Understanding Dmx; Dmx Cable Requirements - Elation Power Spot 575IE II User Manual

Lighting fixtures

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Power Spot 575IE II™

5. UNDERSTANDING DMX

DMX-512: DMX is short for Digital Multiplex. This is a universal protocol used by most

lighting and controller manufactures as a form of communication between intelligent

fixtures and controllers. DMX allows all makes and models of different manufactures to be

linked together and operate from a single controller. This is possible as long as all the

fixtures and the controller are DMX compliant. A DMX controller sends the DMX data

instructions to the fixture allowing the user to control the different aspects of an intelligent

light. DMX data is sent out as serial data that travels from fixture to fixture via data "IN" and

data "OUT" XLR terminals located on the fixtures (most controllers will only have output

jacks).

DMX Linking: To ensure proper DMX data transmission always use proper DMX cables

and a terminator. When using several DMX fixtures try to use the shortest cable path

possible. Never split a DMX line with a "Y" style connector. The order in which the fixtures

are connected in a DMX line does not influence the DMX addressing. For example; a

fixture assigned a DMX address of 1 may be placed anywhere in the DMX chain, at the

beginning, at the end, or anywhere in the middle. The DMX controller knows to send data

assigned to address 1 to that fixture no matter where it is located in the DMX chain. The

Power Spot 575IE II™ can be controlled via DMX-512 protocol. The Power Spot 575IE II™

is a 16-channel DMX fixture. The DMX address is set electronically using the controls on

the LCD menu.

Data Cable (DMX Cable) Requirements (For DMX and Master/Slave Operation): Your

fixture and your DMX controller require a standard 3-pin XLR connector for data input and

data output (the figure on the next page is of a 3-Pin XLR connector). If you are making

your own cables, be sure to use two conductor shielded digital DMX cable rated at 120

ohms; this cable is designed for DMX transmission and may be purchased from your

Elation dealer or at most professional lighting retailers. Your cables should be made with a

male and female XLR connector on either end of the cable. Also, remember that a DMX

line must be daisy chained and cannot be split, unless using an approved DMX splitter such

as the Elation Opto Branch 4™ or DMX Branch/4™.

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