Setting the Starting Address
3-Pin to 5-Pin Conversion Chart
Setting up a DMX Serial Data Link
5. Appendix
This DMX mode enables the use of a universal DMX controller device. Each fixture requires a
start address from 1–512. A fixture requiring one or more channels for control begins to read the
data on the channel indicated by the start address. For example, a fixture that uses six DMX
channels and was addressed to start on DMX channel 100, would read data from channels: 100,
101, 102, 103, 104, and 105. Choose start addresses so that the channels used do not overlap,
and note the start address selected for future reference.
If this is your first time addressing a fixture using the DMX control protocol, we suggest jumping
to the "Appendix" section and reading the heading "DMX Primer". It contains very useful
information that will help you understand its use.
If you use a controller with a 5-pin DMX output connector, you will need to use a 5-pin to
3-pin adapter. The chart below details a proper cable conversion:
3-P
5-P
IN TO
Conductor
3-Pin Female (Output)
Ground/Shield
Data ( - ) signal
Data ( + ) signal
Not used
Not used
1. Connect the (male) 3-pin connector side of
the DMX cable to the output (female) 3-pin
connector of the controller.
2. Connect the end of the cable coming from the
controller which will have a (female)
connector to the input connector of the next
fixture consisting of a (male) 3-pin connector.
3. Then, proceed to connect from the output as
stated above to the input of the following
fixture and so on.
C
C
IN
ONVERSION
HART
5-Pin Male (Input)
Pin 1
Pin 1
Pin 2
Pin 2
Pin 3
Pin 3
Pin 4
Pin 5
3-pin
Continue the link
16
Universal DMX Controller
This drawing
provides a general
illustration of the
DMX input/output
panel of a lighting
fixture.