Artistic Licence Rail-Contact User manual

Artistic Licence
Rail-Contact User Guide
Rail-Contact
Version 1-1
User Guide

Page 2
Rail-Contact User Guide
Please read these instructions before using the product.
This product has been designed & manufactured for professional use only.
It should only be installed by a suitably qualied technician and in accordance with
electrical regulations in the country of use.
Unless directed in the instructions there are no user serviceable parts inside the
outer case of this product.
Always disconnect from the power supply when not in use.
Any specic IP rating, where appropriate, is given in the instructions. Unless
otherwise stated this product is designed for indoor use only. If used outdoors it
MUST be installed in an appropriate IP rated cabinet. Do not allow this product to be
exposed to rain or moisture. Do not allow liquid to penetrate the product.
Please recycle all packaging.
Copyright © Artistic Licence Engineering Ltd. All rights reserved.
Download the user guide by scanning the following QR code:

Page 3
Rail-Contact User Guide
Reference Type Description
1Connection DMX512 Input
2Connection DMX512 Loop**
3Connection DMX512 Output
4Connection Power Input
5Connection Voltage Output
6 Connection Opto Inputs
7LED Power / Data
indicators
Connections
1
6
6
6
6
3
6
2 6
5
66
4
7
Power
Data In
DMX512 In
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Rail-Contact
DMX Trigger with 8 Opto-Isolated Inputs
Disconnect power before attaching cables.
Power: 9-24VDC Input. 10W Max. Duty Cycle 80%.
Opto Inputs: Max voltage set by internal resistors. See manual for details.
DMX Input: Channels will be concatenated with output.
Max Wire Size: 2.5mm2
Remove terminal guard to view indicators.
Connect DAT+ to TERM
at end of DMX line.
Out 6
Power
GND
GND
9-24V
DMX512 In
COM DAT- DAT+
DMX512 Loop
COM
DAT- DAT+ Term
DMX512 In Out 6DMX512 In
Opto 7
Con-
Con+
Opto 1
Con+
Con-
Artistic Licence
DMX512 In
DMX512 Out
COM DAT- DAT+
Opto 2
Con+
Con-
Opto 3
Con+
Con-
Opto 4
Con+
Con-
Opto 5
Con+
Con-
Opto 6
Con+
Con-
Out 6
Opto 8
Con-
Con+
Data Out
Voltage Out
Mounting Diagram
** A passive loop-through connection allows
onward connection to other DMX512 devices. If
this feature is not required then the signal must
be terminated. The product contains an internal
termination resistor. This is enabled by tting a
wire link between Term and DAT+.

Rail-Contact User Guide Page 4
DMX512 Wiring
XLR Pin
(Convention)
Function Colour
1Ground Black
2Data - Blue
3Data + Red
Internal Earth and Isolation
Circuit Description
DMX512 Input
(including Loop through)
Type: Non-isolated
Pin 1: Connects to Internal Logic
Ground
DMX512 Output Ground referenced
Contact Closures Opto-Isolated
Internal Logic Ground Connects to Ground Power Input
Overview
Rail-Contact is a DIN-rail mounted device that provides 8 contact closure inputs whose state
can be translated into a DMX512 value. This enables a DMX512 controller to be triggered by
switches such as pressure mats. Rail-Contact provides a useful solution for architectural or
entertainment applications that require interactive lighting systems.
If more than 8 channels are required then two Rail-Contacts can be linked together to form a
16-channel device.
The product is powered via an external DC power supply unit.

Rail-Contact User Guide Page 5
Connections
Contact Closures
Please refer to the connections diagram.
The contact closures are attached via eight
2-pin screw terminals.
DMX512 Output
The DMX512 output is attached via a 3-pin
screw terminal.
DMX512 Input & Loop-Through
If two Rail-Contact units are connected
together to provide 16 channels of triggering,
the DMX output from the rst unit should be
connected to the DMX input of the second
unit.
A passive loop-through connection allows
onward connection to other DMX512 devices.
If this feature is not required then the signal
must be terminated. The product contains an
internal termination resistor. This is enabled by
tting a wire link between the screw terminals
that will terminate the DMX line (Term and
DAT+).
Voltage Output
The single-pin screw terminal voltage output
allows easy connection. The voltage output
pin will be the same voltage as the power
input. It is current limited to 250 mA by an
electronic auto-resetting fuse.
It can be used as the positive supply to the
opto-isolator inputs if the isolation feature is
not required.
Rail- Contact monitors the state of the 8 contact
closures and translates this into a value on
DMX channels 1 to 8. When a contact closure
is active the corresponding value is DMX is
255.
If two Rail-Contact units are linked in series,
the rst 8 channels are re-patched to channels
9 to 16.
It is expected that in normal usage, the
opto-isolated inputs will be used to provide
protection from electrical noise arising from
long cable distances to powered equipment
(see Figure 1 in ‘Wiring Diagrams’).
However, Rail-Contact also provides a voltage
output which can be used when connecting to
local volt-free items - such as switches (see
Figure 2 in ‘Wiring Diagrams’ and ‘Voltage
Output’ in the ‘Connections’ section).
Summary of Key Features
y8 opto-isolated contact closures
y8-channels of DMX512 triggering
yUnits can be linked to provide 16 trigger
channels
yInputs are fully opto-isolated
yVoltage output for easy connection
yLED indication for data in/out & power
yDIN-rail or surface mount
Operation
The 8 contact closure inputs each have 2
terminals labelled Con+ and Con-. Internally,
these connect to the LED of an opto-isolator
via a current limit resistor.
The current limit resistor is set to limit current
to the range 10 - 17 mA over a range of input
voltages of 9 - 24 VDC.
When the voltage is applied, current ows
through the opto-isolator and a full (255) DMX
level is transmitted on the associated DMX
output channel.
Power
Rail- Contact is be powered from an ex ternal DC
power supply (9-24 VDC). It is recommended
that a ferrite core be tted onto the DC power
lines as close as possible to the Rail-Contact.
This protects the unit from any electrical spikes
that appear on the DC line.
LED Indication
Rail-Contact has LED indicators under the
terminal guard for data in (green), data out
(yellow) and power (red).

Page 6
Rail-Contact User Guide
The diagram below shows how Rail-Contact could be utilised in a typical application. In this
example, two Rail-Contact units are linked together to provide 16 trigger channels for a DMX
controller. The rst 8 channels are re-patched to channels 9 -16.
The example shows the wiring
when Rail-Contact is used in
isolated mode.
The example shows the wiring
when Rail-Contact is used in non-
isolated mode.
Application Diagram
Wiring Diagrams
Rail-Contact
Rail-Contact Te rminated
DMX controller
DMX
DMX
PSU
DMX
Switch Panels
CHANNELS 1 - 8
CHANNELS 1 - 8
CHANNELS 9 - 16
DMX
OUT
DMX IN
DMX
OUT
CON+
CON-
VOUT
9VDC
GND
PLUS
MINUS
External
powered
contacts
Rail-Contact
MINUS
PLUS
Mains
PSU
250mA
CON+
CON-
VOUT
9VDC
GNDMINUS
PLUS
External
volt-free
contacts
Rail-Contact
Mains
PSU
Figure 1
Figure 2

Page 7
Rail-Contact User Guide
Rail-Contact Specication
Mechanical
yHousing: DIN Rail Case
yMaterial: Lexan plastic, UL94-V0 rated
yOverall dimensions: 90 mm (H) x 88 mm
(W) x 58 mm (D)
yWeight: 0.2 kg
yMounting: 35 mm DIN Rail or Surface
Mount
yCountry of manufacture: UK
Environmental
yOperating temperature: 0°C to 40°C
yStorage temperature: -10°C to +50°C
yOperating relative humidity (max): 80%
non-condensing
yIP rating: IP20 indoor use only
yCertication: CE, WEEE, RoHS
yWarranty: 2-year (return to base)
Power & Electrical
yInput voltage: 9-24 VDC
yI n p u t c o n n e c t o r : 3 - p i n s c r e w t e r m i n a l
(1 no.)
yOutput connector: 1-pin screw terminal
(1 no.) (current limited to 250 mA)
yInput power (max): 10 W
yDuty cycle: 80% @ 25°C
yDC fuse: internal resettable fuse for
control electronics
DMX512 input/output
yProtocols: DMX512, DMX512(1990),
DMX512-A
yInput mode: non-isolated
yInput ESD protection: 12 kV
yInput voltage protection: +/- 80 V
yOutput mode: ground referenced
yOutput ESD protection: 2 kV
Contact closures
yType: 8 x opto-isolated contacts
yConnectors: 2-pin screw terminals (8 no.)
yInput isolation: 1 kV
Data Connection
y3-pin Screw Terminal DMX Input (1 no.)
y4-pin Screw Terminal DMX Loop / Term
(1 no.)
y3-pin Screw Terminal DMX Output (1 no.)
LED Indication
yPower / DMX in / DMX out
Package Contents
yRail-Contact
yUser guide
Ordering Info
yProduct code: Rail-Contact
Accessories (not included)
yPSU-9-1.5-FER

Warranty
All products are covered from date of purchase
by a two-year return to base warranty.
By return to base, we mean that the customer
is responsible for all costs of transport to and
from Artistic Licence.
Returns will not be accepted without prior
authorisation. In order to discuss a request to
return goods, please email:
[e-mail]
CE Compliance
Rail-Contact is CE compliant when installed
in a shielded and earthed metal case
Compliance
All Products manufactured or sold by Artistic
Licence Engineering Ltd are fully compliant
with the appropriate CE, FCC, and RoHS
regulations. Product specic information is
available on request.
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment
(WEEE)
Artistic Licence is a member of a WEEE
compliance scheme and will happily recycle
any of our products that you, at your expense,
return to us.
Due to our policy of continuing product improvement
specications are subject to change without notice
Artistic Licence
The Mould Making Workshop
Soby Mews
Bovey Tracey
TQ13 9JG
United Kingdom
Telephone [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.ArtisticLicence.com
[e-mail]