AMX Novara CP2000 Series User manual

Programmable Control Panel
Novara CP2000 series
Instruction Manual

Description
The panels are designed to be easily programmable allowing control of equipment by R 232 commands and
InfraRed. The system can be expanded to control equipment by contact closure using our Relay unit. More buttons
can be added using our atellite Panels. The 2000series have two IR or R 232 ports, two dedicated R 232 ports
and one input port. Each button has LED feedback. Four, ix, Eight, Twelve, ixteen, Twenty and TwentyFour button
panels are available. The panels are programmed using the DC software. This is found on our Website
www.amx.com
Button Labelling for 8 Button atellite Panels
atellite panels can be configured for (1 to 8), (9 to 16) or (17 to 24).
The buttons are numbered as above for programming purposes. When using the Four button version buttons 2/3/6/7,
(10/11/14/15), (18/19/22/23) only are used and when using the ix-button panel only 1/2/4/5/6/8, (9/10/12/13/14/16),
(17,18,20,21,22,24) are used.
Button Labelling for 16 Button atellite Panel
16 Button panels are always numbered as above.
A range of pre-labelled buttons are available or button can be custom labelled by printing on A4 acetate.
To fit the labels carefully remove the lens cap and insert the label into the lens cap then refit the lens.
Button1/9/17 Button2/10/18 Button4/12/20 Button3/11/19
Button5/13/21 Button8/16/24 Button7/15/23 Button6/14/22
Button1 Button2 Button4 Button3
Button5 Button8 Button7 Button6
Button9
Button11
Button10
Button16
Button13
Button15
Button12
Button14

Installation
The panel is powered from the supplied power pack, although any 9 to 12V non-regulated supply may be used.
Connect the white strip lead to the +ve screw terminal on the panel PCB and the Black lead to the –ve. When the
panel is powered up or a program downloaded, button 2 (and 10 on 16 button panel) will
flash for 2 seconds then extinguish. This indicates the panel self test has passed.
All four ports may be used for general R 232 control but when using the Amx atellite panels the Xport must be used
exclusively. In this case the Xport RX must be connected to the satellite panel TX.
DO NOT U E THE XPORT RX CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER DEVICE.
Connect the TX and Gnd of the panel ports to the R 232 RX and Gnd of the Equipment to be controlled.
Ports 1 and 2 can be used for IR or R 232 control. Ports 3 and Xport are used for R 232 control only.
Typical 2000 installation
Input Port
This is used for detecting a High to Low or Low to High state. (eg. For detecting an external switch such as a PIR)
Input tate
Satellite Panels
atellite Panels can be daisy-chained as above. Use screened cable to link to units. The maximum cable length
between panels should not exceed 25m/80ft.
IN Gnd
PIR witch
IR
IR
XPort
Port3
Port2
Port1
RX TX Gnd TX Gnd TX Gnd TX Gnd
VCR
DVD
Amx P2008
PROJECTOR
R
X
GND
R 232
RX
GND
TX
Max. cable length 25m/80ft.
(9600 Baud)
Max. cable length 25m/80ft.
XPort
RX TX Gnd
Master Sat
To Master
RX TX Gnd TX RX Gnd
From lave
Sat
To Master
RX TX Gnd TX RX Gnd
From
atellite
GND
TX
RX

IR Transmitter
The IR transmitter heads are connected as follows:
Program Download
To Download a program to the Panel connect the Programming cable to the Panel Program socket and the erial Port
of the PC.
Programming Cable Pin Connections
Getting tarted
The panels are programmed using the DC software.
The software allows the panel to perform various functions such as R 232/IR control / Button Feedback / Delay Time /
Relay Control / Time Out if a button press is not detected after a certain time period.
Programming tep by tep
Each button is programmed individually it can be made to action on Pressing or Releasing. It can be programmed to
Toggle for up to 4 Presses or it could be assigned to a Bank of buttons having the same function but controlling
different equipment. A cript is written for each button containing events. A script can be written for events to action
when the Panel is powered up by selecting ‘ tart Up’ from the system window.
An Event could be an R 232 command, a button Feedback, a Delay Time etc..
When all the buttons have been programmed the information can be Downloaded to the panel.
tart by running the DC software.
Black to Port GND
Blk\White or ignal wire to Port TX
Transmitter must be place directly in
front of the Device IR window.
Pin 5 (Gnd)
Pin 3 (Tx)
Pin 2 (Rx)
Female D9 Connector
PC erial Port
3 Pin Phoenix
Connector
Gnd
RX
TX

Feedback
A button LED has 3 states. On / Off / Flash. It can be assigned to a group where only one LED of the group may be on
at any one time.
To add Feedback to a Button Script (Example
elect a button to program from the system window.
Click on ‘Add Panel Feedback’. This will open up the Feedback window.
The chosen button LED will be listed as the default although any button LED may be selected.
elect ‘On’ from the Action dropdown list and click on ‘Add to cript’. The Event cript will show Event1 as being the
chosen button Feedback On. Chose another Feedback LED and click on ‘Flash’ add this to the cript. The Event
cript will now show Event2 as being the chosen LED Flash.
Now Test the program by going to the ‘Download’ section.
When the panel has been loaded Press the programmed button. The chosen button for Event1 will illuminate and the
button for Event2 will flash. Try programming other buttons with On / Off / Flash actions.
To ave any programs click on ave from the File menu and give them a title.
On / All Buttons Off
This function will illuminate the chosen Feedback button and turn off any other on the panel.
On / Group Off
This allows you to assign an LED to a group where only one of the group may be illuminated at a time. For instance
Play / top / Pause. An LED may be assigned to up to 8 groups.
To illustrate this, clear the program by selecting ‘New’ from the File menu.
elect Button 1 to program and open the Feedback window. From the Action list select ‘On/ Group Off’. Click on
‘Group1’. Repeat for Buttons 2 to 4.
elect Button 5 to program, open the Feedback window and select On/ Group Off, click on ‘Group2’. Repeat for
buttons 6 to 8.
Download the program to the Panel.
Press Button1, this will illuminate. Now press Button2, this will illuminate and extinguish Button1. Only the pressed
button of 1 to 4 will stay illuminated.
Likewise only the pressed button of 5 to 8 will stay illuminated.

Delay Time
A delay time can be added in between events in a cript. This can be from 0.5 seconds up to 24hours. The delay is
absolute and no other Event or Button press will be acknowledged until the time period has elapsed.
Adding Delay Time to a Script. (Example
elect a Button to program and Add Feedback Button to Flash as Event1.
Click on ‘Add Time Delay’. This opens up the Delay time window. Using the scroll bars you may set a time period. For
this example set the Time period for 5 seconds. Click on ‘Add to cript’. The et delay now appears as Event2.
elect the Feedback button action to On and add to script as Event3.
Download the program and press the programmed Button. This will flash for 5 seconds then stay On.
RS232 Command
The Panel can be programmed to output an R 232 command on a Button action.
A command is contained within a Library.
elect ‘New’ from the File menu to clear the program.
Click on ‘Add R 232 Function’ this will display the R 232 window. The window will tell you
the current library selected. If the Device to control is within another Library then click on ‘Change Library’ and select
the library to display.
To add an R 232 command to an event, first select the device to control from the dropdown menu then the function.
Next select the panel port the device is connected to. Finally select the action. This may be end Once, end No. of
Times or end Continuous. end Once will send the command string one time only. end No. of times allows you to
send a command up to 50 times, selectable from a scroll bar. Also you may set a delay time between strings, again
selectable from a scroll bar. end Continuous will send continuous strings while a button is actioned. A delay time
can be set between strings. This action is useful for Volume Up and Down commands with Amx equipment. etting a
delay time of 150m between strings gives a steady ramp up and down.
When the R 232 parameters have been set click on ‘Add to cript’.
RS232 Libraries
To Add or Edit information to libraries first open the R 232 window then click on ‘View R 232 Library’.
This will display a new page showing the currently selected Library Contents. To view a functions’ Protocol and string
settings, elect the Device from the Dropdown menu and its’ function. All the relevant information will be displayed.
Protocol can be changed by selecting new settings for Baud rate, Data bits and top bits. Command strings can be
edited by changing Byte values. All Byte values are entered in Hex, Ascii or Decimal. elect the type from ‘Code
Format ‘ in the menu bar. When an edit is complete click on ‘ ave Edit’ to store new values. To add a new device to a
Library click on ‘Add New Device’. Enter the Information then ‘ ave’. The screen will then prompt you a to name a
Function. Type the Function name in the box then enter the command string and Protocol. Click ‘ ave Edit’ to store.
A new function can be added to an existing Device by clicking on ‘Add New Function’.
To copy a list of functions from an existing device to a new device first select the device to copy from
then click on ‘Copy Functions’. Type in new device and description then save.
For easy finding of Functions it is recommended that groups of Libraries are made containing common Devices. New
Libraries can be created by clicking on New from the File Menu. ave the Library using a relevant name, such as the
equipment Brand name or Projector etc.. Devices and Functions can be added to the Library as above.

As a confidence check when editing or adding, a function can be tested by directly connecting the PC to the Device
R 232 port or by testing directly through a panel port. elect the PC serial port or panel port you are using from the
dropdown list and press ‘Test’. The Device should then respond to the command sent.
To connect to a Device to the PC a test cable can be made as follows:
PC erial Port (female D9 connector) Pin 3 to Device (RX) / Pin 5 to Device (Gnd)
For testing through panel ports connect the programming cable to the PC and Panel programming port.
Verifying RS232 Commands
To check a command from a Panel Port use the Verify Command screen.
First go to the R 232 Library screen and click on Verify Command from the Menu Bar, this will bring up the Verify
Command screen.
A cable will be required to connect the Panel port to the PC serial port. Connections are as follows:
Port TX to female D9 Pin 2
Port Gnd D9 Pin 5
From the dropdown list select the PC serial port the cable is connected to.
et the Baud rate, Data Bits and top bits to match the command Protocol.
Click on ‘Capture Command’ then press the Panel button to transmit command.
The captured string will appear in the Byte boxes. This should match the string in the Library.
Infra Red Command
The Panel can be programmed to output an Infra Red function on a Button action.
A function is contained within a Library.
elect ‘New’ from the File menu to clear the program.
Click on ‘Add IR Function’ this will display the IR window. The window will tell you the current library selected. If the
Device to control is within another Library then click on ‘Change Library’ and select the library to display. To add an IR
function to an event first select the device to control from the drop down list then the function. elect the port the IR
transmitter is connected to. Finally select the action. This may be end IR Pulse, IR Pulse number or end
Continuous. end IR Pulse will send the IR function 4 times only. IR Pulse No. allows you to send a function up to 120
times, selectable from a scroll bar. end Continuous will send continuous pulses while a button is actioned. This
action is useful for Volume Up and Down and Cursor functions. When hardwiring to a device the carrier may have to
be turned off, refer to Manufacturers instructions, otherwise carrier must be left On.
When the IR parameters have been set click on ‘Add to cript’.

Infra Red Libraries
To view library information first open the IR window then click on ‘View IR Library’.
This will display a new page showing the currently selected Library Contents. To view a functions’ data, elect the
Device from the Dropdown menu and its’ function. All the relevant information will be displayed.
For detailed information on creating Infra Red libraries please refer to the Novara CP1000 series manual
Input Port
Input means that a script can be actioned when a High to Low or Low to High state is detected on the Port. This is
useful for external detection of a switch or PIR.
To write a script for the Input port click on either of the Input buttons in the system window and write a script as
normal. When the programmed Port state is detected the script will action.
If the Panel is ‘busy’ when the state change occurs the script will action when the Panel is ‘free’. To return to the
button list select Press from the Button menu.
Button Action
A button action can be changed by clicking on ‘Button’ from the menu bar. 4 options are available.
Press – script is programmed for a button press. Release – script is programmed when a button is pressed then
released.
Toggle – up to four different scripts can be written for a button. Chose a button to program and select ‘Toggle’ from the
Button menu. Click on ‘Enable’. elect the number of toggle presses required for the button. Program the script as
normal for the first button press. Next select 2
nd
button Press from the dropdown menu. Program the script for the
second press. Continue for each required button press.
When the panel is programmed the button will toggle on each button press then loop to 1st press.
Bank Assign – A button can be assigned to one of three Banks each bank can have up to four functions. This is useful
if you have a common set of buttons for Play/ top/Pause controlling different sets of equipment. In this case three
buttons can be assigned to a Bank. These three buttons could then control four different sets of equipment.
Chose a button to program and elect ‘Bank Assign’ from the Button menu. elect Bank X.
Write a script for X1 Function then X2 etc..
Enable a Bank – This function works alongside the Bank Assign. Enabling a Banks function will
then allow another button or groups of buttons to perform the programmed script written for the Bank Function.
Chose a button and set it to Toggle 4 times. For the 1
st
press Click on ‘Enable a Bank’ and select X2
Add this to the script. 2
nd
Press add X3. 3
rd
Press add X4 and 4
th
Press add X1.
When the panel is programmed the Bank Assigned button will perform the X1 script when it is pressed.
Pressing the Toggle will the enable X2 and the Bank Assigned button will then perform the X2 script etc.. On Panel
power up the default Bank Function is X1, Y1, Z1.
Example of Bank Assign to control a VHS player and DVD using common Play/Stop buttons.
elect Button 1 to program: elect Bank assign from Button menu: Click on BankX.
Using the Add IR Function chose a VH play command and add this to the script.
elect X2 from the dropdown list in the Assign to Bank window.
elect a DVD play command from the Add IR Function and add to script.
elect Button 2 to program. Repeat as above using VH and DVD stop commands.

elect Button 3 to program. Click on Enable a Bank: elect X1 and add to script.
elect Button 4 to program: Click on Enable a Bank: elect X2 and add to script.
Download program to Panel.
When Button 3 is pressed Buttons 1 and 2 will operate Play/ top on the VH .
When Button 4 is pressed Buttons 1 and 2 will operate Play/ top on the DVD.
Advance Toggle
This function will allow a button to skip toggles, for example, a button is programmed to toggle
a Device on and off and the first press turns the Device on. If the Device is also turned off by a Time Out function then
pressing the button a 2
nd
time will have no effect as the Device is already off.
By programming an Advance to Press 1 in the Time Out script the Toggle button will then be set to switch the Device
on again on the next press.
Click on ‘Advance Toggle’ to open the window. elect the Toggle button and click on the Press number to advance to.
Panel Lockout
Adding Panel Lockout to a script will halt an event list at that point. This also means that any button press will be
ignored. To unlock the Panel press buttons 2 and 6 simultaneously.
Copy and Paste
Click on the Copy button and the paste window will open displaying the current button script. The script can be
trimmed using the elect Event controls. elect the button to copy to from the dropdown list and click on Paste. The
copied events will be added to the new button script. The paste window can be used to copy scripts to New and
existing programs."
Time Out
A script can be written to action if a button press is not detected within a set time period, for example switching
equipment off that may have been left running overnight. Three time periods can be set.
From the Program Button dropdown list select ‘Time Out’. et a time for Period1 and then write a script. When the
panel is programmed and a button press is not detected within the time period then the script will action. A 2
nd
period
can be set to occur after the 1
st
period has elapsed. Again if a button press has still not occurred within that time then
the 2
nd
period script will action. A 3
rd
period can be set to occur after the 2
nd
period has elapsed. If a button press is
detected at any time then the internal clock will be reset back to detect for a button press during the 1
st
period.
File Menu
The file menu gives the option to ave and Open program files.
To clear the program for writing new programs click on ‘New’
Clicking on ‘Print cript’ will print out a hard copy of the cript.
Run Mode
There are two modes of operation one being the default Manual run and the second Auto-Run.
Manual Mode – normal programming mode.
Auto-Run – events in a script will start running 5 seconds after switch on. Up to 162 events can be programmed in a
script and can be continually looped.
From the Run Mode menu select ‘Auto-Run’ then ‘Continue’.
Write the script then click on ‘Loop’ if you want the script to continually run.

DownLoad
When a program has been written it can then be downloaded to the Panel.
Connect the Programming cable to the Panel program port and the PC erial port.
Click on ‘Download’ from the Program menu. The programming window will appear.
From the dropdown list select the PC serial port the cable is connected to.
Click on ‘Program’. All the buttons on the Panel will illuminate and the program will download.
When the download has completed the buttons will dim and a message will appear ‘Download Complete'.
If an error occurs check the following:
Cable is correctly connected
The correct serial port number has been selected.
hut down any other programs running on the PC.
If problem persists power down the Panel, hold in buttons 2 and 6 and re-power. Buttons 1 to 8 will illuminate. Release
buttons 2 and 6 and download program.
Downloading an Auto-running panel
To program a panel that is currently Auto-running the panel must be powered down and the program Downloaded
within the first five seconds of power up before the panel starts auto-running again.
Satellite Panels
A system can be expanded by using 4/6/or 8 button satellite panels. The panels can be configured for up to 24
programmable buttons. The satellite panels must be connected to a Master Panel. The panels can be configured to
operate buttons 1 to 8 (ie. Duplicate the Master), 9 to 16 of 17 to 24.
The panel numbering is set by Dip switches on the rear of the Panel. The buttons are programmed by selecting the
required number from the Program Button dropdown list and writing a script as normal.
The 16 button satellite panel can only be connected to the 16 button Master. This duplicates the operation of the
Master Panel.
Relay Unit 8420
Connect the relay unit to Relay ports on the control panel.
Click on ‘Add Relay’, the Relay window will open. First select 8240 from the drop down menu then the relay to control.
Use Relay1 or Relay2 from menu. Next select the relay action type. On will latch the relay on, Off will latch the relay
off. When the parameters have been set click on ‘Add to cript’.
Relay Unit 8200
Connect the relay unit to the panel referring to the IN TALLATION section.
Click on ‘Add Relay’, the Relay window will open. First select 8200 Relay unit and address from the drop down menus
then the relay to control. Next select the relay action type. On will latch the relay on,
Off will latch the relay off. Momentary will hold a relay on for a set period of time from 0.5 seconds up to 1 minute. The
time period is set by a scroll bar. When the parameters have been set click on ‘Add to cript’.

Relay Unit 8210
Connect the relay unit to the panel referring to the IN TALLATION section.
Click on ‘Add Relay’, the Relay window will open. First select the 8210 Relay unit and address from the drop down
menus then the relay to control. Use Relay1/ Relay2/ Power Relay from menu. Next select the relay action type. On
will latch the relay on, Off will latch the relay off. Momentary will hold a relay on for a set period of time from 0.5
seconds up to 1 minute. The time period is set by a scroll bar. When the parameters have been set click on ‘Add to
cript’.
Panel Control using External R 232 Commands
It is possible to have any Master panel respond to external R 232 commands. Two commands need to be sent to
activate a button script. The First command activates the button script. When the Panel has completed the script it will
return the cript Finished code. The econd command will acknowledge that it has received the Panel Finished code.
If the system is being used without any feedback then a delay must be added between the first and second
command until the Panel has completed the script. The Panel will be disabled until it receives the second
command.
CONNECTION
With Feedback
Without Feedback
COMMAND 1 Button
Activated
Delay until
cript finished COMMAND 2
Panel
RX
X-Port TX
Or Gnd
FROM
LAVE
TX
External
RX ontroller
Gnd
feedback
COMMAND 1 Button
Activated
Acknowledge
EC(h) ent
cript
Performed
cript Finished
F0 17 20 ent COMMAND 2

Master Panel
Master Panel Xport External R 232 controller
RX TX
TX RX (Only connect if feedback required)
GND GND
atellite Panels
atellite Panel (To atellite Port) External R 232 controller
RX TX
TX RX (Only connect if feedback required)
GND GND
PROTOCOL
Baud Rate – 9600
Data Bits – 8
top Bits – 1
No Parity
COMMAND
Button No. 1
st
Command 2
nd
Command
1 F2h 09h 81h 10h 01h F2h 09h 81h 01h
2 F2h 09h 81h 11h 02h F2h 09h 81h 02h
3 F2h 09h 81h 12h 03h F2h 09h 81h 03h
4 F2h 09h 81h 13h 04h F2h 09h 81h 04h
5 F2h 09h 81h 14h 05h F2h 09h 81h 05h
6 F2h 09h 81h 15h 06h F2h 09h 81h 06h
7 F2h 09h 81h 16h 07h F2h 09h 81h 07h
8 F2h 09h 81h 17h 08h F2h 09h 81h 08h
9 F2h 09h 81h 20h 09h F2h 09h 81h 09h
10 F2h 09h 81h 21h 0Ah F2h 09h 81h 0Ah
11 F2h 09h 81h 22h 0Bh F2h 09h 81h 0Bh
12 F2h 09h 81h 23h 0Ch F2h 09h 81h 0Ch
13 F2h 09h 81h 24h 0Dh F2h 09h 81h 0Dh
14 F2h 09h 81h 25h 0Eh F2h 09h 81h 0Eh
15 F2h 09h 81h 26h 0Fh F2h 09h 81h 0Fh
16 F2h 09h 81h 27h 10h F2h 09h 81h 10h
17 F2h 09h 81h 40h 11h F2h 09h 81h 11h
18 F2h 09h 81h 41h 12h F2h 09h 81h 12h
19 F2h 09h 81h 42h 13h F2h 09h 81h 13h
20 F2h 09h 81h 43h 14h F2h 09h 81h 14h
21 F2h 09h 81h 44h 15h F2h 09h 81h 15h
22 F2h 09h 81h 45h 16h F2h 09h 81h 16h
23 F2h 09h 81h 46h 17h F2h 09h 81h 17h
24 F2h 09h 81h 47h 18h F2h 09h 81h 18h

FEEDBACK
Ensure the Panel TX connection is made to the RX of the R 232 controller.
When a Master Panel receives the First command it will return an Acknowledge code: ECh.
It will then perform the programmed Button script. When it has completed the last event
of the script it will return a script Finished code: F0h 17h 20h.
The Panel will wait until it receives the second command.
If the system is being used without any feedback then a delay must be added between the first and second
command until the Panel has completed the script. The Panel will be disabled until it receives the second
command.