BECKHOFF DK9222-0311-0029 User Manual

Fast communication with the dmx protocol

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I/O

Light

Application Note DK9222-0311-0029

Keywords
EL6851
DMX
DMX512A
RS485
Show technology
Lighting
LED
Lighting control
Lighting technology
Master
Slave
XLR
Light
Stage
Show

Fast communication with the DMX protocol

This application example describes DMX – a standard transmission protocol for lighting technology
– and the Beckhoff DMX EtherCAT terminals EL6581 (- 0000: master, -0010: slave), with which the PC- and
EtherCAT-based control technology can be used for show, stage, special effects and drama applications.

DMX

DMX is the standard protocol for controlling professional stage and lighting effects equipment, which is used, for example, in
the dynamic lighting of showrooms and salesrooms as well as for exclusive displays of light and color in high-profile buildings,
such as hotels and event centers. As the bus system used in professional lighting technology, DMX works with RS485 physics.
DMX stands for ‘Digital Multiplexing’ and enables serial data transmission with a data rate of 250 kbit/s. Color mix and
brightness values are transmitted to DMX slaves in the form of static light sources (e.g. spotlights). In the case of moving
light sources (e.g. moving heads and scanners), angles for pan/tilt and motion profiles stored in the device are additionally
communicated. The topology configuration corresponds to daisy chain cabling (all slaves in a ‘universe’ in series); therefore, the
slaves have an input and an output port. Three-pole XLR plugs are used for cabling.

Dimmer

Color changer

Moving Head

Scanner

LED

color changer

Stroboscope

Fig. 1 Typical DMX slave devices

New Automation Technology

BECKHOFF

1

For application notes see disclaimer on the last page

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