Elan V8 User manual



ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page I
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Preface
Purpose of This Manual
This manual provides step-by-step installation instructions and connection examples, along with basic user
information for installation and ongoing use of the V8 Composite Video Controller. This manual is written for
the installer of this equipment.
Organization
The following information is contained in this manual:
Safety Information Provides a comprehensive list of safety practices and procedures allowing for
the safe installation and operation of ELAN Home Systems’ V8 Composite Video
Controller.
V8 Introduction Provides an introduction to the V8 Composite Video Controller, along with system
features to include Front and Rear panel controls, indicators and connections, along
with a short description of each.
V8 System Design
Overview
Provides a system design application overview of the V8 Composite Video Controller
for use in video applications.
V8 Connections Provides a description of V8 Composite Video Controller connections including
connections made with ELAN Multi-Room Systems and direct connections with
the V8 Composite Video Controller from other components.
Troubleshooting Provides troubleshooting tables to help fix common discrepancies that may
be associated with the V8 Composite Video Controller.
Specifications Appendix A provides equipment specifications for the V8 Composite Video Controller.
Rack Mounting Appendix B provides specifications for Rack Mounting of the V8 Composite Video
Controller using the included rack mount brackets.
RS-232 Protocol Appendix C contains all information necessary to create RS-232 command
structures when controlling the V8 Composite Video Controller with a third-party
RS-232 control device.
Digital Audio Appendix D provides a system design application overview of the V8 Composite
Video Controller for use in Digital Audio switching applications.

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page II © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN!
WARNING
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instruction in the literature accompanying
the appliance.
CAUTION
CAUTION: RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN
INCORRECT TYPE. DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO
THE INSTRUCTIONS.
Read Information—All the safety and operating information should be read before the appliance is operated.
Follow Information—All operating and use information should be followed.
Retain Information—The safety and operating information should be retained for future reference.
Heed Warnings—All warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions should be heeded.
Wall Mounting—Mounting of this appliance should be done only by an authorized installer.
Ventilation—The appliances should be situated so that their location or position does not interfere with their proper ventilation.
—These appliances should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat register.
—These appliances should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the flow of air through the
ventilation openings.
Non-Use Periods—Appliances that are left unattended and unused for long periods of time should be de-energized.
Power Sources—The appliances should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as
marked on each appliance. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your authorized ELAN dealer or local power
company.
Grounding or Polarization—Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two
blades with one blade wider than the other blade. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The polarized wide blade
and the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete
outlet.
Water and Moisture—To reduce the risk of electric shock or fire, these appliances should not be used near water ––for example, near a
bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool.
Power Cord Protection—Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and
the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Telephones—Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless type) during an electrical storm. There may be a remote risk of electrical shock
from lightning. Do not use a telephone to report a gas leak if the leak is in the vicinity of the ELAN electronic equipment because of risk of fire or
explosion.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page III
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Cleaning—Unplug the apparatus from the power outlet before cleaning. Use only a dry cloth to clean the apparatus.
Power Lines—An outdoor antenna should be located away from power lines. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care
should be taken to avoid touching power lines or circuits, as contact with them may be fatal.
Outdoor Antenna Grounding—If an outside antenna or cable system
is connected to these audio products, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded
so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charg-
es. Section 810 of the U.S. National Electrical Code, and Section 54 of the
Canadian Electrical Code, provide information with respect to proper grounding of
the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an antenna
discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit,
connection to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.
See the grounding diagram (right).
Overloading—Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords, as this could
result in fire or electric shock.
Object and Liquid Entry—Never insert objects of any kind through the
openings of these appliances, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or
short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Care should be taken so that
objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the appliance through openings in the enclosure.
Servicing—Do not attempt to service these appliances yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or
other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Damage Requiring Service—These appliances should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
• A power supply connection or a plug has been damaged or
• If liquid has been spilled into the appliance or objects have fallen into the appliance or
• The appliance has been exposed to water or moisture or
• The appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance or
• The appliance has been dropped or the enclosure damaged.
Replacement Parts—When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by
the manufacturer or that have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other
hazards. The Master Control Unit battery should be replaced only after turning the power off and only by an authorized installer.
Safety Check—Upon completion of any service or repairs to this audio product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to
determine that the audio product is in proper operating condition.
Lightning Storms—Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Attachments and Accessories—Use only attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Cart, Stand, Tripod, Bracket or Table—Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer, or
sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip over.
Disconnect Device—Where the mains plug or an appliance coupler is used as the disconnect device, the disconnect device shall remain
operable.
®
U S
C
ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT
GROUND
CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(CEC SECTION 10-700)
(NEC ARTICLE 250, PART H)
ANTENNA
LEAD-IN WIRE
GROUND CLAMPS
GROUNDING CONDUCTORS
(CEC SECTION 54-200)
ANTENNA LEAD-IN WIRE
(CEC SECTION 54-200)
NEC - NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
(NEC SECTION 810-20)
(NEC SECTION 810-21)
CEC - CANADIAN ELECTRICAL CODE
Grounding
Diagram

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page IV © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page V
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Table of Contents
Purpose of This Manual ....................................................................................................................... I
Organization ........................................................................................................................................... I
Safety Information ............................................................................................................................... II
Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1
V8 Features ............................................................................................................................................ 1
V8 Functions & Indicators................................................................................................................... 2
Front Panel .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Rear Panel ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Chapter 2: V8 System Design Overview
System Design ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Pre-Wire .............................................................................................................................................. 5
Applications .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Stand-Alone Applications .................................................................................................................... 5
Stand-Alone Basic ............................................................................................................................... 5
Stand-Alone Advanced ......................................................................................................................... 6
S66A Application ................................................................................................................................. 7
S86A Application ................................................................................................................................. 8
S128P Application ............................................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 3: V8 Connections
Connectivity ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Composite IN/OUT ............................................................................................................................ 11
IR Input (Rear) .................................................................................................................................. 11
IR Output (Rear) ............................................................................................................................... 12
RS-232 ............................................................................................................................................ 12
Multiple Chassis ................................................................................................................................. 14
Loop Outputs ................................................................................................................................... 14
RS-232 ............................................................................................................................................ 15
VIANET ........................................................................................................................................... 15
Chapter 4: Operations and Settings
DIP Settings ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Unit I.D. Settings ............................................................................................................................... 16
Front Panel Display ............................................................................................................................ 17
BAUD Rate Settings .......................................................................................................................... 17
IR Power Settings ............................................................................................................................. 18
Chapter 5: Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................. 19
Appendix A: Specifications ............................................................................................................... 22
Appendix B: Rack Mounting ............................................................................................................ 23
Appendix C: Programming ............................................................................................................... 24
Appendix D: Digital Audio ................................................................................................................ 28
Warranty ................................................................................................................................ Back Page

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page VI © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Items in package:
• V8CompositeVideoController
• RackMountBrackets
• PowerCord
• InstallationManual

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page 1
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Chapter 1: Introduction
The ELAN V8 Composite Video Controller is designed to provide a reliable, affordable solution for multi-room sys-
tems requiring up to eight composite video signals to any of eight outputs and can be expanded to send composite
video signals to thirty two locations.
The ELAN Story
Located in Lexington, KY, USA, ELAN Home Systems has designed innovative multi-room audio/video systems since
1989. ELAN was the first to integrate music, intercom and tv distribution features that used the homeowner's ste-
reos, telephones, and televisions to create the whole-house entertainment experience. These systems allow people
to move freely from room to room, controlling centrally located equipment with ease.
With a current catalog of over 600 items and having been honored with many prestigous industry awards, ELAN is
considered by many to be the leader in whole-house distributed audio/video systems.
V8 Features
• 8 X 8 Composite Video Controller
• Expandable to 8 X 32
• RS-232 Controllable
• IR Controllable
• VIANET Controllable
• Rear VIANET IN/OUT Ports
• Rear IR IN/IR OUT Ports
• Rear RS-232 Input and Output Ports
• Buffered Loop Outputs for Sharing Sources
Available in 240 Volt Version
cTUVus Certified, CE®, and C-tick
Safety Concerns
Use only grounded outlets when powering this product. Making any modification to the power cord could cause
unsafe operation and will void the manufacturer’s warranty.
ELAN Precision Panels save
time and make sense out
of complex wiring jobs!

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page 2 © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
V8 Functions and Indicators
12 3 4
Figure 1-1: V8 Front Panel
Table 1-1:Front Panel
Item Function
1
VIDEO OUTPUT LED - Displays Blue (1-8) Numeric Indication
2
VIDEO INPUT LED - Displays Blue (1-8) Numeric Indication
3
IR INDICATOR LED - Glows Green When Any IR signal is received
4
POWER LED - Glows Blue When Power Switch is ON and Unit Plugged In

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page 3
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
V8 Rear
1
12
2
11 10
3 4
9 8
5
7
6
Figure 1-2: V8 Rear Panel
Table 1-2: Rear Panel
Item Function
1
POWER SWITCH
2
IR IN 3.5mm jack
3
RS232 IN DB9 jack
4
VIANET IN RJ45 jack
5
RCA Video INPUTS (8)
6
RCA Video OUTPUTS (8)
7
RCA Video LOOP OUTPUTS (8)
8
DIP Switches (UNIT ID, BAUD Rate, IR Power)
9
VIANET OUT RJ45 jack
10
RS232 OUT DB9 jack
11
IR OUT 3.5mm mono jack
12
Power Cord Connector/FUSE (REPLACE WITH 200 mA FUSE)

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page 4 © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Chapter 2. System Design & Applications
System Design
The first step to a good design is to map the system. It is advisable to mark up a copy of the house floor plan with
speaker, keypad, touch panel, volume control, and equipment locations etc. Make sure that all locations are decided
upon before pre-wiring commences so that all necessary wiring and installation hardware is in place. This unit will
be interfacing with other components such as multi-room controllers, source components, communications control-
lers, serial controllers, and user interfaces, so it is essential that ALL system components are accounted for prior to
the pre-wire stage.
Secondly, make a detailed list of all components. Include source equipment, keypads, touch panels, volume con-
trols, amplifiers, and communications gear. Be sure to include necessary electrical boxes, structured wiring enclo-
sures, telephone lines, rough-in brackets, patch cords, power supplies, etc.
S86A
V8
ELAN
Touch
Panels
Figure 2-1: System Design
ELAN Precision Panels save
time and make sense out
of complex wiring jobs!
+
--
VIA!NET
16VDC/ 10A
16VDC/ 4A
16VDC/1.5A
1
ZONE
2
ZONE
3
ZONE
4
ZONE
SS/SC4
5
ZONE
6
ZONE
7
ZONE
8
ZONE
TOSENSE INPUTSEXTIR
1 2 3
USESTEREO 3.5mm PLUGS ONLY
456
1
TRIGGERS
2 3 4
5678
POWER
®

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page 5
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Pre-Wire
WIRING CONSIDERATIONS
Item Description
Video RCA Video Patch Cables
RS232 DB9 Cables
IR 2 Conductor Wire w/ 3.5mm mono connector
VIANET CAT5 RJ45 to RJ45 wired to ELAN Standard Pinout
This section describes typical applications using the V8 in video distribution installations. These are all basic
in nature and should be used for guideline purposes only. Each application can be augmented as needed for
individual circumstances. This section is for overall design purposes. Please see Chapter 3: V8 Connections for
specific wiring configurations.
Stand-Alone Systems
Basic Stand-Alone System
The diagram below shows a basic stand-alone system that utilizes the V8 to switch composite video sources to tele-
visions located throughout the home. A stand-alone system is one in which an ELAN multi-room preamp controller is
not used.
V
R
L
V8
Composite
Video
Cable
Composite
Video Source
Local
A/V Receiver
TV x8
Composite Video
RL
Composite
Video
Cable
RCA Audio
Cable
Figure 2-2: Stand-Alone Composite Switching

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page 6 © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Advanced Stand-Alone System
The ELAN V8 is capable of switching composite camera signals in systems that use CCTV video sources.
Individual camera sources can be used with multiple V8s to create a complex surveillance application. The applica-
tion below shows a stand-alone system with a VIA!®Quad switching CCTV video sources to a combination of TVs.
The use of the VIA!Quad allows more inputs to be available for video sources such as DVD, Satellite, Cable, and
Digital Video Servers.
VCR
OUT
VIDEO
OUT
VGA
OUT
DC
INPUT
DOWN/SEQUENCE
UP/FREEZE
MENU/ENTER NTSC/PAL
PIP/- QUAD/
ZOOM/+ VIDEO 4 VIDEO 3 VIDEO 2 VIDEO 1
CCTV
Camera
V
I
D
E
O
I
N
P
U
T
S
CCTV
Camera
CCTV
Camera
CCTV
Camera
VIA!Quad
V
R
L
Composite
Video
Cable
Composite
Video Source
Local
A/V Receiver
TV x8
Composite Video
RL
RCA Audio
Cable
Figure 2-3: Stand-Alone w/CCTV Switching

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page 7
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
ELAN Multi-Room Controller-Based Systems
There are many possible applications when using the V8 in ELAN Multi-Room Controller-based systems. This sec-
tion shows basic concepts that can be combined or arranged according to the needs of the exact system being
installed.
V8/S66A
When utilizing a S66A Integrated Multi-Room Controller, the V8 can be an economical and versatile video switch-
ing solution. In this application, the S66A routes analog audio and performs IR distribution and amplification func-
tions. The V8 routes composite video (DVD, Satellite, and VIA!Quad w/ cameras) sources to TVs and to ELAN Touch
Panels.
V8
S66A
Y
PB
PR
DVD Player
TV
Composite Video
VCR
OUT VIDEO
OUT
VGA
OUT
DC
INPUT
DOWN/SEQUENCE
UP/FREEZE
MENU/ENTER NTSC/PAL PIP/- QUAD/
ZOOM/+ VIDEO 4 VIDEO 3 VIDEO2 VIDEO 1
CCTV
Camera
V
I
D
E
O
I
N
P
U
T
S
CCTV
Camera
CCTV
Camera
CCTV
Camera
21 6543
SOURCE INPUTS
L
R
COMPOSITE
VIDEO
ANALOG
AUDIO
L
R
VIA!Quad
ELAN
Touch
Panel
Figure 2-4: V8 and S66A

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page 8 © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
V8/S86A or S86P
This application shows an S86P Multi-Room Controller performing audio distribution functions as well as compos-
ite video switching. The use of the V8 allows the S86P to send any or all Loop Outputs to the V8 so that composite
video outputs can be sent to more ELAN Touch Panels and TVs.
V8
TV
Composite Video
S86P
ELAN
Touch
Panel
Figure 2-5: V8 and S86P

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page 9
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
V8/S128P
This application shows an S128P Multi-Room Controller performing audio distribution functions as well as com-
ponent video switching. The use of the V8 allows composite video output routing (DVD, Satellite, and VIA!Quad w/
cameras) so that composite video outputs can be sent to ELAN Touch Panels and TVs.
TV
Composite Video
V8
VCR
OUT
VIDEO
OUT
VGA
OUT
DC
INPUT
DOWN/SEQUENCE
UP/FREEZE
MENU/ENTER NTSC/PAL
PIP/- QUAD/
ZOOM/+ VIDEO4 VIDEO3 VIDEO 2 VIDEO 1
CCTV
Camera
V
I
D
E
O
I
N
P
U
T
S
CCTV
Camera
CCTV
Camera
CCTV
Camera
VIA!Quad
YPR
PB
COMPONENT VIDEO OUTPUTS
1st component video source
to component video Input ‘A’
(Inputs 13, 14, 15)
S128P
COMPOSITE
VIDEO OUTPUT
DVD Player
Only composite video source
to composite video Input ‘16’
ELAN
Touch
Panels
Figure 2-6: V8's and S128P

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page 10 © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Chapter 3: Connections
Composite INPUT/ZONE OUTPUT
Use high-quality composite video cables to make connections between sources and the V8’s inputs. Sources will
typically be located near the V8 at the head-end of the system. Composite video outputs will typically be sent via
coaxial cable from the head-end to televisions, monitors and/or ELAN Touch Panels located throughout the house.
Note: ELAN recommends using RG-59 or RG-6 with a copper braid and a solid copper center conductor.
PV12 Video Precision Panel
The PV12 Video Precision Panel provides a clean and easy way to connect up to 12 runs of coaxial cable to the V8
Video Controller. Twelve gold-plated F-to-RCA barrel connectors are mounted on flanges angled at 45 degrees. The
angled flanges ensure that all coax runs slide easily back into the wall after termination, and that the cables are not
bent past their specified limits, which can cause damage resulting in signal loss. The PV12 is one of ELAN’s ‘half-
frame’ Precision Panels. Two ‘half-frame’ panels can be mounted in one PF2 Precision Panel Frame, giving you the
flexibility to mix and match the Precision Panels needed to complete a neat, problem-free trim-out. Two PV12s can
be mounted in one frame to accommodate the 24 video connections of the V8.
Use F-to-RCA adaptors to connect high quality composite video cables to each TV, monitor or ELAN Touch Panel.
Note: Maximum coaxial wire run is 300 feet.
V8
S86P
RG-6 Coaxial
Video Cable
ELAN
Touch
Panel
Figure 3-1: Video Connections

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
© ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved. Page 11
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
Control Connections - IR
There are two ways to send IR to the V8 using the 3.5mm IR IN port. The IR OUT port passes any IR signal that is sent
to the V8’s IR IN port.
IR IN Port
Most ELAN multi-room applications will utilize the rear IR IN port for IR control. Use a 3.5mm mono interconnect
cable to connect between an IR OUT port (typically an ‘ALL’ port) of an ELAN multi-room controller and the IR IN port
of the V8. In this conguration, any IR signal sent from any zone of the multi-room system will be sent to the V8.
V8
ELAN Multi-Room
Controller
Figure 3-2: IR IN
An IR Receiver such as the ELAN IRS5 may be plugged directly into the V8 to allow for individual room control or
system-wide control using V8 discrete IR codes. See Figure 4-4: IR PWR DIP Settings to enable IR Receiver Power.
V8
Figure 3-3: IR IN using ELAN IRS5

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS
Page 12 © ELAN Home Systems 2009 • All rights reserved.
V8 INSTALLATION MANUAL
IR OUT Port
Any IR signal that is sent into the V8 through the IR IN port may be passed out of the IR OUT port. Use the IR OUT
port to link multiple V8s or as a convenient way to send signals to additional IR controlled devices.
V8
From S66A
To IRD4
Figure 3-4: IR Out Configuration
RS-232
Use the SERIAL PORTS when a computer or third-party RS-232 controller will be used to control the V8. When using
ELAN devices like the SS1, SC-1, or ELAN Touch Panels, it is best to use VIANET to control the V8.
DB9 Cable
From SS1
V8
Figure 3-5: RS-232
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