ProFan Operating Manual
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Basics of DMX Control
There are 512 channels in a DMX-512 connection. Channels may
be assigned in any manner. A fixture capable of receiving DMX-
512 will require one or a number of sequential channels. The user
must assign a starting address on the fixture that indicates the first
channel reserved in the lighting console. There are many different
types of DMX controllable fixtures and they all may vary in the
total number of channels required. Choosing a start address
should be planned in advance. Channels should never overlap. If
they do, this will result in erratic operation of the fixtures whose
starting addresses are set incorrectly. You can however, control
multiple fixtures of the same type using the same starting address
as long as the intended result is that of unison movement or
operation. In other words, the fixtures will be slaved together and
all will respond in the same way.
DMX fixtures are often designed to receive and transmit data
through a DMX daisy-chain. A DMX daisy-chain is where the DMX
THRU of one fixture connects to the DMX IN of the next fixture.
The order in which the fixtures are connected is not important and
has no effect on how a lighting console communicates to each
fixture. Use an order that provides for the easiest and most direct
cabling. Connect fixtures using shielded two-conductor twisted
pair cable with 5-pin XLR male to female connectors. The
shield/ground is pin 1, while pin 2 is Data Negative (D-) and pin 3
is Data positive (D+). Pins 4 and 5 are not used according to the
DMX-512 standard.
DMX Data Cable
Use a ProPlex
®
PC222P, PC224P, or equivalent cable which
meets the specifications for EIA RS-485 applications. Standard
microphone cables cannot transmit DMX data reliably over long
distances. The cable should have the following characteristics: