S12 INSTALLATION & PROGRAMMING TECHNICAL TIPS (continued)
8. When working with RS232 serial commands and the S12, you will notice that the serial library/code set is comprised of Zone
flags and serial commands. When you want the S12 to perform a serial command, you must first issue the Zone # serial com
mand, and then issue the actual serial command to be performed. Example #1: S12 key [ZONE 01], S12 key [SOURCE 2].
Example #2: S12 Key [ZONE 08], S12 Key [MUTE TOG]. Note that the Zone command must be issued each time.
9. a) The S12's two IR “ALL” ports are chassis-specific, meaning that IR commands issued from Zones 1-8 will only come out of
S12 #1's “ALL” ports and not the “ALL” ports of other S12's in a multi-chassis system. In applications where a device that is
connected to the “ALL” port needs to be IR controlled by Zones 1-8 and 9-16, for example, an ELAN dual-plug IR emitter or an IR
connection block would be needed to sum the outputs of multiple “ALL” ports.
b) It is not necessary to do (a) above with ELAN VIA!djs or DTNRs. The S12 has an IR mapping feature that allows you to route
IR from one source input to another IR output. For example: if a VIA!dj is connected to audio source inputs 1, 2, 3 & 4, you can
re-map sources 2, 3, & 4 so that their IR commands are all issued from IR output port 1. Because the S12's source-specific IR
output ports are NOT chassis-specific, all zones would be able to control the VIA!dj. This also leaves IR output ports 2, 3, & 4 free
for use with another device.
10. When downloading to keypads in a S12 system, it is important that each keypad have the correct Zone ID. When downloading
from VIA!TOOLS, make sure that your are downloading the keypad program that was meant for the keypad in that specific zone.
Example: Zone 2's keypad must be downloaded from the Zone 2 position/keypad in VIA!TOOLS software. The dipswitch setting for
every keypad in an S12 system is UP, UP, UP, DOWN.
11. In a multi-S12 system, all chassis will display Zones 1-8 upon initial power up even if the chassis ID dip switches have been set
for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chassis. Only when the S12s are downloaded to from VIA!TOOLS, or when Factory Defaulted after the
chassis ID dip switches have been set, will the S12s display the zones that reflect their chassis ID settings.
Note: Factory Default erases all programming. Only use the Factory Default prior to programming, or if erasing the current
program is not a concern.
12. The IR output port on the Local Source Wall Plate (LSWP) emits system IR commands only. This means that if you have the same
model CD player as a whole-house system source and a local source, you would be sending IR commands that both sources
would respond to any time you tried to control either source. There are two ways around this:
a. Make sure that you are not using same make/model sources as Local Sources
b. In zones with VIA! Touch Panels, use the following wiring connections for IR instead of those published
in the S12 and LSWP manuals: connect LSWP IR+ and IR- to the VIA! Local Port IR & GND pins. In this way,
local VIA IR commands can be sent exclusively to the local source. Unfortunately, there is no wiring
'work-around' for zones with just keypads in them.
13. In RS-232-controlled multi-chassis S12 systems, where both Composite and Component video distribution are being used, we
recommend that you use S12 chassis #1 for up to 16 x 16 Composite video switching (which can be AutoBuilt in VIA!TOOLS), and
S12 chassis #2 for up to 5x5 Component video switching. The RS-232 programming of Component video switching for chassis #2
can not be AutoBuilt, as there are chassis-specific commands in the RS-232 code set that will need to be entered. An S12
Application Note detailing this advanced application will be published shortly.
14. When connecting more than one S12 chassis using multiple PS12 Precision Panels and a VIA!NET device such as the SC4 System
Controller, place the SS/SC4-NO SS/SC4 Dipswitch in the UPPER position on all PS12 panels. Connect the VIA!NET device to
PS12 #1. The PS12 Installation Manual p. 16 describes this incorrectly.
15. If the first note of the door chime is not heard, it is probable that the PG/DB trigger is not wired correctly. The S12 has audio
sensing, so when the first door chime note is heard, it then triggers the S12 to allow door chime audio. The S12 should instantly
react to the signal sent by the PG/DB trigger and allow the entire door chime to be heard instead of reacting to the door chime
audio (which only allows some of the door chime through).
S12 Technical Tips, Rev. 2/3/05
