PixCon16 E1.31 - Light-O-Rama
Contents
1. v Light O Rama PixCon 16 Utility V2 20 e coo Eae y Pp LiaghtQ4eine Network Devices S Network Adapter 1923681179 v Refresh Adapters Model Nickname IP Firmware Temp Found 1 Device s The LOR PixCon16 assistant can be downloaded from our website www lightorama com gt Support gt Firmware Updates gt LOR PixCon16 Assistant Click the search button and you will be shown a list of PixCon16 boards that have been found by the utility Double click the adapter you would like to configure Doing this brings up the following screens allowing you to configure that board Page 17 Network Configuration am a YixLite Configuratio IP Address Static IP Address Static Subnet Mask Type of IP DHCP Static Here you can specify the static IP address and subnet mask that the controller will operate on as well as the type of IP connection Use DHCP to instantly see and configure the controller on any existing LAN Page 18 Control E PixLite Configuration Network Contral LEDs Misc A EA Ethernet Control Start Universe 1 Start Channel 1 5 Pixels Per String 1 Y Advanced Advanced Ethernet Protocol sACN E131 ArtNet E Hold Last Frame Timeout Action sACN to DMX512 Outputs oman Universe oman Universe Out 1 Out 3 Out 2 Cancel look This window allows you to automatically setup a pixel fixture very quickly by simpl2. Failure to close all programs that may be sending data to the PixCon16 could put the board into a state that can only be recovered by using the Bootloader button 1 2 O Open the LOR PixCon16 Assistant Click Search and once the desired controller appears in the main window double click on it A configuration window will appear Click on the Misc tab and then locate the Upgrade Firmware button and click on it A firmware update window will appear as shown in Figure 20 Click browse to locate the firmware file you wish to download Click on the update button Once the download is complete a message box will pop up saying it has completed successfully The controller will automatically reboot itself and then start running the new firmware application immediately If there is something wrong with the upgraded firmware repeat the process again if it is still visible in the configuration utility Otherwise refer to the troubleshooting section for further information Page 31 Operating Specifications The table below specifies the recommended operating conditions for a PixCon16 controller Current Max PARAMETER VALUE RANGE UNITS TOLERANCE newer sans 5 30 VDC 5 Input Voltage Max Capacity S Per Power Bank sa A HAS Logic Current Consumption 150 mA 10 5V DC Operating 40 to 60 C 5 Temperature 40 to 140 ME S Indivi
3. 0 1 10 510 170 0 0 1 100 Cp WI 1 11 510 170 0 0 1 100 A ES 1 12 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output 13 13 1 13 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output 14 44 1 14 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output 15 15 1 15 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output 16 16 1 16 510 170 0 0 1 100 F Automatic Sequential Channels eS This allows for advanced configuration of the 16 pixel ports Each port can be individually configured for its start universe start channel number of nodes or pixels null pixels zig zag and reversing By using combinations of these options it can make setting up your pixel fixture more practical and simple and often also results in shorter sequencing times While the advanced configuration permits an extremely flexible channel setup we recommend that you try to keep things as simple as possible and use a single Universe Or 2 or Unit ID per port The controller is capable of connecting the beginning of an output to any channel within any universe Page 21 Outputs can be connected to the same universe data as each other be sequential to each other or even be separated by hundreds of universes if required The key is to correctly match the universe outputs of your sequencer to the channel outputs you have configured for your controller This can quickly become confusing Null Pixels Null pixels allow the controller to ignore or skip a specified number of pixels at the beginning of a given string or strip This is useful when you want to extend you
4. Ught 1 Rama R3 yy En Uii Light O Rama x CT MMM lightor ama com 1 A a az Ri El qc cii NM a a EN gt Bootloader _ Eis eag PixCon16 E1 31 E1 31 16 32 Universe Pixel controller with 4 E1 31 to DMX bridge ports User Manual LOR PixCon16 Assistant August 27 2015 V1 5 Copyright Light O Rama Inc 2015 Table of Contents Siez lga iloa TTT d Whats in the BOX TT 5 Applications a TE ER EE AA 5 Hardware Fundamental pr A A tac 6 Factory IP Bootloader Switches eee 6 Power Connectors ti a OA Sci 8 Aux Ou Pan Connector iaa 9 PICOS ini isidro N vaastees EE 10 Ethernet Connector 35 8 eh eyed ch ea e 12 LOR in out and DMX Outputs E1 31 mode only cccccsseeeeeeeeeeeees 12 WORRIES TA aU D ONS aces as eh e ds 13 Terminator UID CP acae ea e STA 14 Hardware CONTI MN ib 15 Using DHCP Normal Operation sss eee eee eee 15 Forcing the PixCon16 IP Address esse 16 LOR PixCon16 Assistant Program eee eee ee 17 Network ConfiguratiON saisai io eee area ees 18 A ROR tran tenner E eae tear er ene ee 19 Advanced Port Configuration esse eee eee 21 LEDS armando deci E cra ccacdds 24 MiS Cuca data ai tdo E EEEE 26 OPEN dr 28 SO O A O 28 Sending Data od 28 Hardware Test Pattern ino lisis 29 Firmwa re Bleis l eT 30 PSC SU css 30 Obtaining New FirMWare cccccccooonnnccccccoooccnnocconoconoconononnnnnnnnnannenonnnnnnnos 30 Performing a firmware Update esse eee 31 Operatin
5. between 5VDC 30VDC The voltage you use will be dependent on the type of pixel in use Power must be supplied from a stable DC source power supply The maximum rating of the board is 64A 32A per bank 4A per pixel port Each port is protected by a 4A pink blade type fast blow fuse Unless supplied with an LOR Ready to Go Prop it is the user s responsibility to ensure that the power supply used matches the voltage of the pixels they are using and that it can supply the correct amount of current NOTE The board provides NO protection if you accidentally reverse the polarity of the input power Reversing the polarity WILL damage the board Be sure you have properly connected the power supply BEFORE powering on for the first time Aux Out Fan Connector wa LEE MEA A pas e a SR The Aux Out connector supplies power for an optional case fan The fan s speed can be varied by temperature and is set by the Configuration program Please note that the power for the fan is taken from Bank 1 You should select a fan that has the same voltage as Bank 1 Page 9 Pixel Ports Light O Rama cl e L4 11 ek en Connect up to 340 pixels to each port in E1 31 DMX mode and up to 170 pixels to each port in Enhanced LOR Mode The board can support several different pixel types but all ports MUST have use same pixel driver type For example you cannot mix WS2801 and WS2811 pixels on the same PixCon16 Each port can supply a max
6. colors successively on all outputs simultaneously before returning to the current pattern again To exit the test mode press and hold the Factory IP button down again for 3 seconds and then release Page 29 Firmware Upgrades The controller is capable of having its firmware upgraded new software An upgrade is typically performed to fix any bugs that may have been overlooked in previous revisions or to add new features Physical Setup To perform a firmware upgrade ensure that you have your PixCon16 controller connected to the LAN network Obtaining New Firmware Only use firmware that has been supplied by LOR for this device Using any other firmware may damage the device or render it inoperable requiring it be sent back to LOR for service The newest firmware will always be available on our website http www lightorama com Please be sure to use the version of the firmware labeled for LOR PixCon16 Assistant use Using incorrect firmware can render the device inoperable IMPORTANT There are 2 different versions of the firmware available depending on the software you are using to configure the board Be sure you are using the correct version If you load the wrong firmware you may need to use the Bootloader button to recover Page 30 Performing a firmware Update WARNING Ensure that NO OTHER programs are currently sending data to the PixCon16 including LOR programs like the LOR Comm Listener or LOR Tray
7. dual Output 4 A NA Page 32 Troubleshooting Generally troubleshooting requires looking at the LEDs on the controller There may also be a high voltage power supply connected to the board so extreme caution must be taken Beware of ANY bare metal as it can be at LINE voltage Unplug the power from the controller e Apply power again once the board is visible and the controller is in a safe position e DONOT TOUCH the inside components of the controller while power is applied only look at the LEDs If you want to change a jumper setting or a fuse power should always be removed first e Power down as soon as you have finished troubleshooting e When in doubt assume that a connection is at LINE VOLTAGE Page 33 Status LEDs Power Light Status Light Status Off Off Board is not powered or the logic fuse has blown On Slow Flashing Board is powered on and running properly No heart beat from the Showtime Software has been detected Fast Flashing Board is powered on and running properly Board is currently running the Hardware Test Pattern Board is powered on running correctly and is receiving data If the board appears to be non responsive remove the data cable and wait 30 seconds If the status light begins to flash board is running properly Otherwise reset the board and or reload firmware Alternating Alternating Board is in bootloader mode and needs to ha
8. eck is your firewall Ensure that it is not blocking network broadcasts from the utility or even disable it altogether while troubleshooting to ensure it is not causing an issue Light Outputs Not As Expected If the lights are not turning on at all then double check all power connections fuses and light connections Check the 5A mini blade logic fuse and 4A mini blade fuses on each output Page 36 If the lights turn on but are displaying colors you are not expecting ensure the string s itself is not faulty by comparing to other known working strings if possible Then verify the controller can be discovered using the utility Ensure the string s has been programmed correctly in your light desk or software The DMX universe must match the universe assigned to the port along with the channel numbers Be sure you have correctly set up your DMX universes using the manual provided by your light desk or software provider Check the status LEDs for more information and refer to section LED Codes Ensure you are using the correct voltage for the pixels that are in use If there is no fault indicated by the LEDs check that your wiring of the lights is in accordance with the Installing the Lights section Page 37 Light O Rama Inc Tel 518 539 9000 Fax 518 538 0067 info lightorama com
9. g Specifications 5 222ecnssidce aia addict 32 ao ae PTT 33 Status LEDS nerea de e be dad NOD 34 Common problems and solutions sese eee ee 36 No Status or Power LEDS iS On eee 36 Controller does not appear in LOR PixCon16 Assistant utility 36 Light Outputs Not As Expected occccccccoccccccccconococonnoncnnccnncnononaanononnnos 36 Introduction The LOR PixCon16 is a member of the pixel controller line of Light O Rama products The PixCon16 can drive up to 32 separate 170 count strings of smart pixels in DMX mode or 16 170 count strings in Enhanced LOR Mode The board can also act as an E1 31 to DMX bridge for an additional 4 universes The 16 pixel ports on the device can be used to drive many of the most popular smart pixel strings on the market today including WS2801 and WS2811 Command data to the controller can be supplied in two different formats Via DMX over Ethernet E1 31 or Via LOR protocol Using E1 31 allows for very complex shows to be created while using the LOR protocol allows for easy integration into a network of existing LOR controllers When used in LOR mode the PixCon16 can also drive a modest pixel show from an LOR Generation 3 Show Director like the g3MP3 Director This manual is directed to those people who do not normally use LOR Showtime software If you are an LOR S4 user the User Manual Light O Rama Showtime Software manual should be used instead of this one Cauti
10. he fan will run at lower speeds Page 26 Please note that the fan s voltage MUST be the same as the voltage used on BANK 1 Using an incorrect voltage fan could lead to failure or possible board damage Page 27 Operation Startup Upon applying power if you already have strings connected they may flash very briefly and then immediately turn off as the controller takes control of the pixels If no data is being sent to the controller then the pixels will remain turned off until valid data is received During normal operation the green power LED will remain on solid and the status LED will be on solid indicating the board is properly powered up and receiving E1 31 data Sending Data Data is sent from the host machine to the controller via the LAN using the E1 31 or DMX over IP Please consult the help manual of your light desk or software on how to properly configure E1 31 devices Page 28 Hardware Test Pattern The controller features a built in test pattern to assist in troubleshooting during an installation To put the controller into this mode press and hold the Factory IP button for 3 seconds after the controller is already powered up and running and then release The controller will then enter the test pattern mode and will display red green blue and white sequentially in a repeating pattern on all pixels on each of the 16 outputs Pressing the button while in this mode will then cycle through each of the four
11. he output This is useful if the lights you are using are not physically wired in the standard red green blue order You can also set the RGB order on each individual output by clicking on the advanced checkbox Gamma correction is the method used for correcting the output of the LEDs so that they respond in a much more linear fashion when viewed by the human eye the spectral response of the human eye is non linear This is particularly important when the LEDs are being faded and also provides more accurate and vivid color representation The utility provides a very easy to use slider system enabling you to easily set the gamma correction value for each RGB color Typically a gamma corrected value of 2 2 is a good place to start Page 25 o PixLite Confi guration Network Control LEDs Misc Misc Nickname Default Nickname Fan Control Fully On Temp 49 C 104 F Firmware V14 6 Update Firmware Voltage Bank 1 5 1V Bank 2 Off Cancel OK This allows the user to assign a custom nickname to the controller perform a firmware update and also displays the current bank voltage of each of the two main power banks The optional Cooling Fan speed is set with the up down arrows The temperature selected determines when the maximum voltage is sent to the fan For example if you set the temperature to 95 degrees F at or above 95 degrees the full will be on at 100 At temperatures below 95 degrees t
12. imum of 4A and is protected by a 4A pink blade type fuse Page 10 Each port has a removable connector with 4 screw terminals With the screws facing towards you and the wire connector points at the top as if the connector is seated in the board and you are looking at the connectors from the outside of the board the pins are left to right 1 Power 2 Clock 3 Data 4 Ground You should consult the manufacturer of the pixels you intend to use for correct wiring For example not all pixel types use the CLOCK source Page 11 Ethernet Connector Use this port to connect the PixCon16 to your network or computer s network card All configuration is done while the board is attached to a network via this connector LOR in out and DMX Outputs E1 31 mode gt e Dc35 ES E cr oi as i The 2 RJ45 jacks labeled J3 and J4 can be used as an E1 31 to DMX bridge or as input output from a standard LOR RS485 network depending on configuration Page 12 The remaining 3 jacks labeled J5 J7 and J8 can be used as additional E1 31 to DMX bridge ports if the board is not running in LOR mode LOR ESTA Jumpers e aces fe K ele E 126 H3EHE NN EEJ 9ZISZI a o pa Whenever LOR equipment is in use on any of these RJ45 jacks the jumpers must be moved from the ESTA side to the LOR side LOR controllers even in DMX mode use a different pinout than other devices Moving these jumpers sets the correc
13. ller is connected to a network of computers controllers etc either though a switch or router You can however directly connect the Ethernet port of the PixCon16 to a computer network card This can be useful if for some reason your network configuration has changed or you are having some other issue with configuration Be sure to turn off any other network connections including wireless connections and then re boot the computer Page 15 Forcing the PixCon16 IP Address In the unlikely event that a controller needs to be forced to its default IP a simple procedure can be employed on power up Hold down the Factory IP button Once the controller powers up release the button The controller s IP address will now be 192 168 0 50 You may need to re configure your computer in order to see this address Once the board is connected and powered on open the LOR PixCon16 Assistant It should appear in a window as shown If no devices are shown in the list click on the Search button The utility will then discover any PixCon16 controllers currently connected to the LAN Each controller will appear on its own row in the main window showing the following information Model IP Address Nickname Firmware Version and Current Temperature Double clicking on a controller in the list will then bring up a separate configuration window allowing you to configure that specific controller Page 16 LOR PixCon16 Assistant program
14. on Although most applications for this product use low voltages this product may be used with dangerous DC voltages Some connections may be at line voltage and potentially lethal It is important that you have an understanding of electrical wiring and usage Page 4 What s in the Box The PixCon16 comes with this user manual The latest version of this manual is also available at www lightorama com Support gt User Manuals gt PixCon16 Manual LOR PixCon16 Assistant The PixCon16 can be used in multiple configurations Additionally the PixCon16 can be purchased as a separate device or be included with an LOR Ready to Go prop Applications The PixCon16 can be controlled by an LOR G3 Show Director in ELOR mode or a Windows PC using ELOR mode or E1 31 While being an advanced controller the PixCon16 cannot be run in standalone mode and cannot be controlled by another LOR Controller in standalone mode The Picon16 board itself is not weather resistant and needs to be mounted in a suitable weather resistant weather tight enclosure The enclosure to be used must have adequate ventilation Connections are provided to power a fan and overheating of the board will cause damage to the components Page 5 Hardware Fundamentals Factory IP Bootloader switches i f e LR Factory IP Bootloader NX Factory Reset Hg A factory reset should only be performed when absolutely necessary The reset will era
15. r fixture as the data signals in pixel strings and strips are not designed to travel over long distances Each pixel has its own IC which actually re buffers the entire data signal before passing it on to the next pixel For example by inserting some null pixels into a given length of cable before you get to the first pixel of the actual fixture the digital signal will be buffered several times allowing it to reach the actual fixture some distance away with the null pixels being skipped or ignored The other use for null pixels is when you may not want to use the entire string In this case you can simply tell the controller to ignore or skip the pixels you don t need Zig Zag Zig Zag allows pixel addresses to be allocated in a more logical order in the sequencer For example you may have a megatree consisting of 16 strings of 50 pixels in your display Starting at the first string you would string pixels 1 50 from bottom to top and then pixels 51 100 from top to bottom in the 2nd string and so on zig zagging up and down all the way around When finished if you turned the pixels on in order from the lowest address to the highest you would see a pattern that started at the bottom of the first string and zig zagged up and down as you move around the megatree When programming the pixels in the sequencer however it s much easier if Page 22 the pixels light in a more intuitive order In our example we would use the zig zag feat
16. se all configuration and networking information which may be time consuming to restore To reset the device back to factory defaults first remove power to the board Then press and hold BOTH buttons while re applying power Wait a few seconds then release the buttons The board has now been reset back to factory defaults Since this is an E1 31 Ethernet device you may need to re set the IP address of the board to a known one Remove power to the board press and hold the Factory IP button and then re apply power This will reset the board to the default IP address of 192 168 0 50 Release the button If the firmware on the device becomes corrupted you can recover the board by placing it in bootloader mode The bootloader mode allows the board to accept a new firmware which should fix the issue Remove power to the board press and hold the Bootloader button and re apply power Page 6 The Power and Status lights will alternate showing that the board is now in bootloader mode Release the switch and use the LOR PixCon16 Assistant software to load the latest firmware Should you need to reconfigure the board or reload the firmware in emergency mode the easiest way may be to connect the board directly to a computer s network card via a CAT 5 cable 1 Ensure no wireless network is active on the computer 2 Shut down the computer and disconnect any existing network cable 3 4 Plug a CAT 5 cable directly from the adap
17. t pins Page 13 Terminator jumper N EEJ 9IZIGZI o pa Should you experience data transmission problems when using the PixCon16 on an LOR network you may want to move this jumper from OFF to ON Most networks will not require this Page 14 Hardware Configuration Unlike other controllers in the LOR family the PixCon16 MUST be configured via the Ethernet connection It is not configured using the standard LOR Hardware Utility but instead the included PixCon16 Assistant program must be used Using DHCP Normal Operation Your network will typically have a DHCP server It is the job of the DHCP server to assign an IP address to any device on the network that requests one DHCP mode is always enabled by default on the PixCon16 so it should work with any network out of the box However it is recommended that you assign a static IP address once communications have been established via the configuration utility If the controller is in DHCP mode and is not assigned an IP address by a DHCP server it will timeout after 15 seconds and default to a static IP of 192 168 0 50 If DHCP mode is enabled both LEDs will flash together until the controller receives an IP address at which point the power LED will remain on solid and the status LED will flash slowly indicating it is in run mode and ready for use If a static IP address is assigned to the board then the power LED will be solid from power up Typically the contro
18. ter to the computer s Power off the PixCon16 network card A crossover cable is not required any standard CAT 5 cable will work Power up the board Ensure the board is running correctly or has been placed in the bootloader mode Turn on the computer and wait for it to fully boot Now start the LOR Network Configuration program and press the PixCon16 button You should be able to find the board now to configure it or to re install the firmware Page 7 Status LEDs Power Light Status Light Status Off Off Board is not powered or the logic fuse has blown On Flashing Board is powered on and running properly No data signal has been detected On On Board is powered on running correctly and is receiving data Alternating Flash Alternating Flash Board is in bootloader mode and needs to have firmware uploaded Synchronized Flash Synchronized Flash Board is powered and waiting for an IP address from the DHCP server On Off Board is powered however it is not running correctly Power Connectors Power to the board and the 16 pixel ports is supplied by the two sets of large screw terminals on the left side of the board Each terminal supplies power for 8 of the pixel ports Bank 1 1 8 or Bank 2 9 16 Power for the board itself is taken from Bank 1 and is protected by a 5A dark blue blade type fast blow fuse Page 8 The board can run on any voltage
19. ure to tell the controller that the pixels reverse direction every 50 pixels Thus lighting sequential pixels now produces the desired effect the first string lights from bottom to top then the 2nd string from bottom to top etc Reversed Turning on the reversed option tells the controller to light the pixels in reverse direction on the fixture This means the first pixel to light will actually be the last physical pixel in the fixture instead of the first physical pixel Page 23 LEDs E E PixLite Configuration LED Pixels RGB Order RGB Wi Advanced Advanced Gamma Correction Gamma correction can only be applied to chips that are figher than 8 byt Red i Green Blue i Lock Sliders This allows you to select the type of pixel IC you wish to control as well as gamma correction only applicable for strings that have greater than 8 bit data capacity You cannot mix different pixel drivers chips on a single PixCon16 controller For example you can t run the WS2811 protocol on ports 1 8 and SM16716 on ports 9 16 All 16 ports must be of the same type Page 24 Pixel Drivers Chipsets Supported The PixCon16 can currently support the following pixel drivers chipsets e WS2801 standard LOR Pixels Bulbs e WS2811 WS2812 e APA102 e LPD6803 e MBI6020 e MY9221 e MY9231 e SM16716 e TLS3001 e TM1803 e TM1804 e TM1809 Under this tab you can also change the RGB order of t
20. ve firmware uploaded Synchronized Flash Synchronized Flash Board is powered and waiting for an IP address from the DHCP server On Off Board is powered however it is not running correctly Reset the board to see if the issue is cleared If not reload firmware Page 34 Ethernet jack LEDs Link LED Green Data LED Yellow Status Properly connected and i Flashi ete splu receiving data Solid Off Connection OK no data received Power is off or no link established Check Off Off power logic fuse and communications cable and network hardware Page 35 Common problems and solutions No Status or Power LEDs is On Ensure that the outlet you are plugged into is active Check that the logic fuse has not blown Ensure your power supply is supplying voltage correctly Controller does not appear in LOR PixCon16 Assistant utility First ensure you have the latest version of the LOR PixCon16 Assistant utility software installed Ensure you have connected the board to a LAN and not to an LOR Network USB adapter Ensure the controller is in normal operating mode as per the LED codes If you still cannot see the controller directly connect the controller to the computer s Ethernet jack Ensure there are no other networks active on the computer including any wireless networks Reboot the computer and then power up the board One final thing to ch
21. y specifying the start universe start channel and the number of pixels in the fixture The utility then automatically allocates the correct sequential universe addressing for all the pixels in the fixture for you This is very useful if your fixture has the same number of pixels on each of the 16 outputs For the PixCon16 controller this will default to the values of 1 for start universe and start address 50 nodes per string for use with LOR pixel strings Page 19 If more specific control is needed for your application the Advanced checkbox can be selected Please note that Art net is NOT supported in the LOR Showtime software but may be supported by other DMX Light Desks or software The DMX512 outputs can also be configured from this tab this is only available when in 1 31 mode Each of the four outputs can be turned on or off and the DMX universe of each output can be specified Page 20 Advanced Port Configuration e ress String Configuration Le ls Ee Advanced String Configuration Start Start End End Num Null Zig Zag Group Intensity Revessed Universe Channel Universe Channel Pixels Pixels Limit 96 Outputi 1 1 1 510 170 0 0 1 100 Se 2 1 2 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output3 3 1 3 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output t a 1 4 510 170 10 0 1 100 Output5 5 1 5 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output6 6 1 6 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output7 7 1 7 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output8 3 1 8 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output9 y 1 9 510 170 0 0 1 100 Output 10 1
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