nuLEDs SpectraDrive16 User manual

2013
O PERATIONS M ANUAL
Rev: 1.1
SpectraDrive16™ Three‐Channel LED
Controller
ith Serial Interface

2013
© 2013 NuLEDs, Inc.

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 2
I Product Safety
The light i g flash with arrowhead symbol, withi a equilateral tria gle, is i te ded to
alert the user to the prese ce of u ‐i sulated da gerous voltage withi the product’s
e closure that may be of sufficie t mag itude to co stitute a risk of electric shock to
perso s.
The exclamatio poi t withi a equilateral tria gle is i te ded to alert the user to the
prese ce of importa t operati g a d mai te a ce (servici g) i structio s i the
literature accompa yi g the applia ce.
ARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR
MOISTURE.
CAUTION: NO USER‐SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 3
Table of Co te ts
I PRODUCT SAFETY .......................................................................................................................... 2
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Tech ology.............................................................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Features .................................................................................................................................................................................4
2 OVERVIE ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Co tacti g Tech ical Support ................................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Before you Begi ....................................................................................................................................................................5
2.3 Items to Have Available: ........................................................................................................................................................5
2.4 Firmware Revisio .................................................................................................................................................................6
3 INSTALLATION .................................................................................................................................. 7
3.1 Mou ti g the SPECTRADRIVE16
..............................................................................................................................................................7
3.2 Co ecti g the SPECTRADRIVE16
...........................................................................................................................................................7
3.3 System Co figuratio s ...........................................................................................................................................................9
3.4 SPECTRADRIVE16 Automatio System Co ectio s
.............................................................................................................................13
3.5 SPECTRADRIVE16 Dipswitch Setti gs
....................................................................................................................................................14
4 OPERATION .................................................................................................................................... 15
4.1 Ma ual Operatio ................................................................................................................................................................15
4.2 Serial Operatio ...................................................................................................................................................................16

© 2011 NuLEDs Inc. Rev: 1.0
NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 4
1 Introduction
Co gratulatio s o your purchase of the NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 LED Co troller. The SPECTRADRIVE16
was desig ed to provide i te sity co trol of LED lighti g i architectural spaces. The SPECTRADRIVE16 ca
co trol 3 separate si gle color, co sta t voltage, LED lighti g zo es (e.g. LumiFlex™ or Mi iCa s™)
simulta eously. It will also co trol all NuLEDs RGB LED (SpectraFlex™, SpectraChips™) lighti g compo e ts
a d ma y other commo a ode RGB compo e ts with regulated i put voltages betwee 6 a d 24 volts.
The SPECTRADRIVE16 is specifically desig ed to co trol co sta t‐voltage LED. This docume t covers
co sta t voltage usage. With some modificatio at the factory, the SPECTRADRIVE16 ca also be supplied
as a logic level PFM co troller to co trol power supplies a d drivers with a PWM i put. Results will vary with
the ability of the supply or driver to respo d to the sig al.
The SPECTRADRIVE16 will not work o i tegrated lamp replaceme ts with built‐i AC to DC power
co versio .
1.1 Technology
The SPECTRADRIVE16 utilizes Pulse Freque cy Modulatio (PFM) to create smooth, flicker free, sce e fades
a d a special logarithmic algorithm for more accurate color matchi g of eight‐bit (256 level) RGB values.
Sce e defi itio a d co trol are easily accomplished by i terfaci g with a y computer or automatio system
that ca ge erate ASCII code packets at 9600 baud through a RS232 serial port. Up to 15 SPECTRADRIVE16
co trollers ca be daisy‐chai ed o a si gle RS232 li e. The SPECTRADRIVE16 is a receive‐o ly device.
There is o feedback to the computer or automatio system.
The tech ology of the SPECTRADRIVE16 represe ts a departure from the LED lighti g co trols systems such
as DMX where large volumes of streami g data at very high baud rates are used. I stead, much of the
processi g power is delegated to the SPECTRADRIVE16 a d simple, u itary comma d stri gs from a
automatio system ca create complex lighti g sce es over stable, low‐baud‐rate etworks.
1.2 Features
Each SPECTRADRIVE16 comes with a predefi ed loopi g color seque ce that is i voked a d operated
ma ually by butto s or by serial stri g. The SPECRADRIVE16 has a series of 8 dipswitches. The first 4
determi e the address of the co troller, 5 a d 6 determi e the mode (sta dard color cha gi g, sll
white, su rise/su set, or color morphi g) switch 7 determi es if the lights come o whe
powered up, a d switch 8 is the termi ator for the e d device o a ba k of co trollers. The loopi g
color seque ce is i stalled at the factory a d ca ot be cha ged i the field. Note: Colors defi ed i the
table have bee tested with NuLEDs SpectraFlex a d SpectraChip RGB compo e ts. Other RGB compo e ts
may have u expected color respo se due to differe ces i their LEDs a d co structio .
The SPECTRADRIVE16 is i te ded to be wall mou ted a d ca be i stalled i a sta dard si gle‐ga g low‐
voltage electrical box (separate from a y AC li e voltage wiri g) a d is operated with o ly two butto s or
serial co ectio . The power supply is separate a d should be specifically matched to the LED system it is
drivi g. NuLEDs ca provide the proper power supply a d co trol for just about a y o ‐i tegral LED system.

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 5
2 Overview
The followi g docume tatio will guide a i staller through simple setup, operatio , a d co trol of the
SPECTRADRIVE16 LED Co troller.
Please read through the e tire docume t prior to co ecti g, i stalli g, or programmi g the SPECTRADRIVE16.
Should a y questio s arise duri g the i stallatio or programmi g, please co tact NuLEDs tech ical support.
2.1 Contacting Technical Support
Website
http://www. uleds.com
Pho e
760.931.2550/
760.707.5611
9am
to
5pm
PST
Mo day
thru
Friday
Fax
760.931.2574
Please
allow
24hrs
for
Reply
Email
support@ uleds.com
Please
allow
24hrs
for
Reply
2.2 Before you Begin
Before i stalli g or co ecti g the SPECTRADRIVE16 co troller, please make sure that the system is properly
desig ed. This will e sure that all proper co ectio s are made a d the co troller is ready for use o ce the
system is i stalled. The followi g steps will act as a guideli e i creati g a robust LED lighti g system.
NuLEDs support ca help with pla i g a d impleme tatio . The possibilities are e dless.
• Determi e the lighti g requireme ts for the space. Determi e the locatio s a d types of LED
compo e ts to be used. Are there specific colors or multi‐zo e sce es e visio ed?
• Determi e power, cabli g a d co trol requireme ts to achieve the desired lighti g effects. Power
draw a d dista ce betwee supply a d load will determi e gage a d le gth of power cable.
Dista ce from the automatio system to the SPECTRADRIVE16 will affect how the data cabli g will be
specified. Some additio al compo e ts may be ecessary.
• Determi e the user i terface for the automatio system. Refer to the automatio system’s
docume tatio for co ectio as well as a u dersta di g of the programmi g protocol.
2.3 Items to Have Available:
• SPECTRADRIVE16 Co troller(s)
• LED Lighti g compo e ts
• Power Supplies, Cabli g (power a d data), Co ectio s, etc.
• Automatio System or PC (optio al)
• Operatio s Ma ual for the Automatio System
• Programmi g Docume t for the Automatio System (if used)
• Tools such a co trol screw driver a d wire strippers

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 6
2.4 Firmware Revision
The i formatio co tai ed i this docume t is i te ded for SPECTRADRIVE16 co trollers with the latest
versio of firmware. Please verify that you have the latest versio of firmware for each SPECTRADRIVE16
co troller i the system. Firmware revisio s must be made at NuLEDs. Co tact tech ical support.

3 Installation
Page 7
Improper co ectio of electro ic compo e ts ca cause perma e t damage a d/or create a safety
risk. Please read this docume t carefully.. I the eve t that you are still u sure, STOP a d co tact
uLEDS tech ical support.
Electrical curre ts ca cause serious i jury; AC co ectio to the power supply should ONLY be
performed by a qualified electricia .
3.1 Mounting the SPECTRADRIVE16
The SPECTRADRIVE16 is i te ded to be wall mou ted a d ca be i stalled i a sta dard si gle‐ga g low‐
voltage electrical box (separate from a y AC li e voltage wiri g) a d is operated with o ly two butto s or
serial co ectio . Power supply is separate a d should be specifically matched to the LED system it is
drivi g. NuLEDs ca provide the proper power supply a d co trol for just about a y o ‐i tegral LED system.
3.2 Connecting the SPECTRADRIVE16
3.2.1 Power Connection
Power for the SPECTRADRIVE16 co troller is supplied via a 6‐24 volt DC power supply to V+ a d GND
co ectio s o the 6 positio screw termi al. This supply is typically the same co sta t‐voltage supply as
the LED system. Whe more tha o e power supply is used for the LED system (see later sectio s) o ly
o e co ectio eeds to be made to power the co troller.
V+ Positive Voltage NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Red Wire from Power Supply
GND Negative Grou d NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Black Wire from Power Supply

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 8
3.2.2 Simple LED Connections
This sectio covers smaller systems with a LED load u der 5 amps. This is the simplest a d most widely
used co figuratio as all co ectio s are made o the co troller circuit board. I this co figuratio , V+ from
the co sta t‐voltage power supply co ects through the co troller circuit board to the V+ out to the LED
system a ode via a copper trace thus limiti g the amou t of curre t i the system. See later sectio or
co tact NuLEDs support for systems larger tha 5 amps. Commo ‐a ode RGB LED systems like the NuLEDS
SpectraFlex a d SpectraChips or iFlex30 utilize a 4 wire co ectio . This co sists of a a ode
co ectio (V+) a d cathode co ectio s (R,G,B) for the i dividual color cha els. NuLEDs supplied wiri g
will co form to the sta dard wire i sulatio colors listed i the tables. Other ma ufacturers may have
differe t color sta dards.
Alter atively, three separate si gle‐color “zo es” ca be co ected by co ecti g all of their a odes to V+
a d the cathodes of the modules co ected to R, G, or B zo es as required for co trol of lighti g sce es.
I this case the R,G a d B termi als are the three si gle color cha els.
Please ote that the followi g diagrams are but a small sampli g of the possible co figuratio s.
V+ Positive Voltage NuLEDs LED Sta dard: White Wire
R Red Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Red Wire
G Gree Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Gree Wire
B Blue Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Black Wire

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 9
3.3 System Configurations
3.3.1 RGB – Single Power Supply
V+ Positive Voltage NuLEDs LED Sta dard: White Wire
R Red Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Red Wire
G Gree Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Gree Wire
B Blue Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Black Wire

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 10
3.3.2 Single‐ Color 3 Zone – Single Power Supply
V+ Positive Voltage (a ode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Red or White Wire
R R Cha el (cathode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Black Wire
G G Cha el (cathode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Black Wire
B B Cha el (cathode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Black Wire
3.3.3 Multiple Configurations
Power Supplies ca be used i multiple co figuratio s with the SPECTRADRIVE16 module. Each
co figuratio is based o the requireme ts of the i stallatio . As oted earlier, havi g the i stallatio
pla ed out i adva ce is advised i order to avoid damage to compo e ts or i jury. Call NuLEDs support
with questio s.
The maximum curre t for the SPECTRADRIVE16 module is 15Amps (5 amps per cha el) please keep this i
mi d whe desig i g a system with the SPECTRADRIVE16. If more power is required, additio al
co trollers ca be used.

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 11
3.3.4 RGB – Multiple Power Supplies
Multiple co figuratio s are possible. The followi g schematic is just a example.
V+ Positive Voltage NuLEDs LED Sta dard: White Wire
R Red Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Red Wire
G Gree Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Gree Wire
B Blue Cha el NuLEDs LED Sta dard: Black Wire

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 12
3.3.5 Single‐Color 3 Zone – Multiple Power Supplies
V+ Positive Voltage (a ode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Red or White Wire
R R Cha el (cathode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Black Wire
G G Cha el (cathode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Black Wire
B B Cha el (cathode) NuLEDs Sta dard: Black Wire

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 13
3.4 SPECTRADRIVE16 Automation System Connections
Serial co trol of the SPECTRADRIVE16 is via RS232 serial co ectio with a female RJ45 to socket marked
‘i ’. This allows a PC or automatio system to se d simple comma ds to the SPECTRADRIVE16 to create
complex lighti g sce es. Up to 15 i dividual addresses (i dividual SPECTRADRIVE16 co trollers) ca be
co trolled with o e RS232 serial li e. Simply daisy chai Cat5 jumpers out‐to‐i , a d tur o dip switch 8
o th e last switch i the series.
Co ectio from the automatio system may vary so please co sult your automatio systems ma ual for
i formatio o co ectio type a d pi co figuratio . Cabli g a d sig al i tegrity are the respo sibility of
the i staller.
For Serial outputs
NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 14
3.5 SPECTRADRIVE16 Dipswitch Settings
1‐4
Address
Whe multiple addresses are used, a four positio dip
switch assig s a u ique address to each
SPECTRADRIVE16. Addresses are bi ary. Whe a
switch is “O ”, its bit is 0 (zero). “Off” is 1 (o e).
Switch 1 is the least sig ifica t bit
5‐6
Designate program (see spread sheet)
7
Power‐on state
8
Terminator

NOTE: The DipSwitch images i the table below follow the SPECTRADRIVE16 orie tatio i the above
diagram.
Address
Binary DipSwitch Setting Address Binary DipSwitch Setting
A0 0000 A8 1000
A1 0001 A9 1001
A2 0010 A10 1010
A3 0011 A11 1011
A4 0100 A12 1100
A5 0101 A13 1101
A6 0110 A14 1110
A7 0111 A15 1111

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 15
4 Operation
4.1 Manual Operation
Ma ual operatio of the SPECTRADRIVE16 has bee simplified to two butto s. The u it will come loaded
with a predefi ed seque ce of
4.1.1 Button Operation
Butto 1 is the top butto (whe the text o the co troller circuit board is readable with the cover removed).
Butto 2 is the bottom butto .
4.1.2 Loop Mode/Freeze Mode
See spread sheet

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 16
4.1.3 Standard Loop Color Sequence (for NuLEDs RGB Components)
Red Level Green Level Blue Level Fade Time (sec) Hold Time (sec) Description
255 255 255 1 2 Ice Cool white
255 255 150 1 2 White
255 255 110 1 2 Warm White
255 255 70 1 2 Ultra Warm White
255 255 0 3 3 Yellow
127 255 0 3 3 Yellowish Gree
0 255 0 3 3 Gree
0 255 127 3 3 Bluish Gree
0 255 255 3 3 Cya
0 127 255 3 3 Gree ish Blue
0 0 255 3 3 Blue
127 0 255 3 3 Purple
255 0 255 3 3 Fuscia
255 0 127 3 3 Hot Pi k
255 0 0 3 3 Red
255 127 0 3 3 Ora ge
4.2 Serial Operation
4.2.1 SPECTRADRIVE16 Communication Format
The SPECTRADRIVE16 Module receives comma ds from ma y automatio systems a d PCs via a female
RJ45 RS232 co ectio . This sectio outli es the requireme ts for co trol of the SPECTRADRIVE16 module.
Format: ASCII stri g
Baud rate: 9600
Data bits:8
Parity: No e
Stop bit: 1
The co troller requires a 1ms delay betwee each byte, setti g the stop bit to 2 may help to facilitate the
1ms delay should a issue occur whe set to 1ms.

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 17
4.2.2 Command Structure
The tech ology of the SPECTRADRIVE16 represe ts a departure from the LED lighti g co trols systems such
as DMX where large volumes of streami g data at very high baud rates are used. I stead, the processi g
power is delegated to the SPECTRADRIVE16 a d simple, u itary comma d stri gs from a automatio
system ca create complex lighti g sce es over stable, low‐baud‐rate etworks.
The ASCII stri gs co sist of parameters that are parsed a d stored i registers (memory locatio s) i the
SPECTRADRIVE16 a d the acted upo i depe de tly whe a carriage retur is detected. The address
parameter is ot stored i a register but is assig ed by the user by setti g a four‐positio DIP switch. Up to
15 differe t addresses are possible o a si gle RS232 li e.
Whe a comma d stri g is se t, the SPECTRADRIVE16 “liste s” for its address a d o ly loads parameters that
follow its ow address. It will co ti ue loadi g allowable parameters u til a differe t address is se t, i which
case, it will ig ore data a d co ti ue liste i g. Address zero (A0) is special i that all SPECTRADRIVE16
co trollers receivi g a zero (A0) address will load parameters that follow. If the DIP switches o a
SPECTRADRIVE16 are set to A0, it will load all parameters i te ded for all other addresses. O ce a parameter
is loaded, it stays i the register u til it is cha ged or power is lost.
The followi g tables list allowable parameters a d their ra ges. The exte ded parameters are typically
si gle‐actio parameters a d will be se t separately i their ow stri g.
Note: Most automatio systems have their ow u ique ways of se di g a carriage retur . Some systems
have multiple types of carriage retur s. It is up to the i staller to discover the correct carriage retur that
will work with the SPECTRADRIVE16.

NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 18
4.2.2.1 Allowable parameters and their ranges
Ide tifier
Descriptio
Mi
Max
A
Address
o
f
SPECTRADRIVE16
Co troller
to
receive
comma d
0
15
R
I te sity
o
f
R
Cha el
(red)
0
255
G
I te sity
o
f
G
Cha el
(gree )
0
255
B
I te sity
o
f
B
Cha e
l
(blue)
0
255
F
Sets
fade
time
i
te ths
o
f
seco ds
(0.1s)
1
255
M
Sets
the
fade
multiplier
1
255
P
Plays
the
i ter al
color
loop
1
1
S
Sets
the
Dimscale
(scales
all
cha els)
0
255
X
See
Exte ded
Comma ds
1
15
<CR>
Carriage
Retur
–
Activates
Comma
d
4.2.2.2 Extended Commands
Ide tifier
Descriptio
X1
I creme t
the
Dimscale
(all
cha els)
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X2
Decreme t
the
Dimscale
(all
cha els)
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X3
I creme t
the
R
cha el
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X4
Decreme t
the
R
cha
el
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X5
I creme t
the
G
cha el
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X6
Decreme t
the
G
cha el
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X7
I creme t
the
B
cha el
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X8
Decreme t
the
B
cha el
by
5%
o
f
full
scale
X9
Activate
Freeze
M
o
de
(If
loopi g,
fre
eze.
Same
as
pressi g
butto 1)
X10
Deactivate
Freeze
M
o
de
(If
froze ,
co ti ue
loop.
Same
as
pressi g
butto 1)
X11
I creme t
Multiplier
(Butto 2
i
loop
mode)
X12
Decreme t
Multiplier
X13
Step
to
ext
color
i
loop
X14
Set
“
o
‐break”
Dimscale
(set
Dim
scale
without
stoppi g
fade)
X15
Set
“
o
‐break”
multiplier
(set
multiplier
without
stoppi g
fade)

€ !
201
3
Nu/£Ds.
Inc.
NuLEDs SPECTRADRIVE16 Operatio s Ma ual Page 19
Sample Strings
All parameters are stored a d remai i memory of the co troller u til cha ged or power is removed.
This i cludes F (fade time), M (fade multiplier), a d S (dimscale) so the user must be cog iza t of what
parameters are se t. Not resetti g the parameters o subseque t comma ds may lead to u expected
results.
The followi g is a small sample of comma d stri gs for the SPECTRADRIVE16. These are but a few of the
ma y possibilities to create virtually a y lighti g sce e imagi able. With a automatio system stri gs
ca be i voked by touchpads, se sors, scheduled eve ts, etc.. A d by combi i g seque ces of stri gs i a
macro, dy amic lightshows ca be realized. The exte ded (X) comma ds are especially helpful i allowi g
the e d user to make adjustme t to sce es. Please call NuLEDs with a y questio s.
A0 R255 G255 B255 F30
<CR>
Set the i te sity level of the R, G, a d B cha els to 255 (full o ) over 3
seco ds.
A0 R0 G0 B0 F20 A1 R210 F40 A2 G65 F60
A0<CR>
Set all i te sities of all cha els o all addresses to zero (all off) over 2 seco ds while simulta eously
setti g
the R cha el of Address 1 to 210 over 4 seco ds a d the G cha el of Address 2 to 65 over 6 seco ds.
The A0 at the e d tells all SPECTRADRIVE16s to accept the carriage retur (otherwise, o ly A2 would
receive the carriage retur ).
A3 R255 G125 B62 F100
<CR>
O Address 3, set the R cha el to 255, the G cha el to 125, a d the B cha el to 62 over 10 seco ds.
All
other cha els of all other addresses remai
u cha ged.
A0 R0 G0 B0 F255 M255
<CR>
Fade all cha els o all addresses to zero i 6502.5 seco ds (108 mi utes, 22.5 seco ds). Do ’t forget
to reset the M value to 1 afterward i a ew comma d li e: A0 M1 <CR>.
A0 X3
<CR>
Reduce the i te sity level of the R cha el o all addresses by 5% of full scale (5% of 255 ~ 13). Use the
last fade time stored i each co troller.
A0 S217 X14
<CR>
Set the dimscale of all addresses to 85% without stoppi g the fade or loop ( o
break).
A1 S255
<CR>
Sets the dimscale of address 1 to 100%. Loopi g or fadi g will
stop.