User Instructions
Zero88 Lighting Ltd. reserves the right to make changes to the equipment described in this manual without prior notice.
This equipment is designed for professional stage lighting control, and is unsuitable for any other purpose. It should be used by, or under the supervision of, appropriately qualified or trained
persons only. Servicing of this equipment should be attempted by suitably qualified persons only. E & OE
Tel: +44 (0) 1633 838088
U.K. Email:
Fax: +44 (0) 1633 867880
Zero 88 Lighting Ltd.
Doc. No. IM7649 Issue 3 August 2005
Stock No: 7387200
Page 1 of 3
ChilliNet RS232 Node Instruction Manual
Introduction
This manual is intended to enable users to connect any serial communications device that supports the ASCII character format, to communicate
with and control the ChilliNet range of equipment.
Connection
Connect the supplied serial cable between the controlling device and the ChilliNet RS232 Node. The supplied serial cable is non-standard in
that only pins 2, 3 and 5 are connected; do not use a standard serial cable in its place as unpredictable control may occur
Connect the supplied RJ12 cable between the ChilliNet RS232 Node and an RJ12 port on any of the ChilliNet equipment.
Protocol Settings
Baud Rate
9600 Baud
Data structure
No parity, 8 data bits, 1 start bit, 1 stop bit.
ASCII Overview
ASCII Control Messages provide a simple method of control for AV systems or PC integration. This is achieved by sending a string of ASCII
characters to the RS232 serial port.
The command is not case sensitive.
Message Syntax
The general form of the message is:
Start Character
Each message starts with the @ character
The command is started receiving the @ character. If a command is incomplete when a new @ is received, the old command is discarded.
Command
The start character is followed by a two character command.
Example: PM
(Play Memory)
Parameters
After the command characters several characters define the parameters, such as the Memory Number, Area or Dimmer Number, Channel
Number and Fade Time.
A colon delimits the values. If a colon is received after only 1 digit then a single digit value is assumed.
End Character
The command is ended with a carriage return, <cr> (13 dec). The # character can also be used.
Messages are passed both to and from the Chilli Network, so that synchronisation can be maintained between controllers on the Chilli Network
and the ASCII system.
Operating Modes
The ChilliNet RS232 Node can be used in one of two ways. It can be used to control either individual dimmers - using
dimmer numbers
, or
entire areas - using
area numbers
that are assigned to channels on a dimmer. The installer should decide which mode is most appropriate for
an installation, and use only messages for that mode.
