Xantech 796-20 User manual

1
Modules & Connecting Blocks
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Fig. 1 Model 796-20 Six Zone Connecting Block/Expander
ABABAB
ZONE 9 ZONE 8 ZONE 7 COMMON
ZONE IR INPUTS
ZONE 7 ZONE 8 ZONE 9
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G
ZONE 6 ZONE 5 ZONE 4
ZONE IR INPUTS
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G
ABABAB
ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6
+12 OUT G
ZONE EMITTERS
ZONE EMITTERS
796-20
SIX ZONE CONNECTING BLOCK / EXPANDER
796-20
SIX ZONE CONNECTING BLOCK/EXPANDER
TheModel796-20isaSixZoneConnectingBlockthatallowsIRcontrolofelaboratemultizone audio/video
systems. It serves as an expansion module for the 795-20 or, by itself, as a six zone block. Expansion
beyond 6 zones can be achieved with multiple 796's, limited only by IR noise considerations. The zone
input terminals permit the connection of any Xantech IR Receiver, Keypad or controller device. Each zone
output can control 2 or more pieces of equipment per zone, independent of the other zones, via single or
dual emitters or be direct wired to the IR input of Xantech Preamps, etc. The common output port can drive
1 single or 1 dual emitter or the IR input of Xantech Connecting Blocks for control of common source
equipment from any zone. The 796-20 utilizes active isolation devices for elimination of internal zone-to-
zone cross-talk as well as high speed amplification to all output ports for operation with a wide range of
IR controlled products.
SPECIFICATIONS
• Zone IR Inputs: Six 3-screw terminal connectors to interface with all Xantech 3-lead IR receivers and/or
keypads.
• Outputs: 12 Zone emitter ports (3.5mm mini mono jacks) and 1 common port (screw terminals).
• Green LED test indicators are connected in series with the zone outputs. They will only light when the
connected emitter or device is conducting current.
• Zone output ports A and B and the common port are parallel driven and have a 470-Ohm resistor in series
with each port for lower power operation. This prevents overload of IR sensors on A/V components and
also allows the use of models 282, 283, 284 & 286 series Mini Emitters, Xantech Controllers, Preamps,
etc. in any combination.
• Power requirements: 12 volts DC. Use 781RG or 782-00 Power Supplies.
• Power is applied via the +12 & G of the common terminals (see Figs. 2-4).
• Dimensions: 13-3/8" W x 1-7/8" D x 1" H
INSTALLATION
Fig. 2, illustrates a typical installation using the 796-20 in a six zone system. A variety of Xantech IR
Receivers and a keypad are shown in the various zones. When configuring a system, please keep the
following items in mind:
1. Additional IR Receivers may be wired in parallel at each zone input, if desired, up to a total of twelve.
More than twelve is not recommended, even in a zoned system, because stray IR noise picked up by
the many IR receivers may cause erratic operation and reduce remote control range.


2796-20
Note: Because the 730-00 Smart Pad keypads are not IR receivers, this restriction does not apply
to them. They may be added virtually without limit, provided power supply requirements are taken into
consideration. See item 3 below.
2. Be sure to connect the +12V, OUTput and Gnd of each IR receiver and keypad to the respective +12,
IN and Gterminals of the zone inputs as shown.
3. Power Supply Requirements. In elaborate installations you may combine many Xantech keypads,
IR receivers, controllers and emitters in a system. Having sufficient power supply voltage and current
available can be critical to achieve proper operation. To be sure you have adequate power supply
capability, take the following factors into consideration:
a) The maximum current available from a 781RG Power Supply for proper operation is 200 mA
(milliamps).
b) The maximum current from a 782-00 Power Supply is 1000 mA.
c) Most IR receivers draw 2 mA without signal and 10 mA with signal. Refer to the IR receiver's spec's
for actual value.
d) Each 730-00 keypad draws 7 mA without signal and 65 mA with signal. The SmartPad2 draws 85
mA, with or without signal.
e) Each emitter connected to the Zone and Common Ports of the 796-20 draws 3 mA with signal and
0 mA without.
f) Add 10 mA for each Xantech powered accessory, such as the 794/797 Interface modules, 791-44
Amplified Connecting Blocks, etc., if they are powered from the 796-20.
g) When using combinations of these devices, add up the currents as shown in the following example.
Then choose a power supply that has a maximum available current that is higher than the total
current required.
For example, the power supply needed for the system shown in Fig. 2 is arrived at as follows:
h) The no signal current for the 6 IR receivers is 6 x 2 = 12 mA.
i) The current for the SmartPad2is = 85mA.
Note: Since only one IR device normally operates at any given time, only one IR device, the one
with the highest current, needs to have its "with signal" current included (in this case, the SmartPad
keypad).
j) The current for one 794-60 Interface module = 10 mA.
k) The current for one 791-44 Amplified Connecting Block = 10 mA.
l) The current for 7 emitters at the 791-44 ports is 7 x 3 = 21 mA.
m) The current for the emitters at the Zone ports is 2 x 3 = 6 mA. (Since all the zone emitters cannot
operate the zone equipment at the same instant in time, only one zone is included. In this case we
chose zone 5 (or 6), since one emitter and a device are driven ).
n) Now add up all the currents from steps h) through n).
12 mA + 85 mA + 10 mA + 10 mA + 21 mA+ 6 mA = 144 mA total. Since this is wqell below 200
mA, one 78RG power supply would suffice.
If the total current exceeds 200 mA, simply step up to the 782-00 power supply.
NOTE: To avoid current "hogging", never connect regulated supplies (such as the 781RG and the
782-00) in parallel.
CAUTION: Do not use unregulated 12V power supply adapters from other manufacturers.
These may deliver excessive voltage to the IR receivers and cause them to “latch-up”. When this
occurs, the “talkback” LEDs in the IR receivers and on the 796-20 Zone Controller may stay on
continuously!

3
Modules & Connecting Blocks
796-20
4. The resistors in series with each zone and the common OUT port provides current sharing to each
emitter and also allows the use of dual emitters in combination with single emitters. You may,
therefore, connect any combination of emitter models 282, 283, 284 & 286 series emitter series to the
zone ports and the common OUT port, to control the desired number of components.
5. When using fewer than 10 emitters on the 791-44 (common) emitter ports, you may plug them in
without regard to order, as shown in Fig. 2.
6. Considerations for Shielded Wire and Long Lead Lengths. When using long lengths (>50 ft.) of
inter-room shielded cable (> 75 ft. unshielded), it may be necessary to connect a 470 Ohm 1/8 Watt
resistor between IR IN (signal) and Gat the 3-screw terminals of the 796-20. Refer to Fig. 3.
Please Note: The zone numbers for the
rooms in Fig. 2 do not agree with the zone
numbers marked on the 796-20. The reason
for this is that the 796-20 is designed to
expand the zones of a 795-20 as shown in
Fig. 4, in which case the zone numbers do
match.
+12 VDC
IR OUT
GND
780-10 J-BOX RECEIVER
+12 VDC
IR OUT
GND
780-10 J-BOX RECEIVER
OUTPUT
+12V
IR IN GND1 GND2 +12V
1(ON) 0(OFF)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910
ON
SENDER/
EMITTER
12345678910
794 UNIVERSAL INTERFACE
ABABAB
ZONE 9 ZONE 8 ZONE 7 COMMON
ZONE IR INPUTS
ZONE 7 ZONE 8 ZONE 9
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G
ZONE 6 ZONE 5 ZONE 4
ZONE IR INPUTS
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G
ABABAB
ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6
+12 OUT G
ZONE EMITTERS
ZONE EMITTERS
796-20
SIX ZONE CONNECTING BLOCK / EXPANDER
IR
CONFIRM
VVGSPOWER15VAC
VIDEO
AUDIO
LEFT
INPUT OUTPUT
AUDIO
RIGHT
1234
SYLMAR,CA • MADE IN U.S.A.
®
RP41AV
REMOTE PREAMP
490-00 Series
Micro Link™
IR Receivers
ZONE 4
3-Wire
Cable
GND
+12V
Red
Stripe
796-20
Six Zone
Connecting
Block
MAIN ROOM, EQUIPMENT CABINET, ETC.
283M
Blink IR™
GND
+12V
ZONE 5
780-10
J-Box
IR Receiver
3-Wire
Cable
GND
+12V
480-00
Dinky Link™
IR Receiver
Red
Stripe
GND
IR OUT
+12V
ZONE 2
CD Changer
Makita
Drape Controller
794-60
Universal
Interface
ZONE 6
490-00 Series
Micro Link™
IR Receivers
ZONE 1
3-Wire
Cable
IR OUT
GND
+12V
Red
Stripe
To 120 V AC
(u
nswitch ed)
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
COMMON
SOURCES
ZONE
EQUIPMENT
+12V
GND
3-Conductor Cable
(unshielded OK)
780-10
J-Box
IR Receiver
ZONE 3
OUT
V
IR
RCVR
PWR
GS
291-10
Hidden Link™
IR Receiver
7-Foot Quick
Connect Cable
CB12
Connecting
Block
XX
Do Not Use
These Jacks
AV Receiver Zone 1
AV Receiver Zone 2
AV Receiver Zone 3
Remote Preamp
AV Receiver Zone 4
AV Receiver Zone 6 283M
Blink IR™
Mouse Emitter
VCR 1
VCR 2
Laser Disc
Cable Box
Cassette DecK
791-44
Amplified
Connecting Block
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
283M
Blink IR™
Mouse Emitter
Smart
Pad™
Zone 5
AM/FM Tuner Zone 5
RP41AV
GND
+12V
Satellite Receiver
+12 VDC
GND
EMITTERS
12 VDC
HIGH
OUT
STATUS
IR IN
IR
RCVR
791-44 AMPLIFIED CONNECTING BLOCK
®
STATUS
IR OUT
IR OUT
IR OUT
IR OUT
781RG
Power Supply
Fig. 2 A Typical 796-20 Six Zone System
470 Ohm
resistor
Shielded Cable(s)
to remote room(s)
796-20 Input
Terminals
Ground Shield as shown
ZONE 9
+12 IN G
Fig. 3 Using a 470 Ohm Capacitance Discharge Resistor


4
Emitter Expansion
1. Zone Output Ports. Since the 796-20 zone output ports (A and B) are driven in parallel and have a
470-Ohm resistor in series with each, you may expand up to four emitters simply by using two dual
emitters, such as the 284-00 or the 286-00.
To expand beyond 4 emitters, connect a 789-44 Connecting Block or a 791-44 Amplified Connecting
Block at the "A" or "B" port to achieve the desire number of emitters. Simply use a 2-conductor cable
with a mono mini plug on one end and stripped ends at the other. Connect the signal lead (from tip
ofthemini plug) to the INPUT terminal of the 789-44 or 791-44 block and the other lead to the GROUND
terminal of the block. Do not use the IR RCVR jack on the connecting blocks for this purpose!
Also, a power supply is not needed for the 789-44 when used solely for emitter expansion.
2. When using 791-44's for emitter expansion from the zone ports, you may power them from the +12
and G terminals on any one of the 796-20 IR ZONE terminals. Be sure to take the current drain of the
791-44's into consideration (10 mA each) and the extra emitters you use, when calculating the total
current for choice of power supply.
3. COMMON OUT Port. This may be used to drive one single or one dual emitter to operate common
components. When more are required, use the COMMON OUT port to drive the input of a 791-44
AmplifiedConnectingBlockasshowninFig.2. This allows the use of upto 10 single or 10 dualemitters
to control the common sources.
ZONE CROSS-TALK CAUTION
Be sure to use MS Mouse Emitter Shields (available separately) with the 282M and 284M series emitters,
if you use them instead of the 283M's and 286M's. The MS1 will stop the stray IR output of a zone emitter
or a common source emitter from bleeding over into another zone or zones. This is especially important
when zone receivers and source equipment are stacked close to each other.
796-20 AS A ZONE EXPANDER FOR THE 795-20
Fig. 4 shows the 3-lead connection necessary between the 795 and the 796 for zone expansion of a 795.
• For simplicity, only six zones, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 9 are shown in the diagram. A total of nine zones are
possible, each wired with any
choice of IR receivers & key-
pads, in the same manner as
shown in Fig. 2.
• Plug emitters into the ZONE
EMITTERS A and B jacks as
required.
•NOTE: Do not plug emitters
into ZONE 4 A or B on the
795. Emitters for zone 4 must
be plugged into the ZONE 4 A
or B jacks on the 796.
• Power is applied to the 796 as
well as the 795 via a power
supply connected to the +12V
jack on the 795. Be sure the
current drain of all devices is
taken into consideration when
calculating the total current for
choice of power supply.
796-20
Fig. 4 A 796-20 Connected As a Zone Expander For The 795-20
ZONE
ABABAB+12V
ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4
ZONE IR INPUTS
ZONE 3 ZONE 2 ZONE 1
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G
POWER
To Zone IR
Receivers,
Keypads, etc.
To Zone IR
Receivers,
Keypads, etc.
MODEL 796-20
6-ZONE EXPANDER
4-ZONE AMPLIFIED
BLOCK
MODEL 795-20
ZONE 9 ZONE 8 ZONE 7 COMMON
ZONE IR INPUTS
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G +12 OUT G
ABABAB
ZONE 7 ZONE 8 ZONE 9
ZONE EMITTERS

5
Modules & Connecting Blocks
Fig. 5 An 18-Zone System Using Three 796-20's
CONNECTING MULTIPLE 796-20's FOR ZONE EXPANSION
Fig. 5 shows how three 796's may be connected for an 18-zone system. The three wire COMMON
connections from each 796 are paralleled at the input of a 791-44 Amplified Connecting Block to drive the
common source emitters. Combinations of two or more 796's may be similarly connected to handle virtually
any multizone requirement.
• For simplicity, only three zones on each 796, zones 7, 8, and 9, are shown in the diagram. All six zones
of each 796 may be wired with any choice of IR receivers and keypads, in the same manner as that shown
in Fig. 2.
• The maximum number of zones using IR receivers is limited only by stray IR noise considerations. See
item 1, page 1.
• Keepin mind that youwill need to applydifferentzone numbers to the796-20's so they will matchthe actual
zone numbers you assign to rooms.
• Plug emitters into the ZONE EMITTERS A and B jacks as required.
• Power is applied to the system via the power supply connected to the 791-44. Be sure to take the current
drain of all devices into consideration when calculating the total current for choice of power supply.
PLEASE NOTE: Be sure that the 781RG or the 782-00 Power Supplies, where used, are plugged into
unswitched AC outlets. This maintains the IR control system in "standby" operation so that power-on
commands can be sent to the equipment.
MOUNTING
The 796-20 can be conveniently mounted to a wall or shelf by using the four sheet-metal screws and the
two right-angle brackets supplied. Fasten a bracket to each end surface of the 796 using the two small black
screws, driving them into the holes provided. Use the longer screws to attach the unit to a wall or shelf. The
holes in the ends are located so that two different mounting positions are possible. The unit may be mounted
in any orientation to accommodate the installation.
796-20
9-29-00
ZONE 9 ZONE 8 ZONE 7 COMMON
ZONE IR INPUTS
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G +12 OUT G
ABABAB
ZONE 7 ZONE 8 ZONE 9
ZONE EMITTERS
ZONE 9 ZONE 8 ZONE 7 COMMON
ZONE IR INPUTS
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G +12 OUT G
ABABAB
ZONE 7 ZONE 8 ZONE 9
ZONE EMITTERS
ZONE 9 ZONE 8 ZONE 7 COMMON
ZONE IR INPUTS
+12 IN G +12 IN G +12 IN G +12 OUT G
ABABAB
ZONE 7 ZONE 8 ZONE 9
ZONE EMITTERS
To 120 V AC
(u
nswitch ed)
782-00
Power Supply
791-44
Amplified
Connecting Block
To Zone IR
Receivers,
Keypads, etc.
MODEL 796-20
To Zone IR
Receivers,
Keypads, etc.
To Zone IR
Receivers,
Keypads, etc.
To Emitters on Common
Source Components
MODEL 796-20
MODEL 796-20
+12 VDC
GND
EMITTERS
12 VDC
HIGH
OUT
STATUS
IR IN
IR
RCVR
791-44 AMPLIFIED CONNECTING BLOCK
®