Data links
13
Data links
Important!
Shut down power to the fixture before connecting to or disconnecting from data.
DMX and RDM
The ERA 500 Hybrid IP has 5-pin locking XLR sockets for DMX and RDM input and output (see
A
7). The default pin-out on both sockets is:
• pin 1 to shield
• pin 2 to data 1 cold (-)
• pin 3 to data 1 hot (+).
Pins 4 and 5 are not used by the fixture but are bridged between input and output sockets. These pins can
therefore be used as a pass-through connection for an additional data signal if required.
Tips for reliable data transmission
• Use shielded twisted-pair cable designed for RS-485 devices: standard microphone cable cannot transmit
control data reliably over long runs. 24 AWG cable is suitable for runs up to 300 meters (1000 ft). Heavier
gauge cable and/or an amplifier is recommended for longer runs.
• To split the data link into branches, use a
Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter
optically isolated splitter-amplifier (see
• Do not overload the DMX data link. You can connect up to a maximum of 32 devices on a serial DMX link.
• Install a DMX termination plug on the last fixture on the link.
Connecting to data via DMX cable
To connect the ERA 500 Hybrid IP to DMX and/or RDM data carried over DMX cable:
1. Shut down power to the fixture and remove the rubber seals from the DATA IN and DATA OUT sockets.
2. Connect the DMX data output from the controller to the ERA 500 Hybrid IP’s DATA IN (male XLR) socket
using good-quality DMX cable.
3. Run DMX cable from the ERA 500 Hybrid IP’s DATA OUT (female XLR) socket to the data input of the
next fixture and continue until the link is complete. Do not allow the weight of cable runs or coils of cable
to hang from connectors because this can affect the IP rating of the connectors.
4. Terminate the data link by connecting a 120 Ohm, 0.25 Watt resistor between the data 1 hot (+) and cold
(-) conductors at the data output of the last fixture on the link. If the link is divided into branches using a
DMX splitter, terminate each branch of the link.
5. Make sure that rubber seals are installed on all unused connectors.
6. You can now apply power.
Figure 7: Data connections
