ADVATEK LIGHTING E4-SMk3 Professional LED Pixel Controller Advatek User Manual
- June 14, 2024
- ADVATEK LIGHTING
Table of Contents
- ADVATEK LIGHTING E4-SMk3 Professional LED Pixel Controller Advatek
- Product Usage Instructions
- FAQ
- Introduction
- Physical Installation
- Electrical Connections
- Network Configuration
- IP Addressing
- Operation
- Specifications
- Troubleshooting
- CONTACT
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
ADVATEK LIGHTING E4-SMk3 Professional LED Pixel Controller Advatek
Product Usage Instructions
- Refer to the user manual for detailed instructions on wall mount and DIN rail mount installations.
- Ensure to follow the guidelines provided for supplying power, connecting control data, pixel LEDs, and other electrical connections as specified in the manual.
- For network setup, refer to the Network Layout Options section to configure IP addressing based on your network requirements.
- Learn about start-up procedures, sending Ethernet data, pixel outputs, button actions, hardware test patterns, operating refresh rates, sACN priorities, and Advatek SHOWTime functionality.
- Stay up-to-date with firmware updates by following the instructions outlined in the manual.
FAQ
- Q: Can I install the PixLite E4-S Mk3 without technical knowledge?
- A: No, the installation should be carried out by someone with proper technical knowledge as stated in the safety notes.
- Q: How do I troubleshoot LED codes?
- A: Refer to the Troubleshooting section in the user manual for detailed information on LED codes and solutions for common issues.
Introduction
This is the user manual for the PixLite E4-S Mk3 pixel controller. The PixLite
E4-S Mk3 is a powerful pixel LED controller built upon Advatek’s 3rd
generation PixLite Mk3 processor. At its core, the controller converts sACN,
Art-Net and DMX512 protocols from lighting consoles, media servers, or
computer lighting software into various pixel LED protocols. With the PixLite
Mk3 processor, the PixLite E4- S Mk3 brings powerful operational functionality
and advanced management platforms.
Management & Configuration
This manual covers the physical aspects of the PixLite E4- S Mk3 controller
and its essential setup steps only. Detailed information about its
configuration options can be found in the ‘PixLite Mk3 Management Guide’.
Configuration, management, and monitoring of this device can be performed via
the web-based Management Interface. To access the interface, either open any
web browser and navigate to the IP address of the device, or use Advatek
Assistant 3, which can be downloaded here: www.advateklighting.com/advatek-
assistant-3
Other manuals and the PixLite Mk3 Management Guide may be downloaded from: www.advateklighting.com/downloads.
Safety Notes
- This LED pixel controller should be installed by someone with proper technical knowledge only. Installation of the device should not be attempted without such knowledge.
- The pixel output connectors shall be used for pixel output connection only.
- Completely disconnect the supply source during abnormal operation and before making any other connections to the device.
- Specification and certification markings are located on the side of the device.
Physical Installation
Wall Mount
Assemble the unit onto the wall/ceiling using four screws of a type suitable
for the mounting surface (not supplied). The screws should be a pan head type,
3mm in thread diameter and at least 15mm long, as shown in Figure 2 below.
DIN Rail Mount
The controller can be mounted to a DIN rail using the optional mounting kit
(part number MNT0101).
- Align the controller’s mounting holes with the outermost mounting holes on each bracket. Using the four supplied M3, 12mm long screws, assemble the controller to the mounting brackets, as shown in Figure 3 below.
- Align the lower edge of the bracket with the lower edge of the DIN rail (1), and push the controller down so it clicks onto the DIN rail (2), as shown in Figure 4 below.
- To remove the controller from the DIN rail, pull the controller horizontally, toward its power connector (1) and rotate the controller up and off the rail (2), as shown in Figure 5 below.
Electrical Connections
Supplying Power
Power is applied to the PixLite E4- S Mk3 via the small pluggable screw
terminal connector. The screws should be loosened for wire insertion and then
tightened again, providing a highly robust and secure connection. The polarity
for the connector is marked on the lid (“+” & “-”), as shown in Figure 6
below. The type of wire required for the supply connection is 1.0mm2, 16AWG,
VW-1.
Refer to Section 9.1 for operating specifications for powering this device.
- Pixels that are connected to the PixLite E4-S Mk3 cannot be powered through the device itself; any pixels connected must have their power sourced separately from a power supply instead. If multiple power supplies are in use, then the DC ground (also known as “negative”) terminals of each power supply must be connected, to achieve a common DC ground.
- Advatek recommends fusing each positive line that is used to power the pixels, using an in-line fast blow fuse.
Control Data
Ethernet data is connected via a standard network cable into the RJ45 Ethernet
port located on the front side of the unit, as shown in Figure 7 below.
Connecting Pixel LEDs
A high-level wiring diagram for connecting pixel LEDs to a PixLite E4-S Mk3 is
shown in Figure 8 below. Refer to Section 7.3 for the specific capacity of a
pixel output.
- The pixel lights are connected directly via the 4 pluggable screw terminal connectors on the rear of the unit. Each connector is labeled with its output channel number (1-4) which is marked on the top surface. Simply wire your lights into each screw terminal and then plug them into the mating sockets.
- The cable length between the output and the first pixel should not exceed 15m.
- Figure 9 shows the pin-out of the pixel output connectors.
Differential DMX512 Pixels
The PixLite E4-S Mk3 can connect to differential DMX512 pixels, as well as
single-wire serial DMX512 pixels. Single-wired DMX512 pixels can connect as
per the pinout above. Differential DMX512 pixels require the connection of an
additional data wire. This pinout can be seen in Figure 10 below. Note that
when driving differential DMX512 pixels, you should ensure that the data
transmission speed is set appropriately, based on the specification of your
pixels. The standard speed for DMX512 transmission is 250kHz, however, many
DMX pixel protocols can accept faster speeds. Also note that with DMX pixels,
the outgoing data stream is not limited to a single universe, as a standard
DMX universe would be. The maximum number of DMX pixels that can be configured
is the same as the maximum number of pixels of any other protocol.
Expanded Mode
If your pixels do not have a clock line, you may optionally activate expanded
mode on the controller, via the Management Interface. In expanded mode, the
clock lines are used as data lines instead. This means the controller
effectively has twice as many pixel outputs (8), but half as many pixels per
output can be run.
Compared to pixels with a clock line, pixels that only use a data line have
the potential to lower the maximum achievable refresh rate in a pixel system.
If a pixel system is using data-only pixels, then the refresh rates will
typically be improved by using expanded mode. Enabling expanded mode allows
for twice as many data outputs, so the same number of pixels can be spread out
over these outputs, resulting in a large improvement to refresh rate. This
becomes more important as the number of pixels per output increases.
Mapping of these pixel outputs in the Management Interface will appear as
follows:
Expanded Mode Enabled
Management Interface Output| Pixel Output| Pin Name
1| 1| Clock
2| 1| Data
3| 2| Clock
4| 2| Data
5| 3| Clock
6| 3| Data
7| 4| Clock
8| 4| Data
Expanded Mode Disabled
Management Interface Output| Pixel Output| Pin Name
1| 1| Data
2| 2| Data
3| 3| Data
4| 4| Data
The pinout for the expanded mode is shown in Figure 11 below.
Aux Port
- The PixLite E4-S Mk3 has 1 multipurpose auxiliary (Aux) port that can be used for DMX512 communication using RS485 electrical signals. It is capable of outputting DMX512 to other devices or receiving DMX512 from another source.
- Configure the Aux port to DMX512 Output to allow conversion of a single universe of incoming sACN or Art-Net data to the DMX512 protocol. This then allows any DMX512 device(s) to be connected to this port and effectively be controllable over Ethernet.
- Configure the Aux port to DMX512 Input to allow the PixLite to be driven by an external source of DMX512 control. Whilst this is limited to only a single universe of data, the PixLite can use DMX512 as its source of pixel data for situations where a DMX512 control system is required to be used instead of Ethernet-based data.
- The Aux port connector is located on the front side of the unit as shown in Figure 12 below.
Network Configuration
Network Layout Options
Figure 13 shows a typical network topology for the PixLite E4-S Mk3.
The Lighting Control Device could be any source of Ethernet data – e.g.
desktop PC, laptop, lighting console, or media server.
Having a router on the network is not mandatory but is useful for IP address
management with DHCP (see Section 6.3.1).
- The controller can alternatively be connected directly to the host machine, as shown in Figure 14. A crossover cable is not required in this case, but it may be used if desired.
The controller(s) can be integrated straight into any pre-existing LAN such as
your media, home or office network, the above diagrams are only provided as
examples.
IGMP Snooping
Installations using multicast sACN will benefit from the use of IGMP Snooping-
enabled network equipment when there are more multicast universes on the
network than anyone PixLite is using. If there are more than 24 universes of
multicast sACN on the network then IGMP Snooping is mandatory.
Note: “E” Series devices are not equipped with a Universe Data Hardware
Firewall, which many other PixLite Mk3 devices have. This feature removes the
need for IGMP Snooping. This means that the operation of the PixLite E4-S Mk3
in the situation described above will require IGMP Snooping, as there is no
hardware firewall in place.
IP Addressing
DHCP
Routers typically have an internal DHCP server, which means they can assign an
IP address to a connected device if requested.
DHCP is always enabled by default on this device, so it can immediately
connect to any existing network with a router / DHCP Server. If the controller
is in DHCP mode and is not assigned an IP address by a DHCP server, it will
assign itself an IP address with Automatic IP Addressing, as explained in
Section 6.3.2 below.
AutoIP
When this device has DHCP enabled (factory default), there is also
functionality for it to be operational on networks without a DHCP server, via
the AutoIP mechanism.
When no DHCP address is being offered to this device it will generate a random
IP address in the range of 169.254.X.Y that does not conflict with any other
devices on the network. The benefit of AutoIP is that communication can happen
between the device and any other compatible network device, without the need
for a DHCP server or pre-configured Static IP addressing.
This then means that connecting a PixLite E4-S Mk3 directly to a PC typically
does not require any IP address configuration – communication will be possible
because both devices would generate their own valid AutoIP.
While the device has an AutoIP address in use, it continues searching for a
DHCP address in the background. If one becomes available, it will switch to
the DHCP address instead of the AutoIP.
Static IP
In many typical lighting networks that this device would operate in, it’s
common for the installer to manually manage a set of IP addresses, instead of
relying on DHCP or AutoIP. This is referred to as static network addressing.
When allocating a static address, the IP address and the subnet mask both
define the subnet that the device is operating on. You need to ensure that
other devices that need to communicate with this device are on the same
subnet. Therefore they should have the same subnet mask and a similar but
unique IP address.
When setting static network settings, the Gateway address can be set to
0.0.0.0 if it is not required. If communication between the device and other
VLANs is required, the Gateway address should be configured and will typically
be the IP address of the router.
Factory IP Address
When you are not sure what IP address the device is using, you can force it to
use a known IP address (referred to as the Factory IP).
To activate the Factory IP and establish communication with the device:
- While the controller is running, hold down the “Reset” button for 3 seconds.
- Release the button.
- The controller will immediately restart its application with the following factory default network settings:
- IP Address: 192.168.0.50
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
- Gateway Address: 0.0.0.0
- Configure your PC with compatible network settings. If you are not sure, you can try the following example settings:
- IP Address: 192.168.0.49
- Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
- Gateway Address: 0.0.0.0
- You should now be able to access the device’s Management Interface manually by browsing to 192.168.0.50 in your web browser, or by using AdvatekAssistant 3.
After establishing a connection to the device, make sure to configure the IP
address settings for future communication and save the configuration.
Note: The Factory IP is only a temporary setting used to regain
connectivity to the device. When the device is reset (powered off and on
again), the IP address settings will revert to what is configured in the
device.
Operation
Start-up
Upon applying power, the controller will quickly begin outputting data to the
pixels. If no data is being sent to the controller, then the pixels will
remain turned off until valid data is received. During live mode, the multi-
color status LED will be flashing green to indicate the controller is running
and outputting any received data to the pixels.
Sending Ethernet Data
Input data is sent from the control PC/server/lighting console to the
controller via Ethernet using a “DMX over IP” protocol such as sACN (E1.31) or
Art-Net. This device will accept Art-Net or sACN data on either Ethernet port.
Sync modes are supported for both Art-Net and sACN. To learn more, refer to
the technical note on synchronous mode here: www.advateklighting.com
/knowledge-base.
Details of incoming and outgoing packets can be viewed in the Management
Interface.
Pixel Outputs
Each of the 4-pixel outputs on the PixLite E4-S Mk3 can drive up to 6
universes of data.
This allows for a total of up to 24 universes of pixel data to be driven out
of the one controller. The number of pixels that can be driven per pixel
output will depend on the configuration, as shown in the table below.
Expanded Mode
Color Type
| Disabled| Enabled
---|---|---
RGB| RGBW| RGB| RGBW
Max Pixels per Pixel Output| 1,020| 768| 510| 384
Max Total Pixels| 4,080| 3,072| 4,080| 3,072
The PixLite must be configured before it can correctly output pixel data. Refer to thePixLite Mk3 Management Guide for how to configure and patch your pixel outputs.
Button Actions
The ‘Test’ and ‘Reset’ buttons can be used to perform various operations, as
listed below.
| Action | Test Button | Reset Button |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle Test Mode On/Off | Press for >3 seconds while |
the application is running
| –
Cycle the Test Modes| Press whilst in test mode| –
Hardware Reset| –| Press momentarily
Factory Reset| –| Press for >10 seconds
Factory IP| –| Press for 3 seconds
Hardware Test Pattern
The controller features a built-in test pattern to assist in troubleshooting
during an installation. To put the controller into this mode, press and hold
the ‘TEST’ button for 3 seconds (after the controller is already running) or
turn it on remotely using its
Management Interface.
The controller will then enter the test pattern mode, where different test
patterns are available as described in the table below. The controller will
display the test pattern on all pixels on each of the pixel outputs and the
Aux DMX512 output (if enabled)
simultaneously. Pressing the ‘TEST’ button while in test mode will move
through each of the patterns successively in one continuous loop.
| Test | Operation |
|---|
Color Cycle
| Outputs will cycle automatically through the red, green, blue, and white colors at fixed intervals.
Pressing the TEST button moves to the next mode.
Red| Solid Red
Green| Solid Green
Blue| Solid Blue
White| Solid White
Color Fade| Outputs will slowly move through a continuous color fade.
Pressing the TEST button will loop back to the original color
cycle test mode.
To exit the test mode, press and hold the ‘TEST’ button for 3 seconds and then
release it.
The hardware test requires that the pixel driver chip type and number of
pixels per output are set correctly in the Management Interface. Using Test
mode, you can test if this part of your configuration is correct and isolate
other possible problems with the
incoming Ethernet data side.
Operating Refresh Rates
The overall refresh rate of an installed pixel system will depend on many
factors. For monitoring purposes, graphical and numerical information on
incoming and outgoing frame rates can be viewed in the Management Interface.
This information gives insight as to what refresh rate a system can achieve,
and where any limiting factors may exist.
Refresh rates are available in the Management Interface for each of the
following elements:
- Incoming sACN
- Incoming Art-Net
- Incoming DMX512 (Aux Port)
- Outgoing Pixels
- Outgoing DMX512 (Aux Port)
sACN Priorities
- It is possible to have multiple sources of the same sACN universe received by the one PixLite. The source with the higher priority will be actively streaming to the pixels, and this can be seen on the Statistics page. This is useful for situations where a backup data source is needed.
- For this to take place, the PixLite still needs to receive and process each universe, including universes that will be dropped due to a lower priority.
- Low priority sACN handling with the PixLite E4-S Mk3 will require that the total number of universes being streamed to the controller from all sources combined, for any purpose, should not exceed 100 universes.
Advatek SHOWTime
- Advatek SHOWTime ™ unleashes the potential of Advatek PixLite® Mk3 devices to independently drive light shows without a computer or any source of live data.
- SHOWTime™ allows users to record and play back pixel shows from the PixLite E4-S Mk3 using the inbuilt microSD slot. Design your own breathtaking pixel shows, record them directly onto the microSD card and play them back as many times as you wish.
- SHOWTime™ also unlocks the ability to create up to 25 powerful triggers and use advanced intensity controls to enable true standalone behavior and enhance live environments.
- Experience a new level of control with the dual-user login feature and a dedicated SHOWTime™ Dashboard. Now, operators can access real-time playback and device control through the SHOWTime™ Dashboard, amplifying the flexibility of PixLite Mk3.
- For more information, download the PixLite Mk3 Management Guide here: www.advateklighting.com/product-help/pixlite/mk3/management-guide.
Firmware Updates
- The controller is capable of having its firmware updated (new software). An update is typically performed to fix problems or to add new features.
- To perform a firmware update, ensure that you have your PixLite E4-S Mk3 controller connected to the LAN network as per Section 6.1.
- The latest firmware is available from the Advatek website at the following link: www.advateklighting.com/downloads.
- The downloaded file will be archived in a “.zip” format, which should be extracted. The “.fw” file is the file that the controller needs.
Updating via the Management Interface
- Open the Management Interface, and navigate to the “Maintenance” page.
- Load the firmware “.fw” file with the file browser.
- Click “Update”. The controller will temporarily disconnect.
- Once the update is complete, the controller will restart its application with the new firmware, maintaining its previous configuration.
Specifications
Operating Specifications
The table below specifies the operating conditions for a PixLite E4-S Mk3
controller.
Power
| Parameter | Value/Range | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Input Power | 5 – 24 | V DC |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 2.5 | W |
Thermal
| Parameter | Value/Range | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Ambient Operating Temperature | -20 to +70 | °C |
Physical Specifications
| Dimension | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 86mm | 3.39″ |
| Width | 115mm | 4.53″ |
| Height | 33mm | 1.30″ |
| Weight | 0.1kg | 0.2lbs |
Electrical Fault Protection
- The PixLite E4- S Mk3 features notable protection from potential damage due to various types of faults. This makes the device robust and reliably able to operate in the suitable installation environment, specified in Section 11.
- ESD protection is present on all ports.
- All pixel output lines are protected against direct shorts of up to +/- 36V DC. This means that even if your pixels or wiring have a fault that causes a direct short between DC power lines and data or clock lines on any output, it will not damage the device.
- The Aux Port is also protected against direct shorts of up to +/- 48V DC.
- The PixLite E4-S Mk3 is protected against damage from reversed polarity power input.
Troubleshooting
LED Codes
There are multiple LEDs on the PixLite E4-S Mk3 that are useful for
troubleshooting. The location of each is shown in Figure 16 below.
- Please refer to the tables below for condition codes for the Ethernet port LEDs, and the multi-color status LED.
| Link LED (Green) | Activity LED (Yellow) | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Solid | Flashing | Connected okay, receiving / trans- mitting data |
| Solid | Off | Connected okay, no data |
| Off | Off | No link established |
| Color(s) | Behavior | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Green | Flashing | Normal Operation |
| Red | Flashing | Record in Progress |
| Blue | Flashing | Playback in Progress |
| Yellow | Flashing(3 per second) | Identify Function(used to visually locate a |
device)
Red/Green/Blue/White| Cycling| Test Mode – RGBW Cycle
Color Wheel| Cycling| Test Mode – Color Fade
Various| Solid| Test Mode – Set Color
Blue/Yellow| Alternating| Impaired Mode
(Current mode cannot function)
Green| Solid| Booting Up or Installing Firmware
White| Flashing| Factory Reset
Green/Red| Alternating| Emergency Recovery Mode
Off| Off| No Power / Hardware Fault
White| Flashing (3 per 5 sec)| Power Supply Stability Error Detected (power
device off and on again)
Red/White| Various| Critical Error (contact Advatek Support)
Statistical Monitoring
Many issues that may occur are often due to complications in the network,
configuration, or wiring. For this reason, the Management Interface features
astatistics page for statistical monitoring and diagnostics. Refer to the
PixLite Mk3 Management Guide for more information.
Solutions for Common Issues
| Issue | Suggested Solution |
|---|
Status LED off
| Ensure that your power supply is supplying correct voltage as per Section 5.1.
Disconnect all cables from the device, except for the power input, to see if the device turns on.
No pixel control
| Ensure the device has been configured correctly, with the correct Pixel Type and number of Pixels set.
Activate a test pattern as per Section 7.5 to see if your pixels turn on.
Check that the physical wiring and pinout of the pixels are correctly connected and are in the correct positions, as per Section 5.3.
As the pixels are required to be powered and protected externally to the controller, the voltage to the pixels should be measured with a voltage measurement tool. The voltage at the pixels should be within operating specifications of the pixels.
Other Issues
- Check the LED codes as per Section 10.1. If the device still fails to perform as expected, perform a factory default reset on the device as per Section 10.5 below. For the latest information, more specific troubleshooting guides and other help, you should refer to our online Knowledge Base here: www.advateklighting.com/knowledge-base.
- Alternatively, you can contact our support team at: www.advateklighting.com/contact. support@advateklighting.com.
Reset to Factory Defaults
To reset the controller to its factory default settings, do the following:
- Ensure the controller is powered up.
- Hold down the ‘Reset’ button for 10 seconds.
- Wait for the Multi-Color Status LED to alternate Green/White.
- Release the ‘Reset’ button. The controller will now have factory default configuration.
- Alternatively, reset to factory defaults via the Management Interface, in the “Configuration” page.
Note: This process will reset all configuration parameters to Factory Defaults,including IP Address settings (listed in Section 6.3.4), as well as Security settings.
Disclaimer
- If you require support or warranty, please refer to Section 10.4 for information on creating a support ticket. You must be issued with a return authorization by Advatek support staff before returning any product.
- This device is only suitable for use in accordance with the specifications and in an indoor environment which is protected from the weather and surges – unless a conformal coating option has been selected.
- In case of products protected by conformal coating, the product can be used outdoors provided it is in an enclosure protected from the weather and electrical surges.
- A shielded Ethernet cable is required when connecting to the Ethernet port.
- The PixLite E4- S Mk3 controller is supplied with a 5 – year limited warranty and a repair/replacement guarantee. Please see the terms and conditions on our website for more information.
- The PixLite E4- S Mk3 has been tested against and independently certified as compliant with the Standards listed in the table below.
| Audio/Video and ICTE – Safety Requirements | UL 62368-1 |
|---|---|
| Radiated Emissions | EN 55032 & FCC |
Part 15
Multimedia Immunity EN 55035| Electrostatic Discharge| EN 61000-4-2
Radiated Immunity| EN 61000-4-3
Electrical Fast Transients/ Burst| EN 61000-4-4
Conducted Immunity| EN 61000-4-6
Restriction of Hazardous Substances| RoHS 2 + DD (EU)
2015/863 (RoHS 3)
Through testing to the above standards, the PixLite E4-S Mk3 has the certifications and marks listed in the table below.
| Certification | Relevant Country |
|---|---|
| ETL Listing | North America and Canada. Equivalent to UL Listing. |
| CE | Europe |
| FCC | North America |
| ICES3 | Canada |
| RCM | Australia and New Zealand |
| UKCA | United Kingdom |
Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the
user will be required to correct the interference at their own expense.
CONTACT
- Art-Net™ Designed by and Copyright Artistic Licence Holdings Ltd.
- This product has been manufactured by:
Advatek Lighting Pty Ltd
- U1, 3-5 Gilda Court
- Mulgrave, 3170
- VIC, AUSTRALIA
- www.advateklighting.com
References
- PixLite® Professional LED Pixel Controllers & SHOWTime® - Advatek
- Advatek Assistant 3 free application - Advatek
- Contact us - Advatek
- Pixel lighting articles, inspiration and information - Advatek
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