Pathway 4802 User Manual

Cable Test Feature cont.

INPUT TEST

INDICATIONS

D - ON Data present on
D + ON

D - OFF D- signa l missing
D + ON

D - ON D+ signal missing
D + OFF
D - OFF No data present on incoming
D + OFF

via the input connection, as per the previ­ous instructions. Once that is verified, dis­connect the cable to the suspect output
channel and depress the corresponding
ISO OUT TEST button. If both the corre­sponding D- and D+ LEDs illuminate, this
shows that the isolated output circuitry
inside the repeater is working properly and
is transmitting both DMX512 signals. If
not, there is likely a problem with the out­put circuitry for that channel. Try using the
spare transceiver chip to remedy the prob­lem. Now reconnect the cable to the sus­pect output and perform the same test. If
both of the D- and D+ LEDs illuminate, this
shows that there are no shorts in the out­put cabling or connected receiving de­vices. If one or both of the LEDs is off or
dim, a cable or device problem is indi­cated. NOTE: if an output TEST button is
pushed when a proper input signal is not
being received by the Installation Re­peater, th e outputs will be in their norm al
“idle” state (i.e. D- low level, D+ high
lev el) , t her efo re t he D + LE D wil l illum i nat e
and the D- LED will not.

incoming DMX line

or shorted to common

or shorted to common

DMX line

4802 Installati on Repeat er

6-way opto-isolated DMX splitter

DMX512-A Co mpliance

The Pathway Installation repeater is com­pliant with DMX512-A under the non­compatible connector (NCC) provision.

All ports are DMX512-A protected to
250V with self-healing circuitry.

Indicators

The two PWR LEDs on the Installation
Repeater will ill uminate when AC power is
connected to the unit. There is no on/off
switch.

The two DATA LEDs will illuminate and
flicker rapidly to indicate that DMX data is
being received.

Two T EST i ndic ator s are a ssoc iat ed wit h
the D MX i np ut and ea c h of th e si x ou t put s.
Refer to the Cable Test Feature instruc­tions.

Specifications

Power
Supply:

Isolation: 2500V O pto- isola tion on DMX line s

Protection: Up to 250VAC/DC on all

Protocols: DMX512 , DMX512 -A, or any EIA422

Size: 19 x 10 x 3in. (4 83 x 25 4 x 76 mm)

Univers al input (90- 25 0V ,
50/60Hz), 0.2A

4000V Mains isolation

port pins

or 485 based simplex protocol

An essential component of any
DMX512 distribution system, the
Installation Repeater permits star
wiring installations while isolating
and protecting connected
equipment from harmful electrical
faults. Pathway Installation
Repeaters feature self-healing
protection devices on all ports to
prevent internal damage when
severe faults of up to 250V are
accidentally applied to the
connected DMX cabling. To help
you resolve any cable, signal or
component issues fast, there are
useful test functions built right into
the product.

Operational Philos ophy

To ensure trouble free operation, DMX512
standards require that DMX devices be
installed in a daisy chain, with no tees,
wyes or stars in the DMX wiring. However,
site conditions may make star wiring
desirable or even mandatory. A Pathway
DMX Repeater permits star wiring by
making each branch of the star function
elec tr ic all y as its own en t ity , u naff ect ed b y
the other branches of the star.
Additionally, opto-isolation circuitry
isolates each branch to prevent ground
loops or accidental damage from fault
voltages on DMX lines.

4802 Installati on Repeat er

6-way opto-isolated DMX splitter

INSTALLER’S

UIDE

G

DMX Wiring

• All cabling must be in a continuous run,
daisy- chai ned, no “Tees ” all owed

• “S tars” are p ermit ted only i n conj uncti on
with a repeater

• Cable shield may be earth-grounded at
one end only, preferably at the control
console

• Maxim um leng th of one cable segm ent
is 1,800 ft. (550m)

• Receiving devices have male
connectors, transmitters have female

• The last DMX device on the line must be
terminated with a termination switch or
resistor with a value of 100 to 120 ohms
between pins 2 and 3.

• 5 pin XLR type DMX connectors are
standard:

Pin 2: Data (-)
Pin 3: Data (+)
Pin 4: Opti onal Data (- )

• Cable must be Belden 9842 (120Ω),

• A maximum of 32 DMX receiving

Mounting

Installation Repeaters are designed for
indoor use, in a dry location. Mount the
Installation Repeater with appropriate fas­teners to the wall. Run conduit into the
box through the knockouts provided, en­suring that line voltage wiring is kept inside
the barriered power supply section.

Pin 1: Common

Pin 5: Opti onal Data (+)

9829, 9729 (100Ω), ISO/IEC 11801
(Cat5) or equivalent

devi c es ca n b e pr es ent o n a si n gl e DM X
line

Printed in Canada R8

Subject to change without notice 103 Inglewo od Plaza 1439 17Ave nue SE Calga ry AB, Canada T 2G 1J9 • [phone] Fax [phone]

4802 Installati on Repeat er

6-way opto-isolated DMX splitter

STAGE

DIMMERS

HOUSE

DIMMERS

RELAY

CABINET

COLOR

SCROLLERS

MOVING

LIGHTS

MOVING

LIGHTS

Line volt ag e

input

Power

LED

Data

LED

Input Test

Button

DMX
Input

WARNING!

All DMX input/output ports must only
be connected to low-voltage data lines.
Do not connect high voltage sources to
these connectors.

Connections

Typically, Pathway Installation Repeaters
are w ired in the followi ng configuration:

• DMX Input is connected to the control

console DMX output

• DMX Outputs (ISO Out A,B,C,D,E, &

F) are connected to the remote DMX
devices or receptacles for the
equipment receiving the console
signal. These may be dimmers,
scrollers or m oving lights, for exam ple.

• DMX T hru passes the console signal

to additional DMX Repeaters or other
similar devices, and would in turn be
connected to DMX Input on the next
unit in line.

• Power. With the p ower off, m ake th e

appropriate connections to Line, Neu­tral and Ground.

DMX
Thru

DMX Terminate
Button

DMX
Output (6)

Test
LEDs

Output Test
Buttons (6)

Recommended Wiring
Practice

Keep all DMX cabling away from high
voltage/power cables to maintain data
integrity. Cable must be Belden 9842 (120

Ω), 9829, 9729 (100Ω), ISO/IEC 11801
(Cat5) or equivalent

Screw Terminal
Connections

2-piece screw terminal connectors are
provided. The pin arrangement of these
connectors is the same as that of 5 pin
XLR connectors.

CAUTION!

Always disconnect power before re­moving the cover. Installation
Repeaters are designed to work on
voltages from 90-250 volts AC. They
will automatically sense the incoming
voltage and adjust accordingly.

CONTROL CONSOLE

DMX

Repeater

Typical Application

DMX Termination

If only one Installation Repeater is used,
and nothing is connected to the DMX
THRU terminal block, the red termination
switch must be set to the ‘in’ position (ON)
to terminate the incoming DMX signal from
the console. If several Installation
Repeaters are connected together using
the DMX THRU connector on each unit,
only the last Installation Repeater in the
cha in is term inated , all the ot hers ar e not
termin ated ( switch in the ‘out’ positi on).

Cable Test Feature

Pathway 4802 Installation Repeaters
provide installers with the unique ability to
test the integrity of the incoming and out­going DMX signal and cabling. This fea­ture makes troubleshooting most DMX
communication problems easy and can be
accomplished right at the repeater, without
any additional test gear. “TEST” pushbut­tons are provided for the DMX input and
each of the six outputs.

The DMX signal runs on two separate
data lines: D- (XLR pin 2) and D+ (XLR pin

3). Both are referenced to signal common
(XLR pin 1). For DMX512 to work reliably,
the D- and D+ signals and common must
be present and properly connected at both
ends of the cable. Often, a system will
seem to work fine most of the time with
one of the three connections missing or
with two wires shorted – this simply shows
how fault tolerant DMX can be! But inter­mittent problems will usually appear at
random, often at the worst possible time.

INPUT TROUBLESHOOTING

Normally when troubleshooting a com-

THRU ININ

DMX

Repeater

Cable Test Feature cont.

munications problem it is common practice
to start with the DMX512 source (console
signal). The am ber DATA indicators may
or may not be illuminated at this point. If
they are not, first make sure that the con­sole is on and sending a DMX signal.
Then, depress the DMX INPUT test button
on the repeater; this will disconnect the
inc oming signal from t he recei ver c ircui try
and apply it to the red D- and green D+
LEDs. Both of them should illuminate (the
DATA indicators will go out). This shows
that the console’s DMX transmitter is ca­pable of sending a strong enough signal to
drive the two test LEDs, and that all three
pins are connected. If the DATA indicators
are always off and both of the D- and D+
LEDs work with the TEST button de­pressed, the Installation Repeater’s re­ceiver may be defective (a spare trans­ceiver chip is located on the main circuit
board, inside the unit). If either or both of
the D- and D+ LEDs stay off when the
TEST button is pushed, there is a problem
with the console’s output or the DMX ca­ble.

NOTE: the TEST LEDs can also detect
whether the D-/D+ wires are swapped.
With a DMX signal present, set all console
channel levels to zero and depress the
Input TEST button. The D- LED should be
brighter than D+. When all channels are
set to full, D+ should be the brightest.

OUTPUT TROUBLESHOOTING

Installation Repeater outputs should be
tested in stages to determine if a problem
exists in the repeater output circuitry or in
a cable or device connected to that re­peater channel. First, ensure that the re­peater is correctly receiving DMX512 data