Daktronics FLR 1500 User manual

Quick Guide: Digit Display Installation with FLR 1500 Control Kit
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Note: This guide begins after the displays have been physically mounted.
General Radio Setup
1. Choose a location for installation with a clear-line-
of-sight between the radios, with no obstructions or
interference. Refer to Figure 1.
2. Set the same channel inside both radios. Refer to the
radio manual for additional information.
Server Radio Installation
1. Mount the J-box/signal converter near a 120 VAC
outlet.
2. Mount the server radio on the outside of the
building within line of sight of the client radio.
3. Connect power/signal cables as follows. The letter
for each step is noted in Figure 2. Grease each signal
jack with electrical contact grease before making the
following signal connections.
a. At the J-box, connect the 6-conductor, 18 AWG
stranded cable at the terminal plug labeled “RS-
422 to Radio.”
b. Run the cable from the J-box through conduit to
the server radio. The maximum distance from
the J-box to the server radio is 1,000 feet (450
meters).
c. At the server radio, connect the wires to the
terminal plug labeled “TB2 (RS-422 IN)” as
shown in Figure 2. The cable is pinned one-to-
one. Refer to the table below.
J-Box Wire Server Radio
Power Green Power
422 RX-P Blue TX-P
422 RX-N White TX-N
422 TX-P Brown RX-P
422 TX-N Black RX-N
Ground Red Ground
Figure 1: Clear Line-of-sight
Figure 2: Server Radio Connections
Figure 3: Client Radio Connections
PO Box 5128 201 Daktronics Dr Brookings SD 57006-5128
tel [phone] or 800-325-8766 fax [phone]
www.daktronics.com
DD1399086 Rev 2
12 April 2010

Quick Guide: Digit Display Installation with FLR 1500 Control Kit
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Figure 4: Driver Connections
Figure 5: Signal Routing by Display
d. Plug the hand-held controller serial cable into the
J-box at the jack labeled “DB9 Male DataMaster
100 Connect.”
e. Plug the other end of this cable into the hand-
held controller.
f. Plug the J-box power adaptor into a 120 VAC
grounded outlet.
Client Radio Installation
1. Turn off power to the display during the installation
of the radio.
2. Mount the client radio at or within 25 feet (8 meters)
of the display.
3. Connect signal cables as follows. The letter for each
step is noted in Figure 3.
a. Attach the 6-foot (2 meter) provided cable to the
driver at J12.
b. Attach the mating jack end to the display cabinet.
For drop-in displays or for those that are
shrouded, the cable may be routed through a
conduit knockout in the display to the side of the
structure or shrouding. Use fittings to protect the
cable from rough edges.
c. Connect the quick-connect cable from the client
radio to the mating jack at the display. The quick
connect cable is pre-terminated in the client radio.
4. Secure loose cable to protect it from weather or
vandalism.
Signal Connection between Displays
1. Remove the signal knockouts on the backs of each
display. Insert conduit fittings over the rough edges.
Starting with the driver that is connected to the client
radio (the host display), plug the RJ cable into the
output jack J11. Refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5.
PO Box 5128 201 Daktronics Dr Brookings SD 57006-5128
tel [phone] or 800-325-8766 fax [phone]
www.daktronics.com
DD1399086 Rev 2
12 April 2010

Quick Guide: Digit Display Installation with FLR 1500 Control Kit
3 of 5
2. Plug the other end of this cable into the Input jack (J13) on
the next display driver. Continue with this pattern, going
from the output of one driver to the input of the driver in
the next display. Refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 for signal
routing overviews.
Figure 6: Signal Routing
Figure 7: Rotary Switches
Figure 8: Power Installation
Note: Three displays are shown per face, but the hand-held
controller can control up to five displays per face.
3. After plugging in the RJ cable(s) on a driver, set the display
line and face numbers using the rotary switches. Refer to
Figure 7.
4. Each installation consists of a number of faces with multiple
displays installed in each face. The line and face number for
each display is set using the rotary switches. Refer to Figure
7. Displays with the same line number will display the same
price.
Power Installation
1. Open each display and locate the power harness (pigtail)
inside.
2. Open one of the knockouts to be used for power connection.
Place a fitting in the knockout opening to cover sharp edges.
3. Route the end of the power harness out the knockout, as
shown in Figure 8.
4. Connect the wires from each display to the main power
cable according to local and national electrical codes.
5. Each display system must be connected to an earth-ground
electrode with a resistance to ground of 10 ohms or less.
6. Terminate power to a dedicated 120 VAC circuit. Consult
the display specifications in the display manual to ensure
that this circuit is adequate for the specific displays.
Note: This circuit must not be linked to the building’s energy
management system.
7. Turn power on and watch for boot-up sequence. After boot-
up, each display should show “E4,” noting that the display
has power but no message is currently stored on the driver.
PO Box 5128 201 Daktronics Dr Brookings SD 57006-5128
tel [phone] or 800-325-8766 fax [phone]
www.daktronics.com
DD1399086 Rev 2
12 April 2010

Quick Guide: Digit Display Installation with FLR 1500 Control Kit
4 of 5
PO Box 5128 201 Daktronics Dr Brookings SD 57006-5128
tel [phone] or 800-325-8766 fax [phone]
www.daktronics.com
DD1399086 Rev 2
12 April 2010
Hand-Held Controller Use
After power and signal installation, set up the hand-held controller by using the following steps.
Hand-Held Controller Setup
Note: These steps only need to be performed the first time the controller is powered up.
LCD Screen Action
CURRENT FUNCTION
GAS PRICE
•For Indoor Installations Only: Plug the wall pack transformer into a
120 V AC power outlet and connect it to the hand-held controller.
•This display appears briefly.
CHANGE FUNCTION?
PRESS SET FUNCT
•This message appears next on the screen.
•If “GAS PRICE” was shown on the bottom line of the LCD during
startup, do nothing. The controller will automatically default to previous
Gas Price settings.
•If a function other than “GAS PRICE” was shown on the bottom line of
the LCD during startup, press the [Set Function] key while the second
LCD prompt is displayed.
SELECT FUNCTION
GAS PRICE ↓↑
•Press the arrow up or down keys<↑↓> until the gas price option is
shown. Press the [Enter] key to accept.
To set petroleum prices, follow these steps:
LCD Screen Action
LINE PRICE
1 ↓$1.23 9/10
<EDIT> TO MODIFY
1 ↓$1.23 9/10
•The display will toggle between these two screens.
•Press the up or down arrow keys <↑↓> to scroll through the current
setting for any of the lines on the display.
•Press the [Enter/Edit] key to modify any of the line settings.
•Press any of the number keys to edit the price value for this line.
•Press [Enter] to accept the new value or press [Clear] to abort the
changes.
•Press [Update Display] to send the values to the display.

Quick Guide: Digit Display Installation with FLR 1500 Control Kit
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Multi-Client Radio Installations
If you would like additional client radios, note the following conditions:
•Each client radio must be in direct line-of-site with the server radio.
•Each client radio must have the J2 jumper in the closed position.
•All radios must be set to the same address.
•The signal strength on the server will not be available in multi-client mode because the strength will be
different for each client radio.
For additional information on using the hand-held controller, refer to the display manual.
Outdoor J-box Installation
1. Choose a location for the j-box on the support pole that is
easily accessible for plugging in the hand-held controller.
Figure 9: Outdoor J-Box Installation
2. Securely attach the j-box to the chosen location. Mounting tabs
may be attached to the back with provided screws, if that
attachment method will be used.
3. Choose wether to run the RJ14 cable out the top, back, or
bottom of the j-box. Insert a ¾” conduit fitting in the chosen
knockout.
Note: Signal and power need to be routed to the sign in
separate conduit.
4. Remove the faceplate assembly by taking out the two screws.
Plug the RJ14 cable into the jack behind the faceplaten (Figure
9, A).
5. Replace the faceplate assembly in the j-box by reinstalling the
two screws.
6. Run the RJ14 cable through conduit or the sign pole and into
the host display driver. Plug the end of the RJ14 cable into the
driver’s Signal IN jack (J13) (Figure 9, B). Grease the signal
jack (J13) with electrical contact grease before making the
signal connection.
PO Box 5128 201 Daktronics Dr Brookings SD 57006-5128
tel [phone] or 800-325-8766 fax [phone]
www.daktronics.com
DD1399086 Rev 2
12 April 2010