Installing A Dmx-Controlled System - Martin PixLine 10 User Manual

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 Exterior PixLine fixtures.
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 an Art-Net to DMX
converter.
If you would like assistance with creating a DMX link, your Martin™ supplier will be glad to advise.
The number of Exterior PixLine fixtures that you can control on one DMX link is limited by the number of
DMX channels the fixtures 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 chain of fixtures and cable (see "Safety limits for connecting devices" on page 6) take
priority and must be respected in all cases.
If you need to take the DMX signal from the end of a chain of Exterior PixLine fixtures, connect a DMX
Lead-out Cable (see "Cables" on page 38) to the output connector of the last fixture on the chain. The
Lead-Out Cable has a 5-pin female XLR connector with standard DMX pinout (pin 1 = shield, pin 2 = data
cold/negative, pin 3 = data hot/positive, pins 4 and 5 are not used) that lets you draw off the DMX signal.
DC Power options in DMX installations
A DMX-controlled Exterior PixLine installation can be supplied with DC power from the Martin™ IP66 Power
Supply Unit or from a generic external PSU (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™ IP66 PSU, see "Installing a DMX system using the Martin™ IP66 PSU" on
page 20.
• If you are using a generic 48 VDC PSU, see "Installing a DMX system using a generic external 48
VDC PSU" on page 22.
System installation 19