Answered e1.31 gateway / Controller

[Juddge]

hi guys,

Was looking to goto e1.31 instead of USB
so i can talk with my controllers from any PC in the house rather then a dedicated one connected to USB

with the e1.31 i know this is IP based
so would i need a e1.31 controller / gateway to then change to the RJ45 connectors for the DMX controllers to operate them ?

i will end up with about 4 controllers for my setup when i fainlly move it all over from standard power packs and power boards

i would like to do a setup like this
PC ---- ETHERNET ------e1.31----DMX-----dmx2-24----------dmx2-24--------dmx-2-24-----dmx36 --- terminate

i understand it all - except for the e131 - Dmx part
what equipment would i use here ?
i would rather run a Outdoor style ethernet cable to a e1.31 device outside ( then to the controlers) then have to put a NUC or Rasberrypi outside to connect USB to first and have to control it from there

 

[Skymaster]

Most pixel controllers have a DMX output that can be used. Alternatively an ESP32 running ESPixelStick and an RS485 converter can be used to do E1.31/DDP to DMX conversion (I use this method for mine)

That said, in regards to your last comment specifically:

i would rather run a Outdoor style ethernet cable to a e1.31 device outside ( then to the controlers) then have to put a NUC or Rasberrypi outside to connect USB to first and have to control it from there

Why not have the NUC / Pi indoors with the USB indoors? Push the DMX out over the same Cat5 cable. DMX actually travels further (300m max) over that same cable than ethernet (100m max)

 

[Juddge]

Ok , sounds good but I was hoping to have a gateway / controller for e1.31 that hopefully had multiple outputs - so I could run a individual Ethernet cable to each spot
Have them seperate legs , and if one fails it only drops that section - no the whole lot

 

[Juddge]

Kinda like running a switch - between each controller - being able see each controller seperatly - then out to each dmx controller for that section.
Or would this indtroduce lag and have the lights out of time ?

 

[Skymaster]

You'd need a controller/gateway with multiple DMX outputs for that. Or a DMX distribution device. You're looking at $150-200 minimum for such a distribution device. https://djcity.com.au/category/lighting/light-controllers/dmx-splitter/

Personally, I feel a switch/electronic device is more likely to die than a single DMX cable that loops between the DMX boards. Internally on the Hanson DMX boards, the DMX sockets are wired back-to-back - there are no electronic components in the path to fail, so if a controller was to die, it wouldn't take out anything further down the line. Only if the cable were to be disconnected.

 

[MikeKrebs]

You might be able to use one of these:

E1.31 Bridge - doityourselfchristmas.com

www.doityourselfchristmas.com

Problem would be finding one but maybe some Aussie has one laying around looking for a home.

 

[Juddge]

I have Decided to just use my NUC as a primary point - As the DMX should stop most issues with being daisy chained
Thanks for the assitance guys and gals