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Documentation

Hardware Setup

2 min readEdit on GitHub

Guide to setting up the physical hardware for your Lights Pi system.

Required Hardware

  • Raspberry Pi 3B+ or Pi 4 — The brain of your lighting system
  • ENTTEC DMX USB Pro — USB to DMX512 interface
  • DMX fixtures — Any DMX-compatible lighting fixtures
  • 5-pin DMX cable — Connects ENTTEC to your fixtures
  • Power supply — Official Raspberry Pi power supply

ENTTEC DMX USB Pro

The ENTTEC DMX USB Pro is the recommended USB-to-DMX interface. It provides reliable, low-latency DMX output.

Connection

  1. Connect the ENTTEC to any USB port on the Pi
  2. Connect a 5-pin DMX cable from the ENTTEC to your first fixture
  3. Daisy-chain additional fixtures from the first

Verification

bash
./lightsctl.sh test-dmx

This sends a test pattern to all channels and confirms the ENTTEC is detected.

DMX Addressing

Each fixture needs a unique DMX start address. Set this via DIP switches on the fixture or through its onboard menu.

  • Universe 1 supports addresses 1–512
  • Each fixture occupies a number of channels depending on its mode
  • Avoid overlapping addresses between fixtures

Wireless DMX (Optional)

For installations where running cables isn't practical, wireless DMX transmitters can be used. Place the transmitter near the ENTTEC output and receivers near each fixture.

Multiple Universes

For setups with more than 512 channels, additional ENTTEC interfaces can be added. Each provides one additional universe of 512 channels.

Next Steps

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