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C Series
Quick Start Guide
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It is not possible to adjust the individual channel attenuation from the
NomadLink network or elsewhere on the amplifier.
Use fingers or a screwdriver to adjust the potentiometers.
Mute indication
Individual channel Mute is indicated by illumination of the two yellow LEDs at
the top of the channel’s LED bargraph. If both LEDs are illuminated and all other
indications are normal, then the channel has been muted by a command from
the NLB 60E front-panel or the DeviceControl application. Otherwise, a Mute
could indicate a fault condition.
Performance, Warning and Fault indicators
• Power on/off (green) indicates that mains power is switched on.
• NomadLink (blue) indicates that the network is connected. The NomadLink
LED will light up even before the mains power is connected and switched on as
it takes phantom power from the NomadLink network cable.
• Bridge mode (yellow) indicates if two channels are bridged using the DIP-
switch on the rear panel.
• CPL, Current Peak Limiter (orange), when flashing indicates the maximum
possible current draw has been reached.
• CPL, Current Peak Limiter (orange), when constant indicates excessive
current draw caused by a short circuit on the output or very low operational
impedance. When detected, the output will mute for six seconds before
re-measuring the output impedance. This will continue until the short circuit
is removed. CPL remains constant orange in a fault condition only when an
input signal is present.
• Temperature (yellow) warning is indicated by a flashing LED. If the amplifier
goes into thermal protect (output muted) the LED illuminates constant yellow.
• VHF, Very High Frequency protection (yellow), indicates that potentially
harmful continuous high frequencies have been detected on the input signal.
The output is muted.
• PAL, Power Average Limiter (red), indicates that the amplifier is limiting
because the power supply and/or the mains-inlet fuse has reached
maximum capability.
• Hardware fault is indicated when both the CPL and VHF indicators light up
simultaneously. The amplifier requires servicing before being placed back
in operation.
NomadLink network and
DeviceControl software
NomadLink network in the amplifiers
All C Series amplifiers are equipped with the proprietary NomadLink network
interface. This includes two RJ45 connections in standard housings: one IN and
one OUT.
Use standard straight Cat-5 Ethernet cables with RJ45 connectors to connect the
amplifier to the NLB 60E NomadLink Bridge and Network Controller or to daisy-
chain multiple amplifiers.
NOTE: It is very important that two IN or two OUT ports are NEVER connected to
each other. This will cause the NomadLink communication and DeviceControl to
exhibit erratic behavior and display inaccurate data. However, this situation will
not damage the amplifier circuitry.
Up to 60 amplifiers can be connected to one NLB 60E in a daisy-chain or
closed loop.
When the NLB 60E is powered up, the NomadLink network receives phantom
power. This causes the blue NomadLink LED on the amplifier front panel and the
NomadLink LED on the rear panel to light up. NomadLink is active even when the
amplifier has mains power disconnected or is not yet powered up.
The amplifier does not have a stand-by power supply for the network. The
network is solely powered from the NLB 60E. Should an amplifier fail or be
inadvertently disconnected from the mains, network integrity is fully maintained
and all amplifiers remain visible on the system.
Connection and setup
The NomadLink network requires use of an NLB 60E NomadLink Bridge &
Network Controller. The NomadLink network is established by connecting the
NLB 60E OUT port to the first amplifier’s IN port. Then a daisy-chain is established
by connecting the first amplifier’s OUT port to the next amplifier’s IN port, and
so on. If a closed loop network is desired for improved redundancy (highly
recommended), the last amplifier’s OUT port must be connected to the NLB 60E’s
IN port.
For all connections, straight Cat-5 RJ45-equipped Ethernet cables should
be used.
TIP:
Optimal NomadLink performance can only be assured when using
Cat-5 cables. However, as NomadLink is only using two wires + ground for
communication and phantom power it is possible to create converters from RJ45
to, for example, XLR connectors using 2-wire shielded cable. The NomadLink
network can then be operated using a standard tie-line in a multicore signal
distribution system. See the drawing below for an example of how to create
a converter.
NOTE:
If any cable format or connection other than Cat-5 (or better) and RJ45 is
utilized, network performance may be compromised. In this event Lab Gruppen
cannot guarantee that the NomadLink network will be fully operational.
NomadLink network cable lengths
The connection between the NLB 60E and your PC is a standard Ethernet network
running the TCP/IP protocol. Cable distances between NLB 60E and your PC follow
standard rules for Ethernet systems.
In situations where the amplifiers and the NLB 60E will be positioned in different
locations at some distance from each other, or where groups of amplifiers within
a single subnet with up to 60 units will be installed with a distance in between,
these general rules applying to Ethernet cabling limitations may be considered.
• Rule 1: The maximum cable length in between any two devices may not
exceed 300 meters / 980 feet.
• Rule 2: In a non-closed-loop daisy-chained subnet the total maximum cable
length is 400 meters / 1300 feet.
• Rule 3: In a closed-loop subnet the total maximum cable length is 700 meters
/ 2300 feet.
Ethernet network cable lengths
The connection between the NLB 60E and your PC is a standard Ethernet network
running the TCP/IP protocol. Cable distances between NLB 60E and your PC follow
standard rules for Ethernet systems.
Contact your an IT expert or an authoritative source for more details.
Below are typical examples of NomadLink network setups:
DeviceControl software
DeviceControl is Lab Gruppen’s proprietary software application for monitoring and controlling networked FP+ Series and other Lab Gruppen NomadLink-ready
power amplifier. DeviceControl runs on a Windows PC, which connects via Ethernet to the NLB 60E NomadLink Bridge & Network Controller. DeviceControl provides
comprehensive monitoring of amplifier status as well as control of amplifier power on/off and individual channel mute and solo functions.
Please review the DeviceControl Operation Manual for more detailed information.
Third Party Control and Monitoring Capabilities
The NLB 60E NomadLink Bridge & Network Controller can be integrated with third party control systems via its Ethernet connection. All amplifier control functions,
fault and warning notifications that would otherwise be displayed via the DeviceControl software can be replicated in a third party control GUI.
Please note that NLB 60E Firmware Ver 2.1.0 (or later) must be used in order to utilize the third party control and monitoring capabilities of the NomadLink network.
Both the firmware package and the control protocol documentation, which describes the functionality and programming requirements for third party integration, can
be found under the Software & Firmware section of our website at: http://labgruppen.com/index.php/support/software_firmware/