Daisy Chained LOR Boxes Over E1.31 Not Working

[XYrZbest]

I've got my whole show set up i plugged in my first box and its playing over e1.31 i plug in the second to be daisy chained a the green light on the LOR box goes from solid green (receiving data) to blinking (not receiving data) Last night it did not work and then i restarted it and re plugged the wire back in and all 3 boxes worked, but it would flicker I then wiggled the cable and it went on and off, I realized that i had exposed the wires on my newly crimped cat 5 cable I made a new one plugged it in and it didn't work, I plugged the old one and it didn't work either but they both work on the first box only when the daisy chaining cat 5 cable isn't plugged in, when it is the whole show doesn't work. I am using multicast on the E1.31 board form leddiyexpress 6 port, and have the first box plugged in using a lor to dmx crossover cable with the board in DMX mode.

 

Edit: I am actually writing this for a friend, every year I do all the technical work and he does all of the designing, but he owns it all so he makes the final call... He wants to cut out E1.31 for LOR and use it solely for DMX, i am advising against it, as he is in the process of switching as we speak... :/  He wants to go back to what we used last year, a LOR to USB adapter because he is getting impatient, even though I got it working for a short period of time... I am telling him the issue we have is most likely going to affect DMX over E1.31 as well so we should fix it, he wants it to "work". I say that the whole process as well as network will be much simpler and slim lined if we have all the lights piped into one E1.31 board... not to mention that we now have to move the show PC... into the garage... if we use LOR over USB, unlike if we just get connection to are XMAS Lighting Network and we would be connected using E1.31. So what is the best solution here and which way should be go? 

 

I also read somewhere I should switch to unicast is this true?

Edited December 9, 2014 by XYrZbest

[k6ccc]

I want to make sure we know what it is you are trying to do.  Please provide a flow chart of sorts - such as:

 

PC -> ethernet -> network switch -> some E1.31 card -> DMX output -> LOR controller, etc

 

Please fill in as much detail as possible.  The more information, the easier to remotely troubleshoot it.

 

As far as multicast vs unicast.  Either should work as long as everything involved is set the same.  As the old saying goes, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.  Personally I'm running my 10 universes on 4 SanDevices cards in unicast.

[Dennis Laff]

It's just as easy to run two networks one for lor ac boxes and one network for E1-31

[XYrZbest]

I want to make sure we know what it is you are trying to do.  Please provide a flow chart of sorts - such as:

 

PC -> ethernet -> network switch -> some E1.31 card -> DMX output -> LOR controller, etc

 

Please fill in as much detail as possible.  The more information, the easier to remotely troubleshoot it.

 

As far as multicast vs unicast.  Either should work as long as everything involved is set the same.  As the old saying goes, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.  Personally I'm running my 10 universes on 4 SanDevices cards in unicast.

My system goes as follows

 

PC -> ethernet -> E1.31 6 Port (DIYLEDExpress) -> Universe 1 -> LOR CTB16PC (1) -> LOR CTB16PC (2) -> LOR CTB16PC (3)

                                                                                  Universe 2 -> DMX Controller (1) -> DMX Controller (2)

[Mr. P]

From my understanding you can't daisy chain in a e1.31 network. You have to use a hub and assign ip addresses to each controller. I could be wrong.

[k6ccc]

Mr. P, XYrZbest is only running one E1.31 device so that's not an issue. I don't think this has anything to do with the E1.31 configuration.

Based on the description, this sounds like a cable connection issue. If you wiggle the cable and the connection comes and goes, there is a connection issue. You said that you made new cables and they didn't work. Were the new cables built as straight cables?

[Mr. P]

From his schematic above it looks like he is daisy chaining three controller boxes one connected to the other

[k6ccc]

Correct - with a RS-485 connection (using DMX). Only one IP device - the DIYLEDExpress board.

[KStatefan]

My system goes as follows

 

PC -> ethernet -> E1.31 6 Port (DIYLEDExpress) -> Universe 1 -What type of cable?> LOR CTB16PC (1) -What type of cable?> LOR CTB16PC (2) -What type of cable?> LOR CTB16PC (3)

                                                                                  Universe 2 -> DMX Controller (1) -> DMX Controller (2)

[MacDaddyEug]

I want to add my own problem in here and I think the answer I get might address some of the others posted above.

 

So my problem is that I have just started adding 10W RGB floods.  I have a 27 channel DMX controller from Holiday Coro and the LOR/DMX adapter cable (for Cat5).  When I connect, power and test the floods with DIP switch 10 on, the test pattern works just fine.  Once I connect the DMX board to my LOR controllers, I get nothing.  My configuration is:

 

PC -> RS232 -> Cat5 daisy chained to my 7 controllers -> LOR/DMX adapter (Cat5) ->Cat5 -> 27 Channel DMX Controller -> 10W RGB Floods

 

The 7 LOR boxes work but nothing from the RGBs.  I am not fully understanding the "Universe" thing.  What would I set the DIP Switches to on the circuit board? 1 for Universe 1 or something like 161 for the first channel I want on the first circuit board?

 

LOR has a different set up.  Theirs is:

 

PC -> RS 232 ->Cat5 -> DMX circuit board -> Cat5 -> LOR controller  (Link here http://www1.lightorama.com/rgb-controllers/)

 

I see that some suggested a separate circuit like using the xDongle from Seasonal Entertainment (which I also have but not using).  My question would still remain....what would the DIP switch setting be on the 1st circuit board?

 

Thank you in advance for your inputs...........

Edited December 9, 2014 by MacDaddyEug

[Tim Benson]

XYrZbest

 

So you are saying that with the E1.31 bridge, driving a single LOR controller is working.

 

But when you add a second LOR controller, chaining it off of the working one, It all stops working and the first controller LED starts blinking?

 

Offhand, I'd say your cable between controllers is bad or incorrectly wired.  You only need pins 4 and 5 to connect

LOR controllers together, adding pin3 helps because it is ground, but is not mandatory.

 

so you have a cross over cable to send pin 1 and 2 on the Bridge to pins 4 and 5 on the LOR controller Right ?

And all cabling from LOR controller to LOR controller are straight through Correct ?

 

 

Can you connect controller #2 directly to the the E1.31 bridge in place of controller #1 ? does that work ?

Edited December 9, 2014 by Tim Benson

[KStatefan]

I want to add my own problem in here and I think the answer I get might address some of the others posted above.

 

So my problem is that I have just started adding 10W RGB floods.  I have a 27 channel DMX controller from Holiday Coro and the LOR/DMX adapter cable (for Cat5).  When I connect, power and test the floods with DIP switch 10 on, the test pattern works just fine.  Once I connect the DMX board to my LOR controllers, I get nothing.  My configuration is:

 

PC -> RS232 -> Cat5 daisy chained to my 7 controllers -> LOR/DMX adapter (Cat5) ->Cat5 -> 27 Channel DMX Controller -> 10W RGB Floods

 

The 7 LOR boxes work but nothing from the RGBs.  I am not fully understanding the "Universe" thing.  What would I set the DIP Switches to on the circuit board? 1 for Universe 1 or something like 161 for the first channel I want on the first circuit board? I would set it to your first DMX channel after the 112 taken by your LOR controllers running in DMX mode.

 

LOR has a different set up.  Theirs is:

 

PC -> RS 232 ->Cat5 -> DMX circuit board -> Cat5 -> LOR controller  (Link here http://www1.lightorama.com/rgb-controllers/)  This is not a DMX circuit board.  It is a LOR circuit board.

 

I see that some suggested a separate circuit like using the xDongle from Seasonal Entertainment (which I also have but not using).  My question would still remain....what would the DIP switch setting be on the 1st circuit board?

 

Thank you in advance for your inputs...........

Edited December 9, 2014 by KStatefan

[Tim Benson]

MAcDaddyeug,

 

Are you running your LOR controllers in LOR protocol or DMX protocol ?

In order to run those Holiday Coro Controllers daisy chained off of a LOR controller, you Must run it all in DMX mode.

So that would require changes in the LOR network Preferences tab to remove the LOR network and re-define the dongle

as a DMX adapter under the DMX tab.  then you also will need to change the channel configuration in your sequences for all

of your LOR controllers to DMX universe channels.

 

Most likely you will not be happy with the performance of the LOR controllers using the RS485B dongle as a DMX device, but

it does "work".  LOR controllers work differently in DMX mode, so the ID switches may need to be changed.

 

Reference this document    http://www1.lightorama.com/Documents/DMX-DOC.pdf

 

I highly recommend you Run your LOR controllers in LOR mode on one network and get either a Active DMX dongle or an E1.31 bridge to run your DMX fixtures. You will be much happier in the future.

[KStatefan]

I highly recommend you Run your LOR controllers in LOR mode on one network and get either a Active DMX dongle or an E1.31 bridge to run your DMX fixtures. You will be much happier in the future.

 

I agree with this.

[XYrZbest]

XYrZbest

 

So you are saying that with the E1.31 bridge, driving a single LOR controller is working.

 

But when you add a second LOR controller, chaining it off of the working one, It all stops working and the first controller LED starts blinking?

 

Offhand, I'd say your cable between controllers is bad or incorrectly wired.  You only need pins 4 and 5 to connect

LOR controllers together, adding pin3 helps because it is ground, but is not mandatory.

 

so you have a cross over cable to send pin 1 and 2 on the Bridge to pins 4 and 5 on the LOR controller Right ?

And all cabling from LOR controller to LOR controller are straight through Correct ?

 

 

Can you connect controller #2 directly to the the E1.31 bridge in place of controller #1 ? does that work ?

I will try controller 2 individually I am using standard Cat 5 B format cables to connect to each controller (the ones that LOR sells)

[XYrZbest]

I agree with this.

 

I want to add my own problem in here and I think the answer I get might address some of the others posted above.

 

So my problem is that I have just started adding 10W RGB floods.  I have a 27 channel DMX controller from Holiday Coro and the LOR/DMX adapter cable (for Cat5).  When I connect, power and test the floods with DIP switch 10 on, the test pattern works just fine.  Once I connect the DMX board to my LOR controllers, I get nothing.  My configuration is:

 

PC -> RS232 -> Cat5 daisy chained to my 7 controllers -> LOR/DMX adapter (Cat5) ->Cat5 -> 27 Channel DMX Controller -> 10W RGB Floods

 

The 7 LOR boxes work but nothing from the RGBs.  I am not fully understanding the "Universe" thing.  What would I set the DIP Switches to on the circuit board? 1 for Universe 1 or something like 161 for the first channel I want on the first circuit board?

 

LOR has a different set up.  Theirs is:

 

PC -> RS 232 ->Cat5 -> DMX circuit board -> Cat5 -> LOR controller  (Link here http://www1.lightorama.com/rgb-controllers/)

 

I see that some suggested a separate circuit like using the xDongle from Seasonal Entertainment (which I also have but not using).  My question would still remain....what would the DIP switch setting be on the 1st circuit board?

 

Thank you in advance for your inputs...........

I have a 27 channel dmx controller for RGB floods as well and plan to add them to the E1.31 board i could not get them to work over E1.31 but they worked on DIP 10 for testing... I plan to redo the cable crimp because I think that is the issue

[XYrZbest]

My system goes as follows

 

PC -> ethernet -> E1.31 6 Port (DIYLEDExpress) -> Universe 1 -What type of cable?> LOR CTB16PC (1) -What type of cable?> LOR CTB16PC (2) -What type of cable?> LOR CTB16PC (3)

                                                                                  Universe 2 -> DMX Controller (1) -> DMX Controller (2)

I guess i should have been more specific...

 

PC -> ethernet -> E1.31 6 Port (DIYLEDExpress) -> Universe 1 -DMX/LOR Cross Over Cable> LOR CTB16PC (1) -Standard B Format Cat 5 Cable (From LOR) > LOR CTB16PC (2) -Standard B Format Cat 5 Cable (From LOR)> LOR CTB16PC (3)

                                                                                  Universe 2 -> DMX Controller (1) -> DMX Controller (2)

XYrZbest

 

So you are saying that with the E1.31 bridge, driving a single LOR controller is working.

 

But when you add a second LOR controller, chaining it off of the working one, It all stops working and the first controller LED starts blinking?

 

Offhand, I'd say your cable between controllers is bad or incorrectly wired.  You only need pins 4 and 5 to connect

LOR controllers together, adding pin3 helps because it is ground, but is not mandatory.

 

so you have a cross over cable to send pin 1 and 2 on the Bridge to pins 4 and 5 on the LOR controller Right ?

And all cabling from LOR controller to LOR controller are straight through Correct ?

 

 

Can you connect controller #2 directly to the the E1.31 bridge in place of controller #1 ? does that work ?

I tried them daisy chained of the USB controller and it worked... could it be some sort of handshaking between the boards... ? When it worked the one time I restarted it all...

[Max-Paul]

I dont know if this is also part of the problem or not. But I have seen others talk about using E1.31 an the problems of having both a wired network and a wireless network active at the same time. Seems that there is some confusion as where the data should go. Wireless or wired (computer is confused that is. Try turning off the wireless adapter (disable).

[Tim Benson]

XYrZbest

 

SInce you say that your controllers work fine when daisy chained together running off the LOR USB dongle,

 

Let's get back to basics here:

 

I looked up the E1.31 bridge you are using

 

It can operate in Renard mode or DMX mode, you select it by using the Jumpers.

All those jumpers do, is change the pin-out of the RJ45 jack.

You can use either mode, BUT the "Cross over Cable" you use to attach it to a

LOR controller would be different based on which you choose.

 

An LOR controller has this configuration:    

Pin  3   +9v

Pin 4    Data +

Pin 5    Data -

Pin 6   Ground

All other pins are unused

 

DMX Output from the Bridge has this:

Pin 1  Data +

Pin 2  Data -

Pin 7  Ground

 

Renard Output from the Bridge has this (which is backwards from LOR):

Pin 1  Ground

Pin 2  Ground

Pin 4 Data -

Pin 5 Data +

 

So in DMX Mode you need you cross over cable to do this:

 

Bridge >>> LOR

Pin 1   >>> Pin 4

Pin 2   >>> Pin 5

Pin 7   >>> Pin 6

 

In Renard Mode you would need your cable to do this:

 

Bridge >>> LOR

Pin 1   >>> Pin 6

Pin 4   >>> Pin 5

Pin 5   >>> Pin 4

 

I remember having issues when I First started using DMX where I had Data+ and Data- reversed and it would work sometimes or

erratically.  So perhaps your cross over cable is not working as you think it is.

 

Also, are you using Multicast or Unicast on your bridge ?  It is possible that your PC is not routing the data correctly.

What IP address are you using ?  is it on the same network as the rest of your house or is it a dedicated network

for your lights ?

 

If you are using a laptop, and you have both the Wireless configured for your home network, and the hardwired port for your show,  in multicast. it may be sending the data to the wrong network.  I prefer Unicast, that way I can direct the network traffic exactly where i want it to go without messing with routing tables.

 

Tim