Eiki A-7 Instruction Manual

Package contents

Item Qty.

IR Receiver 1
Manual 1

Eiki A-7

IR Receiver

Instruction Manual

V:E1.02

Eiki A-7 Manual Page 3

To the InstallerR

Thank you for choosing Eiki A-7.
The A-7 is an IR receiver intended for

permanent installation on a wall or
similar location. It is intended to be
used with the Eiki range of control
systems.

Before commencing installation, please
read these instructions carefully to get
the best results from your A-7.

For your safety

Please ensure that any wiring used to
connect this unit to other equipment is
kept clear of mains wiring and follows
applicable local wiring codes. Under no
circumstances may this unit be
connected directly to power mains
wiring.

Make sure that the power supply you
are using meets your local safety
regulations and that its voltage does not
exceed 15 volts DC. Unregulated power
supplies can output voltages that are
well above what is shown on their label.

This device is intended for indoor use
only.

Where to use Eiki A-7

The A-7 is used where an IR remote
(such as the Eiki Wi4 or a “native”
remote control) is not visible to the
equipment it is controlling. An A-7
will pick up the IR signals and
transmit them on a cable to where
they are needed to control the
equipment.

At the other end of the cable, to
receive these signals, there could
be:

• A device that simply converts the
signals on the cable back into an
IR signal (such as an Eiki A-5
Macrobox)

• A device that interprets the
signals and performs some other
operation (such as an Eiki A-2 IR
relay box)

• One or more of both types of
devices.

In most cases there will only be one
A-7 receiver, but it is possible to add
more to cover several rooms and/or
to add wired control panels to the
bus. Please read the section
”Precautions when using more than
one receiver”.

The talkback LED

When a signal is picked up by the
receiver or appears on the data bus
for any reason, a LED visible in the
IR window will flash. If this LED
lights for no obvious reason or
remains lit continually, it indicates
interference pickup or a wiring error.

NOTE: This symbol and recycle system apply to EU

countries only and do not apply to countries in othe

r

areas of the world.

Please dispose of this equipment at your local
community waste collection/recycling centre. In the
European Union there are separate collection systems
for used electrical and electronic products.

Your EIKI product is designed
and manufactured with high
quality materials and
components which can be
recycled and reused.

This symbol means that
electrical and electronic
equipment, at their end-of-life,
should be disposed of
separately from your
household waste.

This product
conforms to the
EMC directive
89/336 CCE

Talkback LED

Eiki A-7 Manual Page 4

Connecting an A-7 IR receiver

Here is a typical method of connecting an A-7 receiver to an A-2 IR relay box and
an A-5 Macro Box. An MCS-1 control panel is also included on the bus. It also
shows how IR pass-through operation can be achieved using the A-5 Macro Box.

The same 12 volt power supply can be used to power all devices.

GND Data +12v

FILTER

In out

Digital filter

When an A-7 IR receiver is
used exclusively with the A-2
IR relay box, the A-5
Macrobox and/or other
products that use the inbuilt
IR codes in the Eiki editor, a
digital filter may be selected
to reject interference. This
filter will re

j

ect noise and any
IR signal that does not
conform to the timing of the
embedded IR codes used by
these products. The filter is
particularly useful where
there is more than one IR
receiver on the bus, or an IR
receiver and a control panel.

However, please note

that

if you are using any 3

rd

­party IR codes for “pass­through” operation, you
cannot

use the filter as it

will block these IR codes.

MCS-1 control
panel

GND

Data

+12v

A-2 IR Relay Box

GND

Data

+12v

A-5 Macro Box

GND

Data

+12v

Pass-through
control of IR
device using
A-4 IR emitter

IRBus

Eiki A-7 Manual Page 5

Precautions when using more than one IR receiver

When a bright light shines directly onto any IR receiver, the receiver may output
random noise onto the bus. This noise will be added to any valid signal causing it to
be corrupted and so degrade the reliability of control.

When there is only one receiver and no other control panel on the bus, this situation
is not so critical because the valid signal will replace the noise. The problem occurs
when there is
more than one IR
receiver, or a
receiver and a
control panel.

To avoid this
problem, take
particular care to
mount the IR
receivers in such a
way as to avoid
direct light,
especially direct
sunlight, bright
indirect daylight,
fluorescent or
discharge lamp sources. Remember that sunlight entering a room will move during
the day. Generally speaking, placing a receiver high on the wall, immediately below
the ceiling, gives the best results. In some cases, installing on the ceiling facing
down may be appropriate.

“Plasma-proofing” an IR receiver.

Why?

Plasma display panels radiate a lot of energy in the same near-infra-red spectrum
that is used by remote controls. The amount of energy varies greatly with picture
content, so its effect on an IR remote control system will be intermittent. If you have
a choice, to maximise range and reliability, it is better to keep IR receivers away
from plasma panels. Offsetting the receiver from the panel both vertically and
horizontally by 1 or 2 metres is usually sufficient. More is better.

Maximum vertical offset is important because IR energy
will be reflected from people walking in front of the
plasma and the IR receiver, as shown in the diagram.
You will know you have this problem if the IR receiver’s
talkback LED lights without a remote being used.

Light

Equipment
being
controlled

Room 2

Room 1

Eiki A-7 Manual Page 6

How to desensitise an IR receiver

If an IR receiver must be placed near a plasma
panel, you can desensitise the receiver by
dismantling the PCB from the wallplate. Place a
10mm square piece of black polyethylene film over
the IR receiver’s sensor in the position shown. Thin
black electrical insulation tape works well.
Reassemble and test. You will find that this usually
solves the noise pickup problem but it will also
reduce the effective range of the receiver.

Place film or tape over the
sensor in the position shown
by the dotted line.

Eiki A-7 Manual Page 7

Eiki A-7 Manual Page 8

U.S.A.

EIKI International, Inc.
30251 Esperanza
Rancho Santa Margarita
CA 92688-2132
U.S.A.
Tel : [phone] (949)-457-0200
Fax : [phone] (949)-457-7878
E-Mail : [e-mail]

Deutschland & Österreich

EIKI Deutschland GmbH
Am Frauwald 12
65510 Idstein
Deutschland
Tel : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
E-Mail : [e-mail]

Eiki (Shanghai) Co., LTD

1. Dapu Road,
Golden Magnolia Plaza
#2109 Shanghai,
200023 China
Tel : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
E-mail : [e-mail]

Canada

EIKI CANADA - Eiki International, Inc.
P.O. Box 156, 310 First St. - Unit 2,
Midland, ON, L4R 4K8, Canada
Tel : [phone] (705)-527-4084
Fax : [phone] (705)-527-4087
E-Mail : [e-mail]

Eastern Europe

EIKI CZECH spol. s.r.o.
Umělecká 15
170 00 Praha 7
Czech Republic
Tel : [phone]

[phone]
Fax : [phone]
E-Mail : [e-mail]

Japan & Worldwide

EIKI Industrial Company Limited.
4-12 Banzai-Cho, Kita-Ku, Osaka,
530-0028 Japan
Tel : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
E-Mail : [e-mail]

For the latest software and information go to:

WorldWide Website http://www.eiki.com