Connector Pinout NOTE Many manufacturers use pins 4 and 5 for non standard applications often usin...

Page 16: ...few such characteristics for consideration Impedance 110 120 Ohm recommended Capacitance 25 pF cond to cond 40 pF cond to shield recommended Attenuation Number of conductors pairs minimum 1 pair Numbe...

Page 17: ...his means about 44 DMX Packets can be sent each second WARNING DMX 512 has no error prevention and is prohibited from use in life safety applications such as pyrotechnics or set rigging motion control...

Page 18: ...ontrol channels and parameters Channel 1 Pan Channel 2 Tilt Channel 3 Color Channel 4 Gobo Channel 5 Dimmer Pan and tilt functions are linear but color and gobo functions present a challenge Imagine a...

Page 19: ...www elationlighting com 19 5 1 Dimmer Control 5...

Page 20: ...DMX 101 A DMX 512 Handbook 20 Elation Professional 5 2 Intelligent Fixture Control 5...

Page 21: ...www elationlighting com 21 5 3 Dimmer Intelligent Fixture Control 5...

Page 22: ...DMX 101 A DMX 512 Handbook 22 Elation Professional 5 4 Distributed Control 5...

Page 23: ...www elationlighting com 23...

Page 24: ...on Professional A Division of the American DJ Group of Companies 6122 S Eastern Avenue Los Angeles CA 90040 USA Tel 866 245 6726 Fax 323 832 9142 Web www elationlighting com E mail info elationlightin...

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