DiyLightAnimation
Hardware => Lynx Express => Topic started by: urthegman on December 05, 2012,
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The layout for my expresses is as follows: computer-active hub- DMX out- controller 8(using DMX out)-controller 9-Terminate. Controller 8 (using DMX Out 2)- controller 3- controller 2- controller 1- controller 4-,controller 5- controller 6- controller 7. I am guessing I also need to terminate controller 7???? Can someone please confirm???? Thanks. George
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Correct
Terminate last item in any branch
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you always terminate the last item in a dmx chain.
if you have a cable leading out to another device from an aether II's, mr16, freestyle, ssr4, or the DMX OUT1 of an express, then you don't terminate.
if you don't have a cable leaving this device to go to another device, then you terminate.
if you use a dmx splitter to split the signal, or the DMX OUT2 from an express, you just now created a new dmx chain, and the last device needs to be terminated.
if you're using wireless.
each express that receives the wireless connection is starting a new dmx chain, so like above, if anything is connected to the DMX OUT 2 from the wireless express, the last device in that chain needs to be terminated.
for example, if you have 100 Expresses all receiving their signal via wireless, and each one has a SSR4 attched via the DMX OUT2. all 100 SSR4's would need terminated.
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break out the rotten tomatoes, but I didn't terminate my final LEs. None of them. The only thing in my 5 universe display that is terminated are the four Smart String controllers. I realized it after 2 days of flawless operation and haven't bothered to open the cases. RS485 is a LOT more tolerant than it gets credit for. Bad wire and short circuits - they will kill RS485 signals.
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So if I decided to attach an Aether II to Controller 7 from above, then the controller would NOT have to be terminated but the Aether II would?
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So if I decided to attach an Aether II to Controller 7 from above, then the controller would NOT have to be terminated but the Aether II would?
yes, you would pull on the jumper to terminate, and then flip the switch to terminate the aether II
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So I have 9 LE's but I haven't terminated the last one in the chain and everything is working fine. If I keep it that way will it create problems in the future? I hate to change anything after 13 days of error free shows. :-\
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So I have 9 LE's but I haven't terminated the last one in the chain and everything is working fine. If I keep it that way will it create problems in the future? I hate to change anything after 13 days of error free shows. :-\
It will continue to run just fine.
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There is no rule that says if you don't terminate it wont work. All terminating will do for you is give you one less place to check when something goes wrong. It's just one of the best pracice thing that should be done.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_termination
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you always terminate the last item in a dmx chain.
if you have a cable leading out to another device from an aether II's, mr16, freestyle, ssr4, or the DMX OUT1 of an express, then you don't terminate.
if you don't have a cable leaving this device to go to another device, then you terminate.
if you use a dmx splitter to split the signal, or the DMX OUT2 from an express, you just now created a new dmx chain, and the last device needs to be terminated.
if you're using wireless.
each express that receives the wireless connection is starting a new dmx chain, so like above, if anything is connected to the DMX OUT 2 from the wireless express, the last device in that chain needs to be terminated.
So if all of my expresses are wireless and nothing is plugged into them...do they need to all be terminated?
for example, if you have 100 Expresses all receiving their signal via wireless, and each one has a SSR4 attched via the DMX OUT2. all 100 SSR4's would need terminated.
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The Lynx Express board needs the following changes for the Wireless Receiver to work properly:
LE ver 2.0: Remove the RS-485 chip
LE ver 3.0: Remove the RS-485 chip on the right side of the DMX IN RJ485 connector
LE ver 4.0: Remove the jumper labeled "Remove for Wireless" to enable wireless mode
LE ver 5.0: Remove the jumper labeled "Remove for Wireless" to enable wireless mode
it doesn't mention anything about termination. I don't think it matters either way since nothing is plugged into the dmx out 2 port, and the dmx out port doesn't work in wireless mode.
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Holy cow. I didnt terminate anythinv either.. could this be causing my lights ro come on after the show goes off?
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when your show is done, you still need the dongle to be powered. the devices are still receiving a dmx signal even when the show's done. the dongle sends the last information repeatedly until it get new information.
so when the show is done, and the lights are off, the powered dongle is still sending 0's to the devices.
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I always turn everything off, even the puter because the lights end up coming on. Maybe not the last controller but the signal must be reflected back thru the cat5 to where ever it stops...i guess...
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If its working, I wouldn't mess with it, but know that you got lucky.
If it starts acting up, the first thing to check is the termination.
Incorrect termination can cause unpredictable and intermittent behavior.
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If its working, I wouldn't mess with it, but know that you got lucky.
If it starts acting up, the first thing to check is the termination.
Incorrect termination can cause unpredictable and intermittent behavior.
thats why i always unplug everything. random lights come on after the show ends... so terminating the last controllers should solve this issue?
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thats why i always unplug everything. random lights come on after the show ends... so terminating the last controllers should solve this issue?
it's generally not a termination issue for the lights to come on at night. It's more of the data wires are picking up some sort of interference.
in electronics terms, the lines are now "floating" and any fluctuations in the interference may trigger a channel(s) to come on.
when i set up my arches last year, i hooked up the power and the arches themselves, but didn't run the cat5 cables out there yet.
i had 10 arches, as i got half way through, i looked back and saw that a lot of the sections started popping on. (btw, the last one was already terminated, just not hooked up to the cat5 cable.
Once i ran the cat5 cable, they stopped acting up.
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My cat5 is ran and a random light(s) come on after the show is over. It recieves signal from something. What can it be? I use shielded cat5 and i still havent figured it out so off with it at night... other than that, its all good.
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The fix is leaving the dongle powered or cutting power to everything when its done.
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rule 1 always terminate the end of the line.
if it works without termination as stated before you got luckly. Your luck may change with humidity.......
it all may work till you swap a 25ft cat5 for a 50ft some where in the and now in majically doesnt work.
back to line one.
Always terminate the end of the line. Think of it as a cap to not allow the bits to run out the end of the device!
KEN
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Thanks guys for your help...I appreciate it..
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With the line terminated, it will take more noise on the line to cause the false triggers, but without knowing the source of the false triggers, there is no way to know for sure other than to try it.
I don't like to leave things powered... I usually power up and test a hour before things start and pull the plug before going to bed.