How To Set Up A Dmx 512 Controller

In this post, I am going to assistance y'all build your own relay box for controlling your Christmas lights

. I wanted to share and help y'all with this projection because perchance it doesn't make financial sense for you to buy one of these when yous don't demand as many channels for your brandish every bit the commercial controllers offer.

The good news is that I was able to build this for less than $forty. Some of the items I already had available and the remainder I did find on Amazon.

Supplies Needed

Listed beneath are the supplies used in this tutorial.

3 Channel DMX Relay Controller – Buy on Amazon!
Curt Extension Cord: Purchase on Amazon!
Ammo Box: Purchase on Amazon! (Much Cheaper from Harbor Freight or Similar Stores)
Cablevision Glands: Buy on Amazon!
DMX Cable: Buy on Amazon!
12v Ability Supply: Buy on Amazon!

Before getting started I want to notation that if are not comfy with working with electricity and then I practice recommend reaching out to an electrician or someone that is comfortable with doing these types of tasks.

When working with electricity always be sure to accept the power supply disconnected before we starting time.

Prepping Your Box

For the box, I used a simple ammo box that you can most likely find in a hardware store and you'll nigh likely desire to go with a plastic one.

You'll demand to install the cablevision glands then that you tin can feed your cords through the box. In this tutorial, I only added ii but if you want to add together more you can do so.

Prepping the Wires

Once you have your box set and ready information technology's time to work on the wires. I but used an extension string. One for input and i for output. To proceed them separate I just used different colors.

In this case, I exercise utilise a DMX Cablevision simply if you are just working with standard Christmas lights you can utilize a network cable instead if that's what you lot have effectually – both will carry the signal simply fine!

Connecting the Concluding Block

When working with my DMX Relay Controller I prefer to remove the terminal cake to keep the rest of the relay protected while I hook information technology up.

With this particular relay that I ordered off of Amazon, it did not come with the user manual and it was only available on the product description as seen below.

Delight be certain to check this when ordering and make note of the diagram when setting upward the terminal block.

The manual volition show yous what each concluding is and that is very important when setting everything up.

Wiring Everything Up

The get-go thing to do is to strip your wires for the input and output and be sure to strip enough. And so yous'll want to feed your cords through the cable glands.

Wiring Up the Terminal Cake

As I mention in the video as well equally earlier in this postal service when working with electricity always be sure that your Power Supply is off.

Also, if you don't experience comfy with working with wires be sure to either have an electric technician or an acquaintance that is comfortable doing these types of projects.

Unplug the final block from the relay to help arrive easier to wire upward everything. Offset, you lot want to wire up the outputs to the switched signals. Be sure to refer to your diagram for the relay.

Normally Christmas lights will non have a ground but if y'all are working with lights that take a ground you do need to brand sure you lot wire information technology up properly.

When working with your wires be sure that no copper wire is showing because this could fry your relay if the wires cross.

Based on the unit you are working with and the diagram yous can showtime tying off your cables with a wire nut as shown in the video. Once you have everything organized you can get-go with hooking upwardly the alive wires to the terminal block and tightening everything down.

Power Supply

In this tutorial I apply a small-scale 12 volt power supply because this is simply being used to power the relay, not the actual lights. You tin can use any 12 volt to 24 volt power supply unit.

If yous are not sure which ones are the negative or positive you can utilize an electrical meter. Merely set it on volts and DC, then simply make sure you lot positive is on the positive and the negative is on negative. But exist sure to exam this earlier yous turn on your relay.

If you meter reads positive then you are proficient to get but if it reads negative so y'all'll want to switch your wires.

Wiring the DMX

In this example I am using a DMX Cable so I but strip the cablevision and brainstorm hooking it up to the relay. Exist sure to refer to the wiring diagram for your cable to brand sure everything is hooked upwards properly.

With the DMX Cablevision if annihilation happens to get hooked up wrong it won't practice whatsoever damage. You'll just need to go back and suit the wires accordingly.

Setting the Dip Switches

By default, this switch is attack Test Mode. You'll need to refer to the users manual and set information technology up every bit y'all want. In this tutorial, I prepare information technology in DMX mode.

Testing the Box

Once you have everything connected just pull your cables through and close upwardly the box. But plug everything in and make certain it works properly – non merely with test mode, but too with DMX control!