diamond - Wiring

This topic describes all possible connections to the frame's connector board (on the underside of the frame).

In summary, the connectors are:

• ETHERNET (100 Mb/s) - connects to the network/Power Core via IP (essential for the main frame).
• CAN B (low speed, 500Kb/s) - can be used to connect a Lawo KSC or GPIO panel (optional).
• CAN A (high speed, 1Mb/s) - can be used to connect to another diamond frame (optional).
• 12V IN (Kycon) - connects to the external DC power supply.
• M4x10 Grounding Screw - must be used to ground the frame.

The descriptions below provide more information.

ETHERNET (RJ45)

The ETHERNET port provides a network connection to the diamond IP module. This is the module that sits above the frame's connector board. It is used for the IP connection to Power Core and for the diamond Web UI administration.

If your surface consists of a single frame, then this port must connect to the network/Power Core (via IP).

If your surface consists of multiple frames, then this port must connect to the network/Power Core (via IP) on the main frame AND on any additional frames that also connect via IP. If a frame is daisy-chained to the main frame (via CAN bus), then its ETHERNET port should be left unconnected.

When connecting via a network, then this can be shared with other devices, such as in the regular "house network" of a typical broadcast facility. Routers are permitted as long as the minimum requirements of the network interfaces are met. By using routers, or similar devices, the latency of the communication will increase.

The diamond network interface operates at 100 BASE-T, and so the network switch/router port MUST meet the following requirements:

• Speed = 100Mb/s
• Duplex mode = Full Duplex

Choose an Ethernet cable that meets the following specification.

• Cable: CAT 5 or better (CAT 5e/6/7); straight (1:1) or crossed cable*.
• Connector: RJ45.
• Speed: 1000 or 100 Base-TX LAN. 100 Base-TX (Fast Ethernet) is recommended.
• Length: up to 100m (to the network switch).

*For a direct connection to Power Core, you will need a crossed-network cable. When connecting to a network switch, use a straight (1:1) cable.

CAN A & CAN B (RJ45)

diamond supports two CAN bus speeds: CAN A (high speed) and CAN B (low speed).

• CAN A operates at 1Mb/s and is used, internally, to daisy-chain the control surface modules and, externally, to connect another diamond frame.
• CAN B operates at 500Kb/s and is included to support products that cannot operate at a higher speed such as Lawo's KSC and GPIO panels.

All CAN bus connections must be point-to-point; a switch or hub is not allowed.

Use a standard (straight 1:1) network cable: STP-CAT 5e with RJ45 connectors.

When daisy-chaining more than one frame, the CAN A cable length must not exceed 13 meters including the internal wiring. This is explained in more detail below.

The maximum CAN B (low-speed) cable length must not exceed 60 meters.

The CAN bus can be hot-plugged and so the cabling can be performed while the frames are powered.

12V In (Kycon)

The 12V IN port connects to the external DC power supply (to power the frame).

See diamond - Power Supplies.

M4x10 Grounding Screw

The M4 grounding screw must be used to ground the frame. If not, then you may see some odd behaviours once the console is operational. 

See diamond - Grounding.

CAN A Bus Cable Length

To ensure the correct operation of the hardware components, the maximum CAN A (high-speed) cable length must not exceed 13 meters including the internal wiring.

This becomes important when daisy-chaining more than one frame, as you must include the length of both the internal and external cables.

The table below provides the internal CAN bus cable lengths for frames from 1 ME to 4 ME. These figures can be summed to calculate the cable lengths for larger frames from 5 ME to 8 ME.

Once you know the internal CAN bus cable length, you can calculate a safe value for the external cabling.

Example 1 - single diamond frame (8ME) with extension modules.

The internal CAN bus cable length equals 4.403m x 2 = 8.806m.

A safe length for the external CAN bus cable <= 4m.

Example 2 - two diamond frames: 1 x 5ME and 1 x 3ME. Both frames are standard depth without extension modules.

The internal CAN bus cable length is calculated as follows:

• Frame 1 (5ME) = 4.403m + 0.903m = 5.306m.
• Frame 2 (3ME) = 2.703.

Thus, the total internal CAN bus cable length equals 5.306m + 2.703m = 8.009m.

A safe combined length for the two external CAN bus cables <= 4.9m.