Specifications
Controlling LED Lighting14
Ethernet is the most popular computer communications
protocol standard and is used in most local area networks
around the world. Because they are inherently digital
devices, intelligent LED lighting fixtures lend themselves to
Ethernet-based control.
As a control solution for larger intelligent LED lighting
systems in architectural environments, Ethernet offers a
number of advantages:
• Ethernet structured cable plans are standardized
IT systems well understood by today’s electrical
contractors. With an Ethernet-based lighting solution,
you can leverage this installation knowledge, avoiding the
need to install specialized cabling and affording the ability
to integrate the LED control system into the existing
structure of the building’s IT cable plan.
• Ethernet control solutions overcome the physical
limitations of DMX. In an Ethernet lighting network,
lighting controllers can communicate with each Ethernet
device in the network individually, allowing simultaneous
transmission of multiple DMX universes over a single
Ethernet cable. For instance, Light System Manager can
manage up to about 88 universes, while Video System
Manager Pro can control almost 1,500 universes for
large-scale video displays.
Pharos LPC X can manage up to 200 universes of
Ethernet DMX, and can be scaled for even larger lighting
systems.
• DMX communications are one-way only: controller
to lights. Ethernet, on the other hand, offers two-way
communications to simplify and automate many aspects
of fixture configuration, addressing, and commissioning.
• Ethernet supports wireless communications today.
You can manage your lighting network from a wi-fi
device, such as in Apple iPad or Apple iPhone, providing
superior flexibility and convenience, especially in
installations with multiple zones in different locations.
• Ethernet structured cable plans afford more flexibility
than DMX cable plans in lighting system layouts. They
support longer cable runs, offer more installation
convenience in network layouts, and are extremely cost-
effective in medium and large installations. DMX cable
plans, in contrast, support shorter cable runs and are
extremely cost-effective in smaller installations.
• Ethernet network hardware, such as multi-port switches
and routers, are much less expensive than DMX multi-
port opto-splitters required to join multiple building
wiring segments together.
• Power over Ethernet (PoE), used in a number of
Ethernet controllers and triggering devices from Philips
Color Kinetics, increases flexibility by transmitting
electrical power and data over a single twisted-pair CAT
5e or better cable. PoE reduces controller installation
costs, decreases wiring costs, and affords freedom
of placement by eliminating line-voltage wiring for
controllers.
Ethernet
Ethernet lighting communications protocols
are standardized methods of delivering lighting
data over a network, and it is critical that the
lighting controller and lighting xture speak the
same language. KiNET is the Ethernet lighting
protocol from Philips Color Kinetics. Other
Ethernet lighting protocols include Art-Net,
ACN, Streaming ACN (sACN), Philips Strand
ShowNet, Pathway Pathport, and many others.
Pharos controllers offer native support of Art-
Net, sACN, and KiNET.
Ethernet Lighting Communications
Protocols
Ethernet devices in a Philips Color Kinetics
lighting network
Ethernet devices in a Philips Color Kinetics
network include Ethernet switches, controllers,
and a wide range of power / data supplies for
LED lighting xtures. Some of our network-
aware products, such as the Data Enabler Pro
data integration device and iColor Accent MX
Powercore linear LED lighting xture, contain
an integrated Ethernet switch. You can connect
these devices in series on an Ethernet horizontal
cable plan using CAT 5e cable or higher. Ethernet
rules require a maximum of 328 ft (100 m)
between any of these devices, affording great
exibility and expansion options in lighting
network layouts.
Data
Enabler Pro
Controller
328 ft (100 m) Max