Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: SX-3000 GPIO to contol lights/sound

This is topic SX-3000 GPIO to contol lights/sound in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=001613

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 08-28-2013, 08:53 PM:

I have a Xetron Xetrol 4 dimmer that I would like to control using a GDC SX-3000 servers GPIO outputs. I do not have an automation. Can I directly wire the GPIO outputs to the control inputs on the dimmer? What about to switch sound formats on a CP65? From what I understand these devices can be pulsed directly from the server.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 08-29-2013, 08:28 AM:

The GPIO can provide dry contacts and GDC has totaly descrete contacts unlike DOREMI that have a shared common
but the are just optos and if something real bad happens to one of the devices you are connecting you could let the magic smoke out of the GDC
We built a outboard dip relay board to issolate the two

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 09-06-2013, 08:04 PM:

After some research, I decided to purchase a used Jnior 310 to connect the SX3000 to my dimmer and sound processor as a "buffer" between them. I plan to use the servers GPIO outputs and connect them to the digital inputs on the Jnior. Then, I will connect the dimmer and sound format control wires to the relay outputs on the Jnior. I changed the Jnior settings and "slaved" each relay output with the corresponding digital input. Will this work? Any help will be appreciated.

Posted by Ian Freer (Member # 1940) on 09-07-2013, 03:14 AM:

Instead of using the the GPO's of the SX-3000, it is easier to connect the server and Jnior over Ethernet. This requires just a single ethernet cable, just plug it into the network switch... (assuming there is already a switch in the setup)).

The GDC can then issue commands to the Jnior in two ways;

In the simplest form, the Jnior can be set up as a basic automation device in the GDC, which can then activate the relays on the Jnior just as a simple contact closure command. (numbered 1 through 8)

To gain more control, the Jnior can be set up to run macro's. The configuration is a little bit trickier, but once done the server can then trigger these macros by unique name. This makes placing actions in automation events a little bit simpler as you can name each command rather than having to remember which action is associated with each relay).

The macro method is also essential if you also want to install the optional manual control panel, which gives you 12 switches to assign macro's to, to give easy access to control lights etc outside of usual automation times...

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 09-07-2013, 07:06 AM:

Ok that makes sense...but back to my original question. Would it work the way I described? Or would it have to be connected via the ethernet port?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-07-2013, 08:56 AM:

Yes, it will work, but it is really a waste of money to use a jnior only as a dumb buffer stage.

But of course you can start with that scheme and then add methods later.

- Carsten

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 09-08-2013, 12:18 PM:

Thanks for the help. I connected the jnior to the server through the ethernet switch. Then I added the junior to the GDC server with its IP address, port, username, and password. Then I tested activating the output relays of the junior though the automation with no success. Any ideas?

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 09-08-2013, 02:38 PM:

If it's used, it may have a configuration that doesn't work for you. You should probably reset it to factory defaults and start from scratch. Do you have the documentation for the device? Have you been able to log onto it's integrated webserver to check all settings? Getting started will take some time, but then it's a lot of fun.

- Carsten

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 09-08-2013, 03:11 PM:

Yes the jnior is used and yes I have been able to log into the integrated web server to change the IP address, etc. How can I reset it to factory settings? What should I change the settings to for it to work with my GDC server?

Posted by Ian Freer (Member # 1940) on 09-14-2013, 01:00 AM:

Rather than adding the Jnior as a device manually, let the GDC find it by doing a 'search for network devices'.
If the IP settings are correct, it should appear in a list of serach results. In fact, they normally show up twice in the list, so just select one of the lines on the list and go from there.

Also, if the username and password of the jnior are still at defaults then you do not need to fill these in on the GDC, with these fields left blank the GDC will assume defaults...