I.R.I.S. 316 User Manual
Page 6
4.01 Camera Control Data
IRIS216/316 cameras are controlled via an RS485 serial data
connection, using a variant of the Pelco-D CCTV camera control
protocol. The Pelco-D protocol was designed to provide
accurate controls for a wide range of standard CCTV features,
such as pan, tilt, user preset features etc, but do not include
features specific to thermal imaging cameras and other
extended features supported by Iris cameras. Because of this,
Iris have mapped their product specific features to certain user
preset commands and to other modified Pelco-D commands.
This means that Iris thermal PTZ cameras can be controlled
either by a dedicated Iris joystick controller such as the IRIS516
or IRIS507, as well as other control devices, such as compatible
chart-plotters, multi-functional displays and third party joysticks.
For further information on compatible third party control
interfacing please contact Iris Innovations. For certain third party
interfacing, additional serial protocol convertors may be required
where NMEA0183 or NMEA2000 connections are used.
4.02
Cabling Requirements
The camera has a 3 meter tail into which a 50cm breakout cable
is connected. The breakout tail has the following connections:
Video (female 75Ω BNC connector), Data (2 x bare wires:
RS485+ (RED wire) and RS485- (Black wire)) and Power
(2.5mm DC Barrel Jack connector). Individual video, data and
power cables can be run back to the control position and power
distribution position or a combination cable (such as IRIS-
COMBPTZ-xx) can be used. Alternatively, an Active Video Balun
set can be used to allow a single CAT5 cable to be run. Please
note however that although Baluns facilitate the use of CAT5
cables, these should on no account be routed through ethernet
routing and switching hardware as this will cause permanent
damage. If Baluns are used, ensure the CAT5 cables are
managed completely separately from your IP network. Contact
Iris Innovations for further details.
Video cables need to be coaxial with an impedance of 75Ω such
as RG59, URM70 or similar.
Power cables need to be 2 core DC cable rated at 5A (maximum
voltage 36VDC)
Data Cables need to be twisted pair Belden style data cables
(0.5mm) or equivalent.
4.03 Setting Camera Address
Each camera must have itʼs own unique address so that only
control data intended for that camera is received and processed
by the camera. If multiple cameras had the same address, they
would all move together when pan and tilt commands are
transmitted.
To set the camera address, remove the DIP switch cover plate
on the base of the camera with a small cross-head screw driver,
taking care not to loose the 4 screws or the rubber ʻOʼ seal, and
set the DIP switches on switch bank 1 accordingly. A table
detailing the switch settings can be found at the end of this
document.
Once the desired address has been set, carefully replace the
DIP switch cover plate.
4.04 Installation Considerations
It's important to fully consider the intended position of the
camera and the desired fields of view prior to installation, in
terms of how you are going to get cables to the position, will the
camera be able to see the appropriate areas, will the camera
interfere with any other fixture such as a doorway or walkway
once it's fixed in place, or are there any obstructions behind the
surface onto which the camera is to be installed. It's strongly
recommended that if possible the camera should be temporarily
powered up prior to final installation and offered into position so
that these factors can be considered and any possible issue can
be addressed before holes are drilled and difficult, time
consuming and costly cable runs are attempted. Check third
party hardware to ensure it doesn't effect the operation of the
camera and vice versa.
4.05 Protocol Information
DIP switch bank 2 is reserved for setting the baud rate and
protocol details. This is factory set to 9600 Baud, Pelco-D
Protocol, N-8-1 (No Parity Bits, 8 Data Bits, 1 Stop Bit). Do not
attempt to change these settings as they are locked. Changing
the settings of Switch bank 2 could result in the camera not
responding to data commands.
Full details of the Pelco-D control protocol can be found at
As well as the standard Pelco-D command set, Iris cameras use
their own commands based on the Pelco protocol to call
features that are specific to the model or are not covered by the
Pelco command set. For further details contact Iris Innovations.