20B
21B
5.3. DMX512 Connection
The DMX 512 is widely used in intelligent lighting control, with a maximum of 512 channels.
1. If you use a controller with 5 pins DMX connector, you need to use a 5 to 3 pin adapter.
2. At last unit, the DMX cable has to be terminated with a terminator. Solder a 120-ohm
1/4W resistor between pin 2(DMX-) and pin 3(DMX+) into a 3-pin XLR-plug and plug it in
the DMX-output of the last unit.
3. Connect the unit together in a “daisy chain” by XLR plug cable from the output of the unit
to the input of the next unit. The cable cannot be branched or split to a “Y” cable. DMX
512 is a very high-speed signal. Inadequate or damaged cables, soldered joints or
corroded connectors can easily distort the signal and shut down the system.
4. The DMX output and input connectors are pass-through to maintain the DMX circuit,
when power is disconnected to the unit.
5. Each lighting unit needs to have a DMX address to receive the data by the controller. The
address number is between 0-511 (usually 0 & 1 are equal to 1).
6. The end of the DMX 512 system should be terminated to reduce signal errors.
7. 3 pin XLR connectors are more popular than 5 pins XLR.
3 pin XLR: Pin 1: GND, Pin 2: Negative signal (-), Pin 3: Positive signal (+)
5 pin XLR: Pin 1: GND, Pin 2: Negative signal (-), Pin 3: Positive signal (+)
