DMX Moving Head Connection

[trikidiki]

Hi

I originally posted this on the F8 Pixelnet board but think it should have gone here. Perhaps a moderator could delete the original post. Sorry.

I am awaiting delivery of an F8-B and have two Moving Head Spot Lights. I was considering how to connect them and wonder if there are any pros or cons or simply ways that won't work. 

1) Connect one Moving Head to one of the RJ45 connectors on the F8, then slave the second Moving Head from the first.

2) Connect each Moving Head to a separate RJ45 on the F8. I am not in immediate need for any pixel expansion but realise this may limit me in the future.

3) Connect one cable to an RJ45 then split that cable to feed the two lights. I assume I will have to terminate the DMX output on both moving Heads.

I believe I read the cable limit is 30ft. Nearest metric equivalent is 10m. As this is at the limit of the range is this likely to introduce errors, so would I be better off running a shorter cable.

I do not have a permanent display location so the things I am trying are more 'proof of concept' or 'proof of my ability'. I obviously want to keep costs down but don't want to find next year (when hopefully I have a fixed site) that I am having to re-cable everything so was looking at using long cables that can be shortened if necessary. 
The F8 is also intended to run a 16 x 50 pixel tree. Other bits and pieces will be run from ESPixelsticks, and I have a couple of LED panel arrays on BBB Octoscrollers.

Any other tips for a beginner or pointers to useful guides/videos will be gratefully received.

As a side note, there doesn't appear to be much discussion surrounding ESPixelSticks which surprises me given the flexibility they seem to offer and the low cost. Any driving reason for this that I'm missing.


Cheers

Richard

[dkulp]

Since you will need to make a custom cable either way for the DMX on the F8-B, I would recommend using a single RJ45.   The distance limit is more around 100-200ft for DMX.   

Since you need to make a cable, I would RECOMMEND splitting at least two of the pairs in the cable out into separate DMX connectors, you may want to do all 4 immediately so they are available if you need them.   That's up to you.   At least the cable would be "ready" if you decide to put each on it's own DMX line.

[trikidiki]

Thanks, Dan.

I gathered I was going to have to construct a cable myself which sort of led to the question.

I'll take your advice and make up a split cable and will break out all the connections for future expansion.

Thanks also for the pointer on the distance limit, that will give me more flexibility.

Cheers

[PeteyHall]

Do what I did, get an RJ45->XLR connector for like $10 and then you don't need to make anything special.

[dkulp]

Do what I did, get an RJ45->XLR connector for like $10 and then you don't need to make anything special.

For the F8-B, they still would.   The RJ45's on the F8-B put out 4 DMX universes  on each RJ45, each using a pair.   Thus, you still need to create a cable to break those out.

[trikidiki]

Is there any online documentation that will show the pinouts for the RJ45 ports on the F8-B. My cable and plugs have arrived so thought I would get a jump on making up the cable while I'm waiting for the controller to arrive.

Cheers

[dkulp]

Each of the twisted pairs is a DMX universe.   I believe 1&2 is the first, 3/6 is the second, 4/5 is the third, and 7/8 is the 4th.  i have no idea which is the + vs -.   I always just test using jumper wires and which ever way works is what I use. 

[trikidiki]

Guess I better wait to build the cables.

Thanks

[nmiller0113]

Each of the twisted pairs is a DMX universe.  I believe 1&2 is the first, 3/6 is the second, 4/5 is the third, and 7/8 is the 4th.  i have no idea which is the + vs -.  I always just test using jumper wires and which ever way works is what I use. 

Actually, I recently discovered that 5/4 is the 4th and 7/8 is the 3rd, but maybe @dkulp will change that in FPP in the future so it actually works in the order he stated.

[trikidiki]

Hi

I've received the F8-B controller now. I've installed FPP V3.2.

I set it up with a 50 node string on Port 1 and it works fine from XLights (once I'd overcome a few mistakes on my part).

I'm now trying to set up the LED Moving Head but having no success. Originally tried it with the LED string configured but have since removed them and reset all the settings back to default.

Xlights Setup

E131 / 192.168.1.206 / Universe: 1 / Num Channels: 512 / Active: Yes / Desc: FPP-DMX / Cont: FPP F8-B (4 serial)

Xlights Layout

Channels setup to match Moving Head controls.
Controller: FPP-DMX
Controller Connection: Port 1 (tried 17 too) / Protocol: DMX / dmx Channel: 1

Sequence: Pan 0-100, Brightness 0-100, Red 0-100

FPP
Bridge Mode

Channel Inputs
Line #: 1 / Active: tick / Description: deeMx / FPP Start: 1 / Uni #: 1/ Uni Count: 1 / Uni Size: 512 / Uni Type: E1.31 Unicast

Channel Outputs

Serial Type: DMX / Num Channels: 512
Start Channel #1: 1

Cat5 cable plugged into the 17-20 RJ45 port. I have tried each of the pairs and swapped the polarity on each.

I can see packets arriving on the FPP status page but get nothing on the Moving Head.

I hope someone can help, my head is beginning to hurt. Please let me know if you need any further information.