LightViper VIS-1832 User manual

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USER MANUAL FOR VIS-1832/VIM-1832
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Important Safety Instructions
ATTENTION: RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE – NE PAS OUVRIR
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE
The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards
with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrow point in an equilateral triangle means
that there are dangerous voltages present within the unit. The exclamation point in an
equilateral triangle indicates that it is necessary for the user to refer to the owner’s manual.
These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the
unit. Do not attempt to service the unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel.
Opening the chassis for any reason will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Do not get the unit
wet. If liquid is spilled on the unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a dealer for service.
Disconnect the unit during storms to prevent damage.
Marking and warning information is provided on the bottom of the apparatus case.

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Warning for Your Protection
1. Read these instructions
2. Keep these instructions
3. Heed all warnings
4. Follow all instructions
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug
has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a
third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the
provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the 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.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or
moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing. No objects filled with liquids, such
as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
“WARNING To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or
moisture.”
The apparatus shall be connected to a MAINS socket
outlet with a protective earthing connection.
MAINS DISCONNECT: The plug shall remain readily operable. For rack mount or installation
where plug is not accessible, an all-pole mains switch with a contact separation of at least 3
mm in each pole shall be incorporated into the electrical installation of the rack or building.
Replace fuse with same type and rating only.
MULTIPLE-INPUT VOLTAGE: This equipment may require the use of a different line cord,
attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation. Connect
this equipment only to the power source indicated on the equipment rear panel. To reduce
the risk of fire or electric shock, refer servicing to qualified service personnel or equivalent

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General Installation Instructions
Please consider besides these general instructions also any product-specific instructions in the
“Installation” chapter of this manual.
Unpacking
Check the equipment for any transport damage. If the unit is mechanically damaged, if liquids
have been spilled or if objects have fallen into the unit, it must not be connected to the AC
power outlet, or it must be immediately disconnected by unplugging the power cable. Repair
must only be performed by trained personnel in accordance with the applicable regulations.
Installation Site
Install the unit in a place where the following conditions are met:
The temperature and the relative humidity of the environment must be within the
specified limits during operation of the unit. Relevant values are the ones at the air
inlets of the unit.
Condensation must be avoided. If the unit is installed in a location with large
variation of ambient temperature (e.g. in an OB-van), appropriate precautions must
be taken before and after operation.
Unobstructed air flow is essential for proper operation. Air vents of the unit are a
functional part of the design and must not be blocked in any way during operation
(e.g. by objects placed upon them, placement of the unit on a soft surface, or
installation of the unit within a rack or piece of furniture).
The unit must not be heated up by external sources of heat radiation
(sunlight, spot lights).
Ambient Temperature
Units and systems by LightViper are generally designed for an ambient temperature range (i.e.
temperature of the incoming air) of +5...+40 °C. When rack mounting the units, the following
facts must be considered:
The admissible ambient temperature range for operation of the semiconductor
components is 0 °C to +70 °C (commercial temperature range for operation).
The air flow through the installation must provide that the outgoing air is always
cooler than 70 °C.
Average heat increase of the cooling air shall be about 20 K, allowing for an
additional maximum 10 K increase at the hot components.
In order to dissipate 1 kW with this admissible average heat increase, an air flow of
2.65 m_/min is required.
Example: A rack dissipating P = 800 W requires an air flow of 0.8 * 2.65 m_/min which
corresponds to 2.12 m_/min.
If the cooling function of the installation must be monitored (e.g. for fan failure or
illumination with spot lamps), the outgoing air temperature must be measured
directly above the modules at several places within

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Earthing and Power Supply
Earthing of units with mains supply (class I equipment) is performed via the protective earth
(PE) conductor integrated in the mains cable. Units with battery operation (< 60 V, class III
equipment) must be earthed separately. Earthing the unit is one of the measures for protection
against electrical shock hazard (dangerous body currents). Hazardous voltage may not only be
caused by defective power supply insulation, but may also be introduced by the connected
audio or control cables.
This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both,
depending on the available power source at installation. If the attachment plug needs to be
changed, refer servicing to qualified service personnel
If your unit mains supply is provided via a Neutrik PowerCon™ connector the following
precautions must be followed:
The PowerCon must be installed and fully engaged before AC power is applied to
the unit.
The unit must be disconnected from the mains supply before disengaging the
PowerCon connector.
Class I Equipment (Mains Operation)
Should the equipment be delivered without a matching mains cable, the latter has to be
prepared by a trained person using the attached female plug (IEC320/C13 or IEC320/C19) with
respect to the applicable regulations in your country.
Before connecting the equipment to the AC power outlet, check that the local line voltage
matches the equipment rating (voltage, frequency) within the admissible tolerance. The
equipment fuses must be rated in accordance with the specifications on the equipment.
Equipment supplied with a 3-pole appliance inlet (protection conforming to class I equipment)
must be connected to a 3-pole AC power outlet so that the equipment cabinet is connected to
the protective earth.
WARNING
If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit or in the system to which it is
connected can result in full line voltage between chassis and earth ground. Severe injury or
death can then result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously.

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Registration
Be sure to register your LightViper product, either by filling in the enclosed Registration Card or
by completing the on-line registration form at our Web site:
http://lightviper.com/register.aspx
If you do so, FiberPlex can contact you with any update information. As enhancements and
upgrades are developed, you will be contacted at the registration address. Please read this
manual - if you call for technical support, we’ll assume that you have.
Please address any inquiries to your dealer or directly to FiberPlex at:
FiberPlex Inc.
10840-412 Guilford Rd.
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
301.604.0100 Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
Limited Lifetime Warranty
FiberPlex products are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for their
lifetime. This warranty covers the original purchaser only and is not transferable. The lifetime of
a product is defined as the period during which the product is manufactured, or can be
repaired.

FiberPlex will, at its discretion, repair or replace a defective product.
FiberPlex warrants that its software and firmware, designed by FiberPlex for use with an
instrument will execute its programming instructions when properly installed on that
instrument. FiberPlex does not warrant that the operation of the instrument, the software, or
the firmware will be uninterrupted or error free. FiberPlex’s products are not authorized for use
as critical components in life support devices or systems without the express written approval
of the president of FiberPlex, Inc.
This warranty does not cover damage from acts of God, accident, abuse, neglect,
contamination, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside of the environmental
specifications for the product, improper site preparation or maintenance, or abnormal
conditions of handling. This would include over-voltage failures, and conditions outside of the
products specified ratings, problems with buyer-supplied software or interfacing, or normal
wear and tear of mechanical components.
To return a defective product, please contact our Sales Department for a Return Materials
Authorization number (RMA), by calling 301-604-0100, or email: [email protected] Failure to
properly package and protect the product during shipping may void this warranty. The RMA
number must be written on the outside of the carton. We cannot accept delivery of any
equipment that is sent to us without an RMA number. The Buyer shall prepay shipping
charges to FiberPlex, and FiberPlex shall pay the return shipping charges.
The remedies provided herein are the buyer’s sole and exclusive remedies. FiberPlex shall not
be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages.

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Service
The LightViper equipment contains no user-serviceable components: refer to qualified service
personnel for repair or upgrade. Your warranty will be voided if you tamper with the internal
components. If you have any questions with regard to the above, please contact FiberPlex.
In the event your LightViper equipment needs to be upgraded or repaired, it is necessary to
contact FiberPlex prior to shipping, and a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number will be
assigned. This number will serve as a reference for you and helps facilitate and expedite the
return process. FiberPlex requires that shipments be pre-paid and insured —unless otherwise
authorized in advance.
IMPORTANT: ANY SHIPMENT THAT IS NOT PRE-PAID OR IS SENT WITHOUT AN RMA NUMBER
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Disposal
Disposal of Packing Materials
The packing materials have been selected with environmental and disposal issues in mind. All
packing material can be recycled. Recycling packing saves raw materials and reduces the
volume of waste. If you need to dispose of the transport packing materials, please try to use
recyclable means.
Disposal of Used Equipment
Used equipment contains valuable raw materials as well as materials that must be disposed of
professionally. Please return your used equipment via an authorized specialist dealer or via the
public waste disposal system, ensuring any material that can be recycled is. Please take care
that your used equipment cannot be abused. After having disconnected your used equipment
from the mains supply, make sure that the mains connector and the mains cable are made
useless.
Declarations of Conformity
Class A Equipment - FCC Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide a reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial
environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely
to cause harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.
Disclaimer
The information in this document has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate at
the time of publication. However, no responsibility is taken by us for inaccuracies, errors, or
omissions, nor is any liability assumed for any loss or damage resulting either directly or
indirectly from use of the information contained within it.
35YD

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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of a Light Viper 1832 fiber optic audio snake—a lightweight,
flexible breakthrough for professional sound production.
Light Viper products are designed, engineered and manufactured by FiberPlex, experts in fiber
optics with decades of experience. Our work in audio and data communications products is
known in US government applications worldwide. Light Viper products,
combine our pioneering technology with the highest standards in audio engineering.
The Light Viper
You have purchased the LightViper 1832 system, a 32 x 8 Fiber Optic Transport System (FTS)
that has the function, look and feel of a traditional copper snake; however instead of a heavy
multi-conductor cable the Light Viper snake features a lightweight, flexible fiber built to
“ruggedized” military standards.
The Fiber Advantage
Fiber optics offer many advantages over copper:
•Transmits light rather than electrons
•Transmission over greater distances (more than 11⁄4 mile)
•Complete electrical isolation
•Immunity to RFI and EMI
•Eliminates ground loop problems
•Can be routed overhead, through walls, or underground
•Avoids foot traffic while maintaining aesthetics
Functional Considerations
Although the Light Viper 1832 looks essentially the same as a traditional, passive snake, it is an
active device. Because of this, there are some aspects of this new technology that require
some slightly different thinking:
•The Light Viper 1832 requires AC Power at both the Stage Box and the Mixer
Unit(s)
•Phantom Power is delivered from the Stage Box, NOT the console
•The snake has three selectable gain settings and a clip indicator at each input on
the Stage Box
•All inputs exit the snake (at the Mixer Box) at Line Level
•DI boxes are not necessary in most cases
•Input and Output flexibility may eliminate the need for some of your outboard
gear
•The LightViper VIM-1832 is an active device, therefore do not attempt to connect
intercom into the returns
•The returns in the VIS-1832 cannot be “turned around” to provide 40 sends one
way as with a traditional copper snake, as the electronics for the returns are
contained in the VIM-1832.

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Standard Components
In its standard configuration, the Light Viper 1832 is made up of the following primary
components.
•The Stage Box (VIS-1832) — This is the box placed close to all the inputs. It can be
placed on the stage or rack mounted with the optional VER-1832 rack ears.
•The Mixer Box (VIM-1832) — The unit should be mounted in a rack close to the
primary (FOH) mixing console
•The Fiber Cable (TFC-0000-04) — The lightweight “tactical grade” fiber ‘cable’ that
carries the digital signal between the stage and mixer boxes. For installation use, either
PVC or Plenum rated fiber is recommended (VFC-0000-D, VFC-0000-DP).
•TAC-4 Connector Panels – (VPL-11, VPL-12, VPL-13) – These 1U rack panels contain
(1), (2), or (3) panel mount TAC-4 connectors mounted respectively and allow
connection between tactical grade fiber to the ST connectors on the VIM units.
•Rack Ears – (VER-1832-T1, T2 or T3) These rack mount kits for the VIS-1832 have 1, 2 or
3 panel mount TAC-4 connectors mounted respectively and allow connection between
tactical grade fiber to the ST connectors on the VIS units. See page 20 for more
information.
•Send / Return Cables (VCB-ADXM, VCB-ADXF) — These cables connect the Mixer Box
to the analog inputs/outputs of your mixer. If you are connecting to a Yamaha digital
console through the Yamaha “Y” cards, you would use VCB-DDMY and VCB-DDMYIO
cables. A variety of cables to connect to other digital consoles and devices are also
available.
Optional Components
Additional components can be added to the Light Viper 1832 for increased functionality.
•Additional Send Box(es) (VIM-1032) – The VIM-1032 is similar to the VIM-1832 mixer box in
that itprovides a parallel setof the snake’s 32 input channels, via an additional Fiber Cable, in
applications where you need splits – for recording, broadcast, or monitor mixing. The VIS-
1832 Stage Box can be fit with two “split” connectors for a total of three (1 VIM-1832 (Primary)
+ 2 VIM-1032 (splits) outputs.
•Additional Analog Fan Out Cable(s) (VCB-ADXM / VCB-ADXF) – These fan out cables are
necessary for connecting additional mixer boxes (VIS-1832 and VIS-1032) to your analog
equipment. Youneed(4) VCB-ADXM for each VIM-1832 or VIM-1032 mixer boxes in the
system. The VIM-1832 also requires (1) VCB-ADXF (female) fan out toaccess the returns.
•Additional DigitalCables – To connect AES digital directly into a Yamaha PM5D, DM2000,
DM 1000 or M7, you need (2) optional cablesfor each 32x8 system. (1) DDMY and (1) DDMYIO
will allow a 32x8 connection into the Yamaha MY16AE cards. Optional cables are available to
interface with ProTools and other types of devices andvarious connector configurations.
•Ethernet Control – Add the optional ETH-1832 (pair) option to any Stage / FOH path, and
control a variety of Ethernet based gear on stage from the FOH position.
•Additional Fiber Cable(s) – Forlive production, TFC-0000-04 tactical grade fiber with TAC-4
Connector terminations is required between the stage box (VIS-1832) and all mixer boxes
(VIS-1832 and VIS-1032). For installations where the fiber will be pulled through conduit, either
VFC-0000-D (PVC fiber) or VFC-0000-DP (Plenum rated fiber) with ST connector terminations is
recommended. There is also an option for a “Pulling Eye” which can be specified by adding an
“E” tothe part numbers above (VFC-0000-DE; VFC-0000-DPE). This option includes a strain
reliefand pulling eye on one end of the fiber optic cable.
•Stage Box Mounting Hardware – The optional VER-1832 rack mount can be utilized in
applications where the stagebox (VIS-1832) will be rack mounted. The VER-1832-T1, T2 and T3
rack mount kits include panel mount TAC-4 connectors in quantities of 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
The rack ears can also be fitwith Neutrik“OpticalCon” panel mount connectors. The part
numbersare VER-1832-T1-OC, T2-OC, and T3-OCrespectively.
•TAC-4 and OpticalCon connectors can also be fit directly on the chassis ofthe VIS-1832, VIM-
1832 and VIM-1032, in applications such as these, rack ears and VPL panels are not required.