PULSEWORX Control4 UPB Driver Instruction Manual

: June 9, 2024
: PULSEWORX

Table of Contents

Control4 UPB Driver
- Network Information and Device setup
- BIG Very important thing to remember!
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

PULSEWORX Control4 UPB Driver

Control4 UPB Driver

Note that as of 1-March-2021 this is a beta version driver. Using this driver in a production/client installation is not recommended unless the installation site owner understands that you are installing beta software.

To facilitate the integration of UPB devices and the Control4 automation system PCS has contracted with Chow main, the leading developer of integrations for the most popular automation platforms, to develop this driver. A link to download the driver package is in this application note.

We assume that you have experience with Control4 systems and understand the methods of adding drivers, working with their integration software, and using Control4 with 3rd party lighting systems.

In order to use this driver, you will need a Pulse Worx Gateway as the interface from Control4 to UPB. This driver operates only with the Pulse Worx Gateway and not the PIM-R, PIM-U, or PIM-IP.

If you don’t have a PulseWorx Gateway, it is available from the PCS web store.
https://pcswebstore.com/collections/interfaces/products/pulseworx-gateway- interface

Tip: If you are not a registered installer, you can easily become one and get an excellent discount off list price.
Instructions are on the website: https://pcswebstore.com/pages/instructions- for-existing-pcs-dealers

Before beginning with the Control4 driver you may need to update the Gateway firmware to version 1.12 or later. That firmware version has features needed for the Control4 integration. An application note is available on how to update the Gateway firmware.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0152/7169/0340/files/PWX_302_Gateway_Firmware.pd?

If you are an experienced Control4 installer but are a new to UPB or UPStart – the UPB Configuration software

there are many online resources to help.

UPStart Users Guide
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0152/7169/0340/files/UPStartUsersGuide_8_1.pdf
Getting started with UPStart
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0152/7169/0340/files/PWX_201_Starting_With_UPStart.pdf
Gateway Quick Start Guide
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0152/7169/0340/files/PGWQuickStartGuidev1.1.pdf

Gateway User Guide
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0152/7169/0340/files/GatewayUserGuide1.5.pdf
In addition to these, there are also videos and other resources on the PCS website.
You will also need the latest UPStart version downloaded from the PCS website UPB Software downloads page.

Network Information and Device setup

You should know the connection information used by the Gateway before beginning with the Control4 system.
This is the same information used by UPStart.

Network IP Address of the Gateway
Username and password. The Gateway must be configured for user access control, or the driver will not function correctly.

The UPStart power line interface selection dialog shows these settings: Port, IP Address, Username, and password.

You also must have installed and configured all your UPB devices before working with the Control4 system.
The Control4 system cannot add UPB devices or modify their configuration.

You must export your design to the Gateway so that all the information that UPStart creates is available in the Gateway for the Control4 driver to use. If you don’t export, or your export information is out of date, the driver will not operate correctly. Each time you make a substantive change to your design – add or remove a device or scene, configure scene transmission or response by a device – you must export again. Exporting is done using the buttons on the PulseWorx Gateway ribbon category in UPStart.

You should also take note of your UPB network id of the installation. This can be found by starting UPStart, opening the design file for the installation, and selecting “Properties” from the “network” ribbon category. The network password is not needed. The network id is shown in the example image below, marked with a red arrow.

PCS has only limited knowledge of Control4 systems and its configuration software. If you have questions about the Gateway, UPB, UPStart, and the process of updating firmware we can help. Please send email to one of the PCS support addresses. As we have only limited knowledge of Control4, we may not be able to help with specific questions about Control4 hardware and software tools.

BIG Very important thing to remember!

When UPStart is connected to the Gateway, the C4 system can’t be connected. Before working with the C4 system, it is necessary to disconnect the Gateway from UPStart – press the Disconnect button in the Network ribbon category or simply shutdown UPStart. If you forget and leave UPStart connected to the Gateway, then then control of UPB devices with the C4 system will not work. Once UPStart finishes with the Gateway then the C4 driver will reconnect. The Gateway mobile apps can operate simultaneously with the C4 system.

Driver download

A zip file that contains the latest version of the Control4 driver and associated documentation is available
here:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0152/7169/0340/files/C4_driverworks_pulseworx.zip

A few Helpful Tips
As a Control4 installer you are familiar with crafting User Interfaces but here are some ideas that may help get the most out of your installation.

Scene Control
It is best practice not to use direct commands to control devices if possible. If you do, then any linked keypad indicators that show the state of that device may not be correct. Also, end-users are accustomed to the actions of a device when locally controlled. For example, a wall switch controls its load but could also be configured to control other devices in the room by transmission of a scene command. Users will expect the same action when the device is controlled by a button in your UI as when they tap the paddle on the physical switch.

Because of this, it is best to always use a scene command to control devices. If you need to control only a single device, it is better to create a scene for that. While not 100% necessary if the device has no links or indicators, it is a good practice as a subsequent modification to the network could add those dependencies.

Multi-User Gateway
The PulseWorx Gateway supports multiple connections. This means that both the Control4 system and the Gateway mobile applications – available for Windows, iOS, and Android – can connect and operate simultaneously with the Control4 system. The only exception to this is when UPStart connects to the Gateway. When that happens, all other connections are dropped as it requires exclusive access.

The Control4 driver is designed so that if it loses connection, it attempts to connect to the Gateway every 15 seconds until it regains the connection.

This allows a UPB installer to use the Gateway with UPStart to make modifications to UPB device configuration. When complete and UPStart terminates, the Control4 system regains the connection and operates as usual.