Martin VC-Feeder User Manual

VC-Feeder™

User Manual

Dimensions

Variant with M16 connectors illustrated

36

68

180 (approx.)

164

180 (approx.)

180 (approx.)

All dimensions are in millimeters

Information subject to change without notice. HARMAN Professional Denmark ApS disclaims
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
document.

©2012-2018 HARMAN Professional Denmark ApS. All rights reserved. Martin® is a registered
trademark of HARMAN Professional Denmark ApS registered in the United States and/or other
countries. Features, specifications, and appearance are subject to change without notice.

HARMAN Professional Denmark ApS – Olof Palmes Alle 18 – 8200 Aarhus N – Denmark

www.martin.com

VC-Feeder User Manual – P/N 35000262, Rev. D

Contents

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

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

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

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Physical installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Fastening to a surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Clamping to a truss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Input connections: general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

P3 video installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

DMX-controlled installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Throughput connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Output connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Setting up for P3 video display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Setting up for DMX control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Ambient temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

P3 video display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

DMX control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Monitoring, testing and resetting the installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Software installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Safety information

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

Warning!

Safety hazard.

Risk of personal

injury.

Warning!

Fire hazard.

Warning!

Hazardous
voltage. Risk of
severe or lethal

electric shock.

Warning!

Refer to user

documentation.

Warning! Read this user manual before installing and operating the
VC-Feeder.

Warning! The VC-Feeder is designed to integrate with other Martin®
devices in a video display installation. Follow the safety precautions
given not only in this user manual but also in the manuals of all the
devices you connect to it. Observe all warnings given in the manuals
and printed on devices. Install and operate devices only as described
in the manuals and only in accordance with local laws and
regulations. Keep this manual for future reference. Manuals are
supplied with devices and also available for download from
www.martin.com.

Warning! The VC-Feeder is not for household use. It presents risks
of severe injury or death due to fire and burn hazards, electric shock
and falls. It must be installed by qualified technicians only.

Warning! There are no user-serviceable parts inside the VC-Feeder.
Refer any operation not described in this manual to Martin® or its
authorized service agents.

If you have any questions about how to operate the VC-Feeder 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.

4 Martin® VC-Feeder user manual

PROTECTION FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK

• Follow carefully the directions given in the user manuals of all the
devices that you intend to connect to the VC-Feeder, particularly the
instructions, warnings and limits that apply to:

- system layout,

- connections to other devices,

- specified cables,

- maximum cable lengths, and

- maximum number of devices that can be connected.

• The VC-Feeder accepts input power at 48 VDC nominal via its
combined power/data input connector marked IN. Do not supply it with
power at any other voltage.

• The VC-Feeder can relay power at 48 VDC nominal via its throughput
connector marked THRU. Connect only devices that accept 48 VDC to
the THRU connector.

• The VC-Feeder can supply power at 15 VDC nominal via its combined
power/data output connector marked OUT. Connect only devices that
accept 15 VDC to the THRU connector.

• A linked chain that consists of one or more VC-Feeder devices plus
display devices can draw a safe maximum total current of 7.5 A. Do not
create an interconnected chain of devices with a total combined current
draw that exceeds this 7.5 A limit. If the total current draw of a chain of
devices has reached 7.5 A and you need to supply power to more
devices, you must begin a new chain.

• If using a 48 VDC external PSU (power supply unit) in a DMX-controlled
system, do not create an interconnected chain of devices with a total
combined current draw that exceeds 7.5 A or the maximum current
draw rating for the PSU output, whichever is lower. If the total current
draw of a chain of devices has reached 7.5 A (or the maximum current
rating for the PSU output, if this is lower than 7.5 A) and you need to
supply power to more devices, you must begin a new chain that is
connected to a new PSU output.

• Provide a means of locking out power that allows power to the
installation to be shut down and made impossible to reapply, even
accidentally, during work on the installation.

• Shut down power to the installation during service and when it is not in
use.

• Use only the cables specified by Martin® for the devices concerned to
interconnect them. If the specified cables are not long enough for an
intended cable run, consult Martin® for assistance in finding or creating
a safe alternative cable.

• Before applying power to the installation, check that all power
distribution equipment and cables are in perfect condition, rated for the

Safety information 5

current requirements of all connected devices and of suitable type for
the location (including water, pollution, temperature and UV resistance).

• Isolate the installation from power immediately if any device, cable or
power plug is in any way damaged or defective, or if there are any signs
of overheating. Do not reapply power until the fault has been rectified.

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

• The VC-Feeder is IP65-rated and resists the ingress of water, but do not
immerse it, install it in a location where flooding may occur or expose it
to high-pressure water jets.

PROTECTION FROM BURNS AND FIRE

• Provide free airflow and a minimum clearance of 10 cm (4 in.) around
the VC-Feeder.

• Do not operate the VC-Feeder if the ambient temperature (T

) exceeds

a

55° C (131° F).

• Do not modify the VC-Feeder in any way not described in this manual or
install other than genuine Martin® parts. Use only accessories approved
by Martin®.

PROTECTION FROM INJURY

• When installing the VC-Feeder above ground level, ensure that the
primary installation hardware and supporting structure can hold at least
10 times the weight of all the devices they support.

• When suspending the VC-Feeder from a rigging structure, use a rigging
clamp that is approved by an official notified body for the weight it
supports and installed as described in this manual.

• In an overhead installation or where the VC-Feeder may cause injury if it
falls:

- block access below the work area and work from a stable platform

whenever installing, servicing or moving the VC-Feeder,

- install as described in this manual a secondary attachment (such as a

safety wire) that is approved in accordance with UL1573 Section 9.2
and EN 60598-2-17 Section 17.6.6 as a safety attachment for the
weight it must secure if the primary attachment fails, and

- as soon as work is completed, check that all hardware and

components are securely in place and that all installation and rigging
hardware used is securely fastened.

6 Martin® VC-Feeder user manual

Introduction

Figure 1:Power and data IN and THRU connector types

M16 connectors BBD connectors

Thank you for selecting the VC-Feeder from Martin® Professional. The
VC-Feeder is a multi-protocol IP65-rated driver box that accepts 48 VDC
power and video/control data, and then supplies 15 VDC power and
video/control data to Martin® LED-based video display products.

For possible system layouts when using the VC-Feeder with Martin®
video display products, see the user documentation for those products.
Martin® user documentation is supplied with products and available for
download from the Martin® website at http://www.martin.com, where you
can also find the latest specifications, firmware updates and support
information for all Martin® products.

Martin® welcomes input from users. Comments or suggestions regarding
this user manual can be e-mailed to [e-mail].

Connector types

See Figure 1. The VC-Feeder is available in two models that have
different connector types on their power & data IN and power & data
THRU cable tails:

• VC-Feeder with M16 connectors, featuring the original M16 connectors
for power & data IN and power & data THRU that have been fitted since
the VC-Feeder was launched.

• VC-Feeder with BBD connectors, available from mid-2018, featuring the
same BBD connectors as the Martin® Exterior PixLine, Exterior Dot-HP,
VDO Sceptron, VDO Dotron & VDO Fatron, for power & data IN and
power & data THRU.

M16 and BBD connectors can be interconnected, if necessary, using
adapter cables available from Martin®.

Introduction 7

For easy compatibility with existing Martin® VC family products, we
recommend that you use the VC-Feeder with M16 connectors in existing
installations. For easy compatibility with a wider range of Martin video and
lighting products, we recommend that you use the VC-Feeder with BBD
connectors in new installations.

The type of connectors used by Martin® products are listed in their
product specifications on the Martin website at www.martin.com.

The line drawings in this user manual show M16 connectors. BBD
connectors have a slightly different appearance, but their use and function
is identical with M16 connectors.

8 Martin® VC-Feeder user manual

Figure 2: Product overview

Hybrid (15 VDC & data)

output OUT connector

Power (48 VDC) & data)

THRU connector

Power (48 VDC) & data)

IN connector

Rigging clamp

attachment point

Surface mount

attachment point

Surface mount

attachment point

Test/reset button Status LED

Safety wire

attachment point

M16 connector

illustrated

M16 connector

illustrated

Overview

Overview 9

Physical installation

Warning! If suspending the VC-Feeder above ground level, secure it
against failure of primary attachments with a safety wire that is
approved as a safety attachment for the weight of the product.

The VC-Feeder can be installed on a flat surface or suspended from a
rigging truss in any orientation. Allow free airflow and at least 10 cm (4 in.)
of clearance around the device.

Supporting surfaces, fasteners and hardware must be capable of
supporting ten times the load they will bear when devices are installed.

Fastening to a surface

The VC-Feeder can be mounted on a flat, stable surface in any orientation
using bolts or screws fastened through the surface mount attachment
points (see Figure 2 on page 9).

To fasten to a surface:

1. Check that the surface is flat and stable, and that the surface and all
installation fasteners can support at least ten times the weight of all
devices and hardware they will bear.

2. Fasten two grade 8.8 minimum steel 6 mm fasteners that are suitable
for the mounting surface and environment through the two slotted
holes that provide the surface mounting points for the VC-Feeder,
ensuring that the fastener heads are wider than the slotted holes.

3. Check that the VC-Feeder is held securely and cannot fall.

4. If the product can cause injury or damage if the fasteners fail, install a
safety wire that is approved as a safety attachment for the weight of
the product by attaching it to the safety wire attachment point (see
Figure 2 on page 9) and a secure anchoring point so that the safety
attachment will catch the product if the primary attachment fails.

5. Check that the product is securely and safely installed.

10 Martin® VC-Feeder user manual