Appendix; Fixture Linking; Dmx Data Cable; Cable Connectors - Venue tetra control Manual

APPENDIX

FIXTURE LINKING

You will need a serial data link to run light shows of one or more fixtures using a DMX controller or to run
synchronized shows on two or more fixtures set to a master/slave operating mode. The combined number
of channels required by all the fixtures on a serial data link determines the number of fixtures the data link
can support.
Fixtures on a serial data link must be daisy chained in one single line. To comply with
the EIA-485 standard, no more than 32 fixtures should be connected on one data link.
Connecting more than 32 fixtures on one serial data link without the use of a DMX optically-
isolated splitter may result in deterioration of the DMX signal.
Maximum recommended serial data link distance:
Maximum recommended number of fixtures on a serial data link:

DMX Data Cable

Use a cable which meets the specifications for EIA RS-485 applications. Standard microphone cables
cannot transmit DMX data reliably over long distances. The cable must have the following characteristics:
Type:
Maximum capacitance between conductors:
Maximum capacitance between conductor and shield: 55 pF/ft
Maximum resistance:
Nominal impedance:

Cable Connectors

Cabling must have a male XLR connector on one end and a female XLR connector on the other end.
Do not allow contact between the common and the fixture's chassis ground. Grounding
the common can cause a ground loop, and your fixture may perform erratically. Test cables
with an Ohm meter to verify correct polarity and to make sure the pins are not grounded or
shorted to the shield or each other.
16
Shielded, 2-conductor, twisted pair
30 pF/ft
20 Ohms/1000 ft
100 ~ 140 Ohms
Venue Tetra Control Manual
500 m (1640 ft)
32