RKS: Defining Wiring Connections for Electrical Devices

[Petr Vanek - Robe]

Defining Wiring Connections for Electrical Devices

To describe connectors and other connection details of attaching of electrical devices that can be wired, dedicated type of Geometry called Wiring Object is used. All specified parameters and details of the Wiring Object are defined in Geometry Type Wiring Object in the GDTF Spec.

In this example, we define connectors for a device which has a Power (Power In and Power Out via Neutrik Powercon True1), DMX (DMX In and DMX Out via XLR 5Pin) and a Network (RJ45 connector).

Pigtail

First we need to indicate physical placement of connectors on the device. This is done in the Geometry tab of the GDTF Builder by adding a Normal Geometry with a model of primitive type "Pigtail". The connectors are typically physically located on the base of the device, so we add it to the Base in our example.

To add the Pigtail:

• select the Base of the device
• click Add Child Geometry
• give it a name Pigtail
• in the Select Model choose New Pigtail
• adjust Dimensions
• select Geometry Type - Normal Geometry
• click OK
• adjust X, Y, Z to position the Pigtail to the appropriate location on the Base

 

Adding Pigtail screen

Pigtail is a child of the Base

Pigtail positioned to indicate real location of connectors on the device

 

If the device has more than one panel with connectors, add multiple Pigtails. For example linear products with Input on one end and Output on another end, or a device with Inputs on a base and Outputs on the yoke or head for some attachable accessory.

 

Connections on the Pigtail are defined by Wiring Object geometry for each connector. All these Wiring Object geometries will be children of the Pigtail.

Wiring Object geometry has the following properties. Not all the following properties are used in all Wiring Objects.

• Name - user friendly name to indicate the connection. Good name could include IN for input, OUT for output. Do not use the Connector Type in the name.
• Connector Type - select the type of used connector or provide new connector type.
• Component Type - the type of the electrical component used, for example Consumer, PowerSource, Input, Output and so on. Some of these Component Types might extend the list of possible properties of the Wiring Object.
• Signal Type - the type of the signal, for example DMX512, AnalogVideo and so on
• Pin Count - the number of available pins of the connector type to connect internal wiring to it
• Signal Layer - this indicates connection between Wiring Objects in the device itself. In one device, all Wiring Geometries that use the same Signal Layer are connected. Special value is 0, which is connecting all Wiring Geometries together.
• Orientation - indicates relative location of this connector on a connection panel
• WireGroup - name of the group to which this wiring object belongs to, for grouping all DMX connectors together by setting the WireGroup to "DMX" for all DMX connectors.

Power Input

We start by defining Powercon True1 Power Input connection for our device:

• Select Pigtail geometry
• click Add Child Geometry
• give it a name Power IN
• in the Select Model choose New Empty Geometry
• select Geometry Type - Wiring Object

And also fill in the properties of the Wiring Object:

• Connector Type - Powercon True1
• Component Type - Consumer
• Signal Type - Power, or leave empty
• Pin Count - 3
• Signal Layer - 1
• Orientation - Top
• WireGroup - Power or leave empty
• Electrical PayLoad - the electrical consumption in Watts.
• Voltage Range Min - the voltage range's minimum value
• Voltage Range Max - the voltage range's maximum value
• Frequency Range Min - the Frequency range's minimum value
• Frequency Range Max - the Frequency range's maximum value
• CosPhi - The Power Factor of the device
• click OK

Properties of Power IN Wiring Object

Power Output

Our device allows daisy chaining power from one device to another. We continue by defining Powercon True1 Power Output connection:

• Select Pigtail geometry
• click Add Child Geometry
• give it a name Power OUT
• in the Select Model choose New Empty Geometry
• select Geometry Type - Wiring Object

And also fill in the properties of the Wiring Object:

• Connector Type - Powercon True1
• Component Type - Output
• Signal Type - Power, or leave empty
• Pin Count - 3
• Signal Layer - 1 - this indicates that IN and OUT are connected inside our device
• Orientation - Top
• WireGroup - Power or leave empty
• click OK

DMX Connectors

We can continue by adding DMX connectors. These are typically In and Out, we will use NetworkInput and NetworkOutput as a Component Type, the Signal Type will be DMX512. To indicate that In and Out are connected, we will assign same Signal Layer to both DMX connectors. In case that there are both 3Pin and 5Pin XLR connectors on the device which are typically all connected to each other, all of them will have the same Signal Layer number.

To add 5 Pin XLR DMX In:

• Select Pigtail geometry
• click Add Child Geometry
• give it a name DMX IN
• in the Select Model choose New Empty Geometry
• select Geometry Type - Wiring Object

And also fill in the properties of the Wiring Object:

• Connector Type - 5-pin XLR
• Component Type - NetworkInput
• Signal Type - DMX512
• Pin Count - 5
• Signal Layer - 2
• Orientation - Bottom
• WireGroup - DMX or leave empty
• click OK

To add 5 Pin XLR DMX Out:

• Select Pigtail geometry
• click Add Child Geometry
• give it a name DMX OUT
• in the Select Model choose New Empty Geometry
• select Geometry Type - Wiring Object

And also fill in the properties of the Wiring Object:

• Connector Type - 5-pin XLR
• Component Type - NetworkOutput
• Signal Type - DMX512
• Pin Count - 5
• Signal Layer - 2
• Orientation - Bottom
• WireGroup - DMX or leave empty
• click OK

If the device has also 3 Pin XLR DMX Input and Output, do the same as above, just change the Pin Count to 3. The Signal Layer will be the same if all DMX connectors are connected inside the device.

If the device also has RJ45 network connection, this is how to add it:

• Select Pigtail geometry
• click Add Child Geometry
• give it a name Ethernet
• in the Select Model choose New Empty Geometry
• select Geometry Type - Wiring Object

And also fill in the properties of the Wiring Object:

• Connector Type - 10/100 BaseT ethernet type
• Component Type - NetworkInOut
• Signal Type - can remain empty or mention a specific protocol this output is for, for example Video
• Pin Count - 8
• Signal Layer - 3
• Orientation - Left
• WireGroup - can remain empty, especially if there is only one connector of this type
• click OK

We are done. After adding Power In and Out, DMX 5 pin In and Out and also Ethernet port, this is what the geometry tree will look like:

Pigtail with connectors

Hope this helps

Petr

See all Robe Knowledge Sharing Articles.

Edited May 16, 2023 by Petr Vanek
removing properties of Power Output

[David "Rex" Whalen]

I rise to my feet and begin a standing ovation with a slow clap; thanks for keeping this format as close to 'reality' as can be achieved.

 

I believe this format and sACN to be the real future of entertainment lighting as I cast an eye forward. Heck, architectural as well...DMX had it's place in the Sun, from mid-80's till about 2000, it's time to move on, as it were.  To get all control structures recognizing objects in the same way, seems truly beneficial to everyone in the long term...imho.