Light O Rama Pixcon16 User manual

Pixcon16
E1.31 16/32 Universe Pixel controller with
4 E1.31 to DMX bridge ports
User Manual – Light O Rama Showtime Software
August 20, 2015
V1.4
Copyright © Light O Rama, Inc. 2015

Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................. 4
What’s in the Box ........................................................................................ 5
Applications: ............................................................................................... 5
Hardware Fundamentals ............................................................................. 6
Factory IP / Bootloader switches .............................................................. 6
Power Connectors ................................................................................... 8
Aux Out/Fan Connector ........................................................................... 9
Pixel Ports .............................................................................................. 10
Ethernet Connector ................................................................................ 12
LOR in/out and DMX Outputs (E1.31 mode only) ................................... 12
LOR/ESTA Jumpers............................................................................... 13
Terminator jumper .................................................................................. 14
Hardware Configuration ............................................................................ 15
Using DHCP (Normal Operation) ........................................................... 15
Forcing the Pixcon16 IP Address ........................................................... 16
Pixcon16 List.......................................................................................... 17
Network Configuration ......................................................................... 18
Pixel Port Setup .................................................................................. 19
Advanced Port Configuration ............................................................... 21
Misc..................................................................................................... 24
Operation .................................................................................................. 26
Startup ................................................................................................... 26
Sending Data ......................................................................................... 26
Hardware Test Pattern ........................................................................... 27
Firmware Upgrades .................................................................................. 28
Physical Setup ....................................................................................... 28

Obtaining New Firmware ........................................................................ 28
Performing a firmware Update ............................................................... 29
Operating Specifications ........................................................................... 30
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................ 31
Status LEDs ........................................................................................... 32
Common problems and solutions .............................................................. 34
No Status or Power LEDs is On ............................................................. 34
Controller does not appear in Find Pixcon16 list .................................... 34
Light Outputs Not As Expected .............................................................. 35

Page 4
Introduction
The LOR Pixcon16 is a member of the pixel controller line of Light-O-Rama
products. The Pixcon16 can drive up to 32 separate 170 count strings of
smart pixels in DMX mode or 16 170 count strings in Enhanced LOR Mode.
The board can also act as an E1.31 to DMX bridge for an additional 4
universes. The 16 pixel ports on the device can be used to drive many of
the most popular smart pixel strings on the market today, including
WS2801 and WS2811.
Command data to the controller can be supplied in two different formats:
Via DMX over Ethernet (E1.31), or Via LOR protocol. Using E1.31 allows
for very complex shows to be created, while using the LOR protocol allows
for easy integration into a network of existing LOR controllers. When used
in LOR mode, the Pixcon16 can also drive a modest pixel show from an
LOR Generation 3 Show Director like the g3MP3 Director.
The Light-O-Rama Showtime software is used to design and build
Sequences (controller commands that may be choreographed to
audio/music.) These user created sequences and/or pre-programmed
musical sequences available from LOR and other companies are then
arranged into Shows. These shows are played by your PC or one of the
LOR Show Directors.
Caution: Although most applications for this product use low voltages, this
product may be used with dangerous DC voltages. Some connections may
be at line voltage and potentially lethal. It is important that you have an
understanding of electrical wiring and usage.

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What’s in the Box
The Pixcon16 comes with this user manual. The latest version of this
manual is also available at www.lightorama.com ► Support ► User
Manuals ► Pixcon16 manual – Light O Rama Showtime Software
The Pixcon16 can be used in multiple configurations. Additionally, the
Pixcon16 can be purchased as a separate device, or be included with an
LOR Ready to Go prop.
Applications:
The Pixcon16 can be controlled by an LOR G3 Show Director in ELOR
mode, or a Windows PC using ELOR mode or E1.31. While being an
advanced controller, the Pixcon16 cannot be run in ‘standalone’ mode, and
cannot be controlled by another LOR Controller in standalone mode.
The Picon16 board itself is not weather resistant and needs to be mounted
in a suitable weather resistant / weather tight enclosure. The enclosure to
be used must have adequate ventilation. Connections are provided to
power a fan, and overheating of the board will cause damage to the
components.

Page 6
Hardware Fundamentals
Factory IP / Bootloader switches
A factory reset should only be performed when absolutely necessary. The
reset will erase all configuration and networking information which may be
time-consuming to restore.
To reset the device back to factory defaults, first remove power to the
board. Then press and hold BOTH buttons while re-applying power. Wait
a few seconds, then release the buttons. The board has now been reset
back to factory defaults.
Since this is an E1.31 (Ethernet) device, you may need to re-set the IP
address of the board to a known one. Remove power to the board, press
and hold the Factory IP button, and then re-apply power. This will reset the
board to the default IP address of 192.168.0.50. Release the button.
If the firmware on the device becomes corrupted, you can recover the
board by placing it in ‘bootloader’ mode. The bootloader mode allows the
board to accept a new firmware which should fix the issue. Remove power
to the board, press and hold the Bootloader button, and re-apply power.

Page 7
The Power and Status lights will alternate showing that the board is now in
bootloader mode. Release the switch and use the Showtime Software to
load the latest firmware.
Should you need to reconfigure the board, or reload the firmware in
emergency mode, the easiest way may be to connect the board directly to
a computer’s network card via a CAT-5 cable.
1. Ensure no wireless network is active on the computer.
2. Shut down the computer and disconnect any existing network cable.
3. Power off the Pixcon16.
4. Plug a CAT-5 cable directly from the adapter to the computer’s
network card. A crossover cable is not required, any standard CAT-5
cable will work
5. Power up the board. Ensure the board is running correctly, or has
been placed in the bootloader mode.
6. Turn on the computer and wait for it to fully boot.
7. Now start the LOR Network Configuration program and press the
Pixcon16 button. You should be able to find the board now to
configure it, or to re-install the firmware.

Page 8
Status LEDs
Power Light Status Light Status
Off Off Board is not powered, or the logic fuse
has blown
On Flashing Board is powered on and running
properly. No data signal has been
detected
On On Board is powered on, running correctly
and is receiving data
Alternating Flash Alternating Flash Board is in bootloader mode, and
needs to have firmware uploaded
Synchronized Flash Synchronized Flash Board is powered and waiting for an IP
address from the DHCP server
On Off Board is powered, however it is not
running correctly
Power Connectors
Power to the board and the 16 pixel ports is supplied by the two sets of
large screw terminals on the left side of the board. Each terminal supplies
power for 8 of the pixel ports, Bank 1: 1-8 or Bank 2:9-16. Power for the
board itself is taken from Bank 1 and is protected by a .5A (dark blue) blade
type fast-blow fuse.

Page 9
The board can run on any voltage between 5VDC – 30VDC. The voltage
you use will be dependent on the type of pixel in use. Power must be
supplied from a stable DC source/power supply. The maximum rating of
the board is 64A, 32A per bank, 4A per pixel port. Each port is protected
by a 4A (pink) blade type fast-blow fuse.
Unless supplied with an LOR Ready to Go Prop, it is the user’s
responsibility to ensure that the power supply used matches the voltage of
the pixels they are using and that it can supply the correct amount of
current.
NOTE! The board provides NO protection if you accidentally reverse the
polarity of the input power. Reversing the polarity WILL damage the board.
Be sure you have properly connected the power supply BEFORE powering
on for the first time.
Aux Out/Fan Connector
The Aux Out connector supplies power for an optional case fan. The fan’s
speed can be varied by temperature and is set by the Configuration
program. Please note that the power for the fan is taken from Bank 1. You
should select a fan that has the same voltage as Bank 1.

Page 10
Pixel Ports
Connect up to 340 pixels to each port in E1.31/DMX mode, and up to 170
pixels to each port in Enhanced LOR Mode. The board can support
several different pixel types, but all ports MUST have use same pixel
driver/type. For example, you cannot mix WS2801 and WS2811 pixels on
the same Pixcon16.
Each port can supply a maximum of 4A and is protected by a 4A pink blade
type fuse.

Page 11
Each port has a removable connector with 4 screw terminals. With the
screws facing towards you and the wire connector points at the top (as if
the connector is seated in the board, and you are looking at the connectors
from the outside of the board), the pins are (left to right)
1 - + Power
2 - Clock
3 - Data
4 - Ground
You should consult the manufacturer of the pixels you intend to use for
correct wiring. For example not all pixel types use the CLOCK source.

Page 12
Ethernet Connector
Use this port to connect the Pixcon16 to your network or computer’s
network card. All configuration is done while the board is attached to a
network via this connector.
LOR in/out and DMX Outputs (E1.31 mode
only)
The 2 RJ45 jacks labeled J3 and J4 can be used as an E1.31 to DMX
bridge, or as input/output from a standard LOR RS485 network depending
on configuration.

Page 13
The remaining 3 jacks labeled J5, J7 and J8 can be used as additional
E1.31 to DMX bridge ports if the board is not running in LOR mode.
LOR/ESTA Jumpers
Whenever LOR equipment is in use on any of these RJ45 jacks, the
jumpers must be moved from the ESTA side to the LOR side. LOR
controllers, even in DMX mode, use a pinout that is different from other
devices. Moving these jumpers sets the correct pins.

Page 14
Terminator jumper
Should you experience data transmission problems when using the
Pixcon16 on an LOR network, you may want to move this jumper from OFF
to ON. Most networks will not require this.

Page 15
Hardware Configuration
Unlike other controllers in the LOR family, the Pixcon16 MUST be
configured via the Ethernet connection. It is not configured using the
standard LOR Hardware Utility, but instead uses the Pixcon16
configuration in the LOR Network Preferences program.
Using DHCP (Normal Operation)
Your network will typically have a DHCP server. It is the job of the DHCP
server to assign an IP address to any device on the network that requests
one. DHCP mode is always enabled by default on the Pixcon16 so it
should work with any network out of the box. However it is recommended
that you assign a static IP address once communications have been
established via the configuration utility. If the controller is in DHCP mode
and is not assigned an IP address by a DHCP server, it will timeout after 15
seconds and default to a static IP of 192.168.0.50.
If DHCP mode is enabled, both LEDs will flash together until the controller
receives an IP address, at which point the power LED will remain on solid
and the status LED will flash slowly indicating it is in run mode and ready
for use. If a static IP address is assigned to the board, then the power LED
will be solid from power up.
Typically the controller is connected to a network of
computers/controllers/etc. either though a switch or router. You can
however directly connect the Ethernet port of the Pixcon16 to a computer
network card. This can be useful if for some reason your network
configuration has changed, or you are having some other issue with
configuration. Be sure to turn off any other network connections, including
wireless connections, and then re-boot the computer.

Page 16
Forcing the Pixcon16 IP Address
In the unlikely event that a controller needs to be forced to its default IP, a
simple procedure can be employed on power up. Hold down the “Factory
IP” button. Once the controller powers up, release the button. The
controller’s IP address will now be 192.168.0.50. You may need to re-
configure your computer in order to see this address.
Once the board is connected and powered on, open the Network
Configuration program and then press the Pixcon16 button. The board
should appear in a window as shown. If no devices are shown in the list,
click on the “Search” button. The utility will then discover any Pixcon16
controllers currently connected to the LAN. Each controller will appear on
its own row in the main window showing the following information: Model,
IP Address, Nickname, Firmware Version and Current Temperature.
Double clicking on a controller in the list will then bring up a separate
configuration window allowing you to configure that specific controller.

Page 17
Pixcon16 List
To start the configuration of your Pixcon16, start the LOR Network
Configuration program, not the LOR Hardware Utility. Once you have
started the Network Configuration program, press the Find/Configure
Pixcon16 button on the right hand side. After a few seconds, a list of the
Pixcon16 / E1.31 devices found will be shown.
If you do not see the board you are trying to configure, try pressing the
‘Search Again’ button. A board may not have responded in time to be
included.
Boards that are listed in RED cannot be configured. Either these boards
were not manufactured by LOR, or they are at a firmware level the utility
cannot understand. If the board is in fact a Light-O-Rama board, you may
need to update your software to be compatible with the board revision
shown. Boards that are listed in BLUE are awaiting a firmware update. You
will need to update the firmware on these boards before they can be
configured.

Page 18
All other boards are listed in White. To configure a particular board, click it
in the list.
Network Configuration
Here you can specify the static IP address and subnet mask that the
controller will operate on as well as the type of IP connection. (Use DHCP
to instantly see and configure the controller on any existing LAN.)
To use the board with an ELOR (Enhanced LOR) network rather than in
E1.31 mode, select the ‘J3/J4’ checkbox. Selecting this box will allow the
board to be connected to a LOR Enhanced network at 500K speed and be
controlled like all other LOR controllers. Each pixel port on the board
should be given a unique Unit ID to avoid confusion.
Please note that while you can run the board in ELOR mode, even when
connected properly it will not appear in the Hardware Utility if you search
for controllers.

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The Auxiliary DMX ports allow for up to 4 E1.31 to DMX bridges. These
are not enabled in ELOR mode. Please see the help documentation for the
software for more information.
Pixel Port Setup
This window allows you to setup the pixel ports on the Pixcon16. At a
minimum you will need to select the type of pixels you are going to connect,
if they are high speed or not, starting universe/unit ID, and the triplet order.
If more specific control is needed for your application, the “Advanced”
checkbox can be selected.
For more in-depth configuration information, please consult the help file
provided with the software.

Page 20
LOR recommends that you assign a single DMX Universe or LOR Unit ID
to a pixel port, rather than attempt to ‘Pack Pixels’. Using a single ID per
pixel port will eliminate confusion.
Select the type of pixel IC you wish to control. You cannot mix different
pixel drivers (chips) on a single Pixcon16 controller. For example you can’t
run the WS2811 protocol on ports 1-8 and SM16716 on ports 9-16. All 16
ports must be of the same type.
Pixel Drivers/Chipsets Supported
The Pixcon16 can currently support the following pixel drivers (chipsets):
 WS2801 (standard LOR Pixels/Bulbs)
 WS2811/WS2812
 APA102
 LPD6803
 MBI6020
 MY9221
 MY9231
 SM16716
 TLS3001
 TM1803
 TM1804
 TM1809