Martin DMX 5.3 Splitter, RDM 5.5 Splitter User Manual

Martin DMX 5.3 Splitter

Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter

user manual

TM

TM

Dimensions

All dimensions are in millimeters

220mm

45mm

124.5mm

Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter illustrated. Martin DMX 5.3 Splitter has same dimensions

© 2011 Martin Professional A/S. Information subject to change without notice. Martin Professional
A/S and all affiliated companies disclaim liability for any injury, damage, direct or indirect loss,
consequential or economic loss or any other loss occasioned by the use of, inability to use or
reliance on the information contained in this manual. The Martin logo, the Martin name and all other
trademarks in this document pertaining to services or products by Martin Professional A/S or its
affiliates and subsidiaries are trademarks owned or licensed by Martin Professional A/S or its
affiliates or subsidiaries.

P/N 35000248, Rev. A

Contents

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Using for the first time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Physical installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Mounting in a rig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Fastening to a surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

19-inch rack mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

AC power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

AC operating range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Power cable and plug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Relaying power to other devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Data connections and setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Data input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Data throughput . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Data output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

RDM (Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Status LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Firmware/software uploads when using Splitters . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

RDM and the RDM 5.5 Splitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Installing Splitter firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Block diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Martin DMX 5.3 Splitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Safety information

The following symbols are used to identify important safety information in
this manual:

Danger! Risk of
personal injury.

Warning! This device is not for household use.

Warning! Read this manual before operating the device, follow the
safety precautions listed below, and observe all warnings in this
manual and printed on the device. Use this device only as described
in this manual and in accordance with local laws and regulations.

Warning! There are no user-serviceable parts inside the device.
Refer all service to Martin Professional or its authorized service
agents.

If you have questions about how to operate the device safely, please
contact your Martin supplier or call the Martin 24-hour service hotline on
[phone], or in the USA on 1-888-tech-180.

Danger! Risk of

electric shock.

Danger! Risk of

fire.

Warning! Risk

of burns.

Warning! Refer
to user manual

before

installing,

powering or

servicing.

PROTECTION FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK

• Isolate the device from AC power before installing or removing it and
when it is not in use.

• Ensure that the device is electrically connected to ground (earth).

• Use only a source of AC power that complies with local building and
electrical codes and has both overload and ground-fault (earth-fault)
protection.

4 Martin DMX 5.3 and RDM 5.5 Splitters user manual

• Connect the device to AC power using either the supplied power input
cable (DMX 5.3 Splitter only) or via 3-conductor cable that is heat
resistant to minimum 90° C (194° F) and rated minimum 20 amp. In
North America the power input cable must be minimum 12 AWG, type

2

SJT or equivalent. In the EU the cable must be minimum 2.5 mm
conductor size and HAR approved or equivalent.

• Cables used for power throughput via the RDM 5.5 Splitter’s power
throughput outlet must meet the same specifications as those given
above for power input cables.

• The voltage and frequency at the RDM 5.5 Splitter’s power throughput
outlet are the same as the voltage and frequency applied to the power
inlet. Only connect devices to the power throughput outlet that accept
this voltage and frequency.

• The total current draw of all the devices connected to the RDM 5.5
Splitter’s power throughput outlet in a chain must not exceed 19.6
amps.

• Before using the device, check that all power distribution equipment
and cables are in perfect condition and rated for the current
requirements of all connected devices.

• Isolate the device from power immediately if the power cable or power
plug are in any way damaged, defective or wet, or if they show signs of
overheating.

• Do not expose the device to moisture or allow it to become wet.

• Do not operate the device if any cover or component is missing,
damaged or deformed.

• Refer any service operation not described in this manual to an
authorized Martin Service partner.

PROTECTION FROM BURNS AND FIRE

• Provide unrestricted airflow around the device.

• Do not operate the device if the ambient temperature (T
55° C (137° F).

• Do not modify the device in any way not described in this manual.

) exceeds

a

Safety information 5

PROTECTION FROM INJURY DUE TO FALLS

• When suspending the device overhead, ensure that the supporting
structure and all hardware used can hold at least 10 times the weight of
all devices suspended from them.

• When suspending the device overhead, install as described in this
manual a secondary attachment such as a safety cable that is approved
by an official body such as TÜV as a safety attachment for the weight of
the fixture. The safety cable must comply with EN 60598-2-17 Section

17.6.6 and be capable of safely catching the fixture if the main
attachment fails.

• Block access below the work area and work from a stable platform
whenever installing, servicing or moving an overhead device.

6 Martin DMX 5.3 and RDM 5.5 Splitters user manual

Introduction

Thank you for selecting a Martin Professional™ DMX/RDM
Splitter/Amplifier. This range consists of two products:

• The Martin DMX 5.3 Splitter™

• The Martin RDM 5.5 Splitter™
Devices can be mounted in pairs in a standard 19-inch rack or fixed to a

flat surface using the supplied mounting brackets. They can also be
mounted in a rig using a truss mounting bracket.

For the latest documentation and other information about this and all
Martin Professional products, please visit the Martin website at
www.martin.com

Comments or suggestions regarding this document may be e-mailed to
[e-mail] or posted to: Technical Documentation, Martin
Professional A/S, Olof Palmes Allé 18, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Features

• Five amplified, regenerated, buffered and optically isolated outputs

•“thru” output that continues the data link unmodified

• Auto-sensing power supply: 100 - 240 VAC nominal, 50/60Hz

• Provision for mounting in the rig to simplify cabling, mounting in pairs in
a standard 19-inch rack (1U) or fastening to a flat surface.

Unpacking

The Splitter is supplied in a cardboard box. The following items are
included:

• Two ‘wing’ brackets and all screws required to either mount splitters
side-by-side in pairs ready for rack mounting or prepare a splitter for
fastening to a surface.

• Power cable with US plug (Martin DMX 5.3 Splitter) or Neutrik
PowerCon power input connector without cable (Martin RDM 5.5
Splitter)

• This user manual

Introduction 7

Using for the first time

Before applying power to the device:

• Carefully review ”Safety information” starting on page 4.

• Check that the local AC mains power voltage is within the range given
on the product’s serial number label.

• For the DMX 5.3 Splitter, if the supplied mains plug (cord cap) does not
match your local power outlets, cut it off and install a suitable plug on
the power cable (see ”Power cable and plug” on page 13).

• For the RDM 5.5 Splitter, install the supplied Neutrik PowerCon power
input connector on a suitable power cable and either install a mains plug
or hard-wire the device to a building electrical installation (see ”Power
cable and plug” on page 14).

Functionality

Both the DMX 5.3 Splitter and RDM 5.5 Splitter transmit DMX signals. The
RDM 5.5 Splitter also provides bidirectional transmission of an RDM
signal on the data link.

Splitting the data link

Branching a DMX or DMX/RDM data link using a passive split such as a
‘Y’ connector is likely to cause data transmission problems and is
therefore not recommended. Martin Splitters allow the data link to be split
into up to 5 branches:

not allowed

without Splitter with Splitter

Figure 1: Splitting the data signal

8 Martin DMX 5.3 and RDM 5.5 Splitters user manual

Amplification

Martin Splitters amplify the DMX or DMX/RDM signal, allowing the data
link to be extended by max. 500 m (1740 ft.) using AWG 22 DMX cable or
300 m (1000 ft.) using AWG 24 DMX cable:

without Splitter with Splitter

Figure 2: Amplifying the data signal

Regeneration

Martin Splitters clean and regenerate the data signal, removing the effects
of disturbance:

without Splitter with Splitter

Figure 3: Regenerating a corrupted signal

Introduction 9