System installation
11
Installing a DMX-controlled system
In a DMX-controlled system, an RDM-compliant DMX lighting controller sends a DMX control data signal
over a DMX link to the installation, and then over the hybrid link to the VC-Grids.
The DMX link requires DMX cable. It can be maximum 300 m (1000 ft.) in length and must run in one single
daisy-chain, but it can be extended or split into branches using an RDM-compliant amplifier/splitter such as
the Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter™ (P/N 90758150). Alternatively, you can run the DMX signal from the controller
over Ethernet cable using Art-Net protocol and convert it to a DMX-compliant signal with a Martin
Ether2DMX8™ DMX router (P/N 90758130).
If you would like assistance with creating a DMX link, your Martin™ supplier will be glad to advise.
The number of VC-Grids that you can control on one DMX link is limited by the number of DMX channels the
VC-Grids will use and the 512 DMX channels available in one DMX universe at the DMX controller. Each
time you have used 512 channels, you must create a new DMX link that is connected to a new DMX
universe on the controller. Note that this limit applies to the
DMX
link
. The maximum safety limits that apply
to the
hybrid
link
(see “Safety Information” on page 4) take priority and must be respected in all cases.
DC Power options in DMX installations
A DMX-controlled VC-Grid installation can be supplied with DC power from the Martin Tripix Power IP66™
external PSU or from a generic external PSU that can supply DC power at 48 V (the Mean Well SP-480 48,
for example).
The hardware and cables required are slightly different depending on which type of PSU you use to supply
the installation with DC power. The two different types of installation are covered in the next two sections:
• If you are using a Martin Tripix Power IP66™ PSU, see ”Installing a DMX system using the Tripix
Power IP66™” on page 12.
• If you are using a generic 48 VDC PSU, see ”Installing a DMX system using a generic 48 VDC
