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How to Build a DMX

DMX controllers control the lighting in theaters, clubs and other venues. A single controller can typically control an array of lights and each of their functions, including brightness, strobe and other effects. DMX controllers, unfortunately, aren't cheap, but you can save money by making your own. You can make an inexpensive DMX controller using the free Open DMX driver software, a transceiver and an FTDI breakout board. The FTDI breakout board transmits the information from DMX software on the computer to the transceiver, which connects to your DMX devices with a 3-pin cable.

Things You'll Need

SN75176A transceiver IC
Breadboard
Resistor, 100 ohms
Single-core wire
FTDI breakout board
3-pin DMX connector
Soldering iron (optional)
Solder (optional)
FTDI driver
Computer
Open DMX driver

Instructions

- 1
  Place the SN75176A transceiver IC on the breadboard, with its notch pointing toward the top of the breadboard and each of its pins on separate tracks.
- 2
  Place one of the resistor's wire leads on the same track on the breadboard as the IC's first pin, and then place the resistor's other lead in the same track as the IC's second pin.
- 3
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's third pin, and then place the other end of the wire in the FTDI breakout board's header slot labeled "5V." The header is the plastic component containing wire-sized slots.
- 4
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's third pin, and then place the other end of the wire in the track containing the IC's eighth pin.
- 5
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's fourth pin, and then place the other end of the wire in the FTDI breakout board's header slot labeled "RXI."
- 6
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's fifth pin, and then place the other end of the wire in the FTDI breakout board's header slot labeled "GND."
- 7
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's fifth pin, and then place the other end of the wire in the same track as the IC's second pin.
- 8
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's fifth pin, and then connect the other end to the reference pin ̵2; usually pin 1 ̵2; on the 3-pin DMX connector. The connector's datasheet should tell you which pin is the reference pin. Depending on the connector, the wire might need to be soldered to the connector's pin with a soldering iron and solder.
- 9
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's sixth pin, and then connect the other end to the signal pin ̵2; usually pin 3 ̵2; on the 3-pin DMX connector. The connector's datasheet should tell you which pin is the signal pin.
- 10
  Place one end of a piece of single-core wire in the same track as the IC's seventh pin, and then connect the other end to the signal inversion pin ̵2; usually pin 2 ̵2; on the 3-pin DMX connector. The connector's datasheet should tell you which pin is the signal inversion pin.
- 11
  Install the FTDI driver on the computer, and then install the Open DMX driver. Select the drivers that are appropriate for the computer's operating system.

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