ELATION Design Wash 300E [18/56] Understanding dmx

Design Wash 300E™

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8. 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 Design Wash

300E™ can be controlled via DMX-512 protocol. The Design Wash 300E™ 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 or 5-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™.