How to Send DMX Over Power Wiring
Entertainment and lighting systems use DMX signals to control equipment such as scanners and dimmer lights. DMX runs through a low-capacitance 120 ohm cable that can connect multiple machines through a single splitter when the line runs too long, such as one kilometer.
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Things You'll Need
- DMX splitter
- 120 ohm shielded twisted pair cable
- 5-pin XLR connector
- 120 ohm resistor
Instructions
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1
Plug the power cord of the DMX splitter into the nearest electrical outlet. Locate the splitter's output pins along the back of the unit.
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2
Connect the 120 ohm shielded twisted pair cable by aligning the 5-output holes in XLR connector to the 5-pin input on the splitter. Pins are labeled 1 through 5. Pin 1, pin 2 and pin 3 carry the data with the last two pins as spares.
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3
Run the other end of the XLR cable to the DMX controller unit. Plug in the XLR pins into the back of the controller.
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4
Connect the DMX dimmer receiver cable to the splitter unit by pushing the XLR 5-pins into the output hole plugs on the DMX splitter. Turn on all the units. The red power light should be lit to indicate the splitter is receiving power and that the receiver and controller are in an idle phase.
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5
Push on the controller button to change the receiver function. The green signal light will illuminate to indicate a signal was sent through the data lines.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Since splitter boxes can hold multiple receiver and controller lines, if a short occurs in one of the lines it will not affect the other dimmer units.
Never overload DMX lines, even if there is only a short distance between the controller and receivers. Use a splitter box for the lines.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
