Niles RCA-HT2 User manual

REMOTE CONTROL ANYWHERE!
®
KIT
RCA-HT2
INSTALLATION GUIDE

II
CONGRATULATIONS!
Thank you for choosing the RCA-HT2 Remote Control Anywhere! Kit from Niles. With proper
installation and operation, you should enjoy years of trouble-free use.
Niles manufactures the industry’s most complete line of custom installation components and
accessories for audio/video systems. To see the complete Niles product assortment, visit us on the
internet at: www.nilesaudio.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Contents 1
Features and Benefits 2
Installation Considerations 6
Installation 7
Specifications 22
Limited Warranty 24
Warranty Registration Card 25

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 1
INTROdUCTION
The Niles RCA-HT2 Remote Control Anywhere! Kit enables you to operate your remote controlled
audio/video equipment from virtually any location. Now you can place your audio/video (A/V)
components out of sight (behind cabinet doors, in the rear of a room, or in a different room) and still
conveniently control your system.
CONTENTS
Check that your RCA-HT2 Remote Control Anywhere! Kit contains the following:

®

®(5)

Connection Hub
MicroFlasher (5)
CAT-5 Sensor
Cable (50ft)
Surface Mount
MicroSensor
12VDC Power
Supply

2
FEATURES ANd BENEFITS – REMOTE CONTROL ANYWHERE! KIT
COMPLETE SYSTEM
Everything needed to assemble a complete IR extender system is included in one box:
ONE INFRAREd MICROSENSOR®

ONE MAIN SYSTEM UNIT
Amplifies and distributes the commands to the infrared flashers
IR MICROFLASHER® (FIVE)
Transmit the IR commands to the audio/video components

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 3
FEATURES ANd BENEFITS – IR MICROSENSOR®
HIGH-FIdELITY WIdEBANd dESIGN
Ensures compatibility with virtually any brand of equipment, even those using faster, more difficult
to reproduce IR codes
PATENT PENdING UNIVERSAL NOISE SUPPRESION dESIGN

fluorescent lights, and direct sunlight
EXTENdEd IR RECEIVING RANGE

PRINTEd CIRCUIT BOARd

SMALL SIzE

EXTRA LONG CABLE


4
FEATURES ANd BENEFITS – MAIN SYSTEM UNIT
UNIVERSAL SYSTEM
Compatible with virtually all brands of audio/video equipment and remote controls
VERSATILE CONNECTIONS
®with removable screwless connector plus four IR flashers via

SYSTEM FEEdBACK LEd
Confirms proper operation
3-30V AC/dC STATUS INPUT
Provides system status to connected sensors and keypads
EXPANdABLE

INTEGRATEd MOUNTING WINGS
Both horizontal and vertical installation is supported
POWER SUPPLY

12VdC OUTPUT
This is useful for triggering external devices and system automation
2X VARIABLE
Flasher out (4 +5) allows for use of high output flasher (sold separately)

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 5
FEATURES ANd BENEFITS – MICROFLASHER®
MINIATURE ANd dISCRETE

while maintaining a clean appearance
VISIBLE FEEdBACK

TRANSPARENT TO IR COMMANdS

your equipment using a remote control
EASY INSTALLATION
A strip of self-adhesive tape provides secure mounting
CONNECTING WIRE



6
INSTALLATION CONSIdERATIONS


1. Read through the entire manual – Before attempting any installation, read this manual
thoroughly and keep it for future reference.
2. Avoid contact with all high voltage electrical wiring and equipment!
3. Keep away from water and moisture – Never use or install electronic products near water,
ie., near a bathtub, sink, washing machine, in a wet basement, near a swimming pool, or
anywhere else the product may be exposed to water or moisture.
4. Power supply cord protection – Do not run the power cord where it may be subject to wear or
abuse. Do not allow anything to rest on or roll over the power cord which may damage it.
6. Lightning – It is suggested that you remove the power supply from the wall if your system will
not be used for long periods of time. Power surges due to lightning strikes may damage your
equipment.
7. Check your local building and electrical codes – There may be specific requirements
regarding running low voltage in your area.

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 7
Figure 1 Connection Hub Placement
INSTALLATION
TOOLS REQUIREd
• Pencil
• Standard screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Wire strippers
• Drill (and assorted bits)
GETTING STARTEd
While the Remote Control Anywhere! Kit is compatible with
most brands of audio/video components, there are a few

for compatibility before you conceal wire or permanently
mount any parts.
Steps one through five describe how to perform a quick
and easy check for compatibility.
Once you have determined that all of your remote
controlled A/V components are compatible, proceed with
the rest of the installation.

8
INSTALLATION
STEP 1 – PLACING THE CONNECTION HUB

Never place the connection hub closer than 1’ away from a television set ( Figure 1).

To unswitched
AC Outlet

Connection


Plugged into a switched
AC Outlet. Typically
found in back
of a receiver.
To Niles IR Flasher
Figure 2:

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 9
Figure 3: Removable Connector Plug Figure 4: Wiring Legend
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 2 – CONNECTING THE MICROSENSOR CABLE TO
THE CONNECTION HUB

Insert each wire into the appropriate hole on the removable connector plug (Figure 2), and snap the
locking tab down. To help you, the connector plug is keyed. Insert the smooth side of the connector


Figure 3 & 4).
TECH TIP: Wire size is expressed by it’s AWG (American Wire Gauge) number. The lower


10
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 3 – MICROFLASHER ANd 12VdC IN-LINE POWER SUPPLY
CONNECTION

(Figure 5


TECH TIP: 
This will avoid potential damage to components.
Figure 5: Connection Ports

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 11
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 4 – MOUNTING A MICROFLASHER TO A/V COMPONENTS

components. Locate a place for the remote control that is within arm’s length of the A/V compo-

the remote control (Figure 6).

front panel. Press buttons on the remote control while watching the front panel of the A/V compo-
nent. When the component responds repeatedly to the commands, peel off the protective backing

If the A/V component’s remote sensor is not clearly
-
dow of the A/V component while pushing buttons on
the remote control until you get a response (Figure 7).
Repeat this procedure for each A/V component you
wish to control.
When the A/V component responds repeatedly, peel off


Figure 6: Locating IR



12
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 5 – MOUNTING THE CONNECTION HUB



the connection hub (Figure 8). The connection hub can be either mounted on a wall using screws
or placed on a shelf using the included adhesive feet (Figure 9).
Figure 7:  Figure 8: Removing Cables

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 13
Figure: 9A & B
A: Wall mounting
B: If you desire to shelf mount the connection hub, stick the included adhesive backed feet on the
bottom of the unit and place it on the shelf
Figure 9B: Table-top placement
Affix the enclosed self-adhesive

Figure 9A: Wall-mount placement
 
Self-Adhesive
Rubber Feet
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 6 – RUNNING THE MICROSENSOR CABLE










14
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 7 – RUNNING THE MICROSENSOR CABLE

(Figure 10).
That’s it! Now you are ready to control your audio/video equipment from the room you chose.


Figure 10: Connecting Power Supply and Flashers

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 15
INSTALLATION (continued)
STEP 8 – MS220 MOUNTING LOCATION

anywhere. Convenient mounting locations for the


viewer
-
ance, or a speaker grille


NORMAL OPERATION



on the remote (Figure 12).
If you are using a remote control with macro
capabilities (a single press of a button issues a
string of commands), allow sufficient time for all
of the commands to execute.
Figure 12: System Operation
Figure 11: 

16
INSTALLATION (continued)
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
STATUS FEEdBACK WALL AdAPTER

This is a very useful feature when operating your equipment from a remote location. For this feature
to work, your system receiver (or preamp) must have a switched AC outlet and you must purchase


connection hub’s Status Input (Figure 13).
REMOTE CONTROL ANYWHERE! KIT
CONNECTION HUB
Figure 13: Connecting the Status Adaptor

NILES AUDIO CORPORATION – 1-800-BUY-HIFI – 1-305-238-4373 17
INSTALLATION (continued)
AddITIONAL MICROSENSORS



RUNNING MICROSENSOR CABLE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION
SCHEdULING ANd PREPARATION


basic rules are:
Never run the MicroSensor cable through the same hole as an electrical cable.
Never run the MicroSensor cable into the same J-box as electrical cable.
Avoid running the MicroSensor cable beside the electrical cable. Keep it at least 3 or 4 feet
away from any electrical power cable.

cable route away as soon as possible. If construction forces a side by side run for more than ten


cables, so you can safely run all of them at the same time, through the same holes, side-by-side.

18
INSTALLATION (continued)
SAFETY FIRST!
Wear gloves, safety goggles and head protection when drilling. Avoid nails, they ruin bits and they

the torque of the drill when suddenly stopped by a nail can break a strong person’s wrist.
dRILLING

rough-in wiring. It will actually pull itself through the wood, so that the drill motor, not you, does
most of the work.
Always drill the holes in the center of the stud. If you have to notch the stud or drill the hole closer
than one inch from the edge of the stud, protect the cable with a nail plate.
When drilling holes in ceiling joists, drill in the center of the joists and try to locate the hole near
the end of the joist. DO NOT drill through a “glulam” or any load bearing beam without the
direction of your contractor.
Try to line the holes up perfectly, because it makes pulling the cable much easier. A good technique
is to snap a chalk line across the face of the studs or against the bottom of the ceiling joists. Then
work backward so that you can always see the holes you have already drilled. Paying careful
attention to this will save you a lot of time later!