GRASS VALLEY LDK 3000+ User manual

3922 496 31881 October 2011 v1.0
LDK 3000+
User’s Guide
High-Definition Camera Head

Declaration of Conformity
We, Grass Valley Nederland B.V., Kapittelweg 10, 4827 HG Breda, The
Netherlands, declare under our sole responsibility that this product is in
compliance with the following standards:
- EN60065 : Safety
- EN55103-1: EMC (Emission)
- EN55103-2: EMC (Immunity)
following the provisions of:
a. the Low Voltage directive 2006/95/EC
b. the EMC directive 2004/108/EC
FCC Class A Statement
This product generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if
not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
interference to radio communications.
It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A digital
device pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules, which are designed to provide
reasonable protection against such interference when operated in a
commercial environment.
Operation of this product in a residential area is likely to cause interference in
which case the user at his own expense will be required to take whatever
measures may be required to correct the interference.
Copyright
Copyright Grass Valley Nederland B.V. 2011. Copying of this document and
giving it to others, and the use or communication of the contents thereof, are
forbidden without express authority. Offenders are liable to the payment of
damages. All rights are reserved in the event of the grant of a patent or the
registration of a utility model or design. Liable to technical alterations in the
course of further development.
Trademarks
Grass Valley and Infinity are trademarks of Grass Valley, Inc. All other
tradenames referenced are service marks, trademarks, or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
Website
Visit the Grass Valley public website to download the latest user’s guide
updates and additional information about your broadcast product:
www.grassvalley.com

LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0) 3
Table of contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction
1.1 Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
1.1.1 About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.1.2 Related documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.2 Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
1.2.1 CMOS imagers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.2.2 Digital processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.2.3 Focus assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.2.4 Chromatic Lens Aberration and Sharpness Solution (CLASS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.3 Transmission system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.3.1 LDK 5630 TriaxHD adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.3.2 LDK 4580 TriaxHD Base Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.3.3 LDK 4488 SuperXpander and LDK 4489 Xpander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.4 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
1.5 List of accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Chapter 2 – Installation
2.1 Mounting a lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2.2 LDK 5302/60 2-inch viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.2.1 Mounting viewfinder and microphone holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
2.2.2 Positioning the viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2.3 2-inch viewfinder accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.3.1 LDK 5390/00 Wide angle eyepiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.3.2 LDK 5390/10 Left eye adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
2.4 AJ-MC700 Microphone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.5 LDK 5301/10 Tripod adapter plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
2.6 Adjusting the shoulder pad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.7 Exchanging the camera adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.8 LDK 5020/05 Universal transport case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
2.9 Packing for return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Chapter 3 – Configurations
3.1 TriaxHD transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.2 Stand-alone mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.3 Multiple cameras in C2IP network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Chapter 4 – Operating instructions
4.1 Using the camera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.1.1 Switching on the power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.1.2 Controlling the camera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
4.2 Location of controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4.3 User buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

4LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0)
4.4 Viewfinder preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
4.4.1 Tally on/off switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
4.4.2 Zebra (exposure indication) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.3 VF Option switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.4 Viewfinder picture quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.5 Dioptre adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4.6 Viewfinder screen markers, screen indicators and LED indicators . . . . . . . . . .35
4.4.7 Focussing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
4.5 Lens operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
4.5.1 Back focus adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
4.5.2 CLASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
4.5.3 Auto iris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
4.5.4 Extended auto iris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.5.5 Precision focus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
4.5.6 Lens indicators in the viewfinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
4.6 Controls on the LDK 5630 TriaxHD adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
4.6.1 Powering the camera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.6.2 Selecting monitoring signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4.6.3 Using audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
4.6.4 Intercom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
4.7 Managing files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
4.7.1 Scene files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
4.7.2 Operator files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
4.7.3 Standard files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.7.4 Customer standard files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
4.8 Access and security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
4.8.1 User level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
4.8.2 Selecting the user level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
4.8.3 Disable camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
4.8.4 Access control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Chapter 5 – Video setup
5.1 Video acquisition modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
5.2 Video settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
5.2.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
5.2.2 Standard settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
5.2.3 Non-standard indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
5.3 Test signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
5.4 Gain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
5.4.1 Gain selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
5.4.2 Variable gain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
5.4.3 Digital noise reducer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5.5 Optical filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
5.6 Color temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
5.6.1 Selecting the color temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
5.6.2 Variable color temperature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
5.6.3 Auto-white balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
5.7 Color correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
5.7.1 Color wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
5.7.2 Setup using the system menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
5.7.3 Setup using the Operational Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0) 5
5.8 Exposure time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
5.8.1 Selecting the exposure time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
5.8.2 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
5.8.3 Clean scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
5.9 Freeze frame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
5.10 Black stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
5.11 Auto skin detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Chapter 6 – Menu structure and contents
6.1 Using the system menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
6.1.1 Entering the system menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
6.1.2 Finding your way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
6.1.3 Leaving the system menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
6.1.4 Making changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
6.1.5 Undoing changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
6.2 Menu structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
6.2.1 Top menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
6.2.2 Viewfinder menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
6.2.3 Lens menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
6.2.4 Video menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
6.2.5 Video menu structure (continued) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
6.2.6 Install menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
6.2.7 Files menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
6.2.8 Security menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
6.2.9 Diagnostics menu structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
6.2.10 Service menu structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
6.3 Menu contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
6.3.1 Viewfinder menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
6.3.2 Lens menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
6.3.3 Video menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
6.3.4 Install menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
6.3.5 Files menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
6.3.6 Security menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
6.3.7 Diagnostics menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
6.3.8 Service menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Chapter 7 – Connectors
7.1 Camera head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
7.1.1 Connectors on the LDK 3000+ camera head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
7.2 Camera adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
7.2.1 Connectors on the LDK 5630 TriaxHD adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Chapter 8 – Specifications
8.1 Specifications for LDK 3000+ camerahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
8.1.1 Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
8.1.2 Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
8.2 Specifications for LDK 5630 TriaxHD adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
8.2.1 Technical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
8.2.2 Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

6LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0)
End-of-life product recycling
Grass Valley’s innovation and excellence in product design also extends to the programs we’ve
established to manage the recycling of our products. Grass Valley has developed a
comprehensive end-of-life product take back program for recycle or disposal of end-of-life
products. Our program meets the requirements of the European Union’s WEEE Directive and
in the United States from the Environmental Protection Agency, individual state or local
agencies.
Grass Valley’s end-of-life product take back program assures proper disposal by use of Best
Available Technology. This program accepts any Grass Valley branded equipment. Upon
request, a Certificate of Recycling or a Certificate of Destruction, depending on the ultimate
disposition of the product, can be sent to the requester. Grass Valley will be responsible for all
costs associated with recycling and disposal, including freight, however you are responsible for
the removal of the equipment from your facility and packing the equipment ready for pickup.
For further information on the Grass Valley product take back system please contact Grass
Valley at + 800 80 80 20 20 or [phone] from most other countries. In the US and
Canada please call 800-547-8949 or 530-478-4148. Ask to be connected to the EH&S
Department. In addition, information concerning Grass Valley’s environmental policy can be
found at:
www.grassvalley.com/about/environmental-policy

LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0) 7
Important information
Read these instructions carefully and retain them for future reference. Regularly check the
Grass Valley website (www.grassvalley.com) for new updates of this and other user’s guides.
During installation and operation of this equipment, local building safety and fire protection
standards must be observed.
Whenever it is likely that safe operation is impaired, the apparatus must be made inoperative
and secured against any unintended operation. The appropriate servicing authority must then
be informed. For example, safety is likely to be impaired if the apparatus fails to perform the
intended function or shows visible damage.
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority
to operate this equipment.
Cautions and Warnings
Read and comply with the warning and caution notices that appear in the manual.
Warnings indicate danger that requires correct procedures or practices to prevent death or
injury to personnel.
Cautions indicate procedures or practices that should be followed to prevent damage or
destruction to equipment or property.

8LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0)
Warnings
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. If the unit is in a wet
or damp environment, a rain cover must be used to protect it for personal safety reasons.
To avoid electrical shock, do not remove covers or panels. Refer servicing to qualified
personnel only.
In case of an emergency ensure that the power is disconnected.
Connect the product only to a power source with the specified voltage rating.
To prevent risk of overheating, ventilate the camera correctly. Do not block the hot airflow
coming from the outlets on the right side of the camera head and camera adapter.

LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0) 9
Precautions
To ensure continual high performance from the camera take the following precautions into
consideration:
• Avoid damp places. If the environment is wet or damp a rain cover must be used to
protect the unit.
• Do not subject the unit to severe shocks or vibration.
• Do not expose the camera to extremes of temperature.
• Do not leave the unit in direct sunlight or close to heating appliances for extended periods.
• Do not allow sunlight to shine into the viewfinder.
• Do not allow laser beams to shine into the lens as this could damage the imagers.
• Avoid extreme highlights as these can cause various kinds of optical reflections.
• Be careful when connecting and disconnecting Triax cables.
– Do not mix units from different types of camera systems (HD with SD, Triax with
digital Triax)
– Do not connect Grass Valley camera systems with other manufacturer’s camera
system parts.
• Make connections swiftly and firmly to avoid false error messages.

10 LDK 3000+ High-Definition Camera Head (v1.0)
Triax cable systems
• Only connect a Triax cable from the same LDK camera family to the unit.
• Do not allow system earth currents to exceed 1.5 A in the outer shield of the Triax cable or
0.2 A in other cable shields.
• To avoid excessive earth currents in a Triax system, galvanically separate the power earth
connection of equipment connected to the camera from the camera earth.
• It is strictly prohibited to short circuit the inner and outer shields of a Triax cable used to
connect a camera to a base station.
Galvanic separation
Because of the nature of Triax systems, with long distances between camera and Base
Station, the risk of earth currents flowing is greater. These earth currents can result in damage
to the equipment.
For example, a monitor connected directly to the CVBS output of the camera is powered
locally. The earthing point of the monitor’s power supply can be at a different potential with
respect to the earthing point of the Base Station. If the power earth of the monitor is also the
video earth, then this earth potential is transferred to the camera via the shield of the BNC
connector. The difference in earth potential between the camera and the Base Station results
in an earth current in the Triax system.
To prevent earth currents from flowing in the Triax system, we recommend galvanic separation
of earthed equipment connected to the camera. This separation can be achieved by using an
isolation transformer between the local power outlet and the equipment connected to the
camera. Alternatively, use equipment that has a double insulation and therefore does not
require an earth connection.