Set a Unit ID on a Controller

Set a Unit ID on a Controller

Setting the Controller Unit ID

How to make each controller unique for sequencing

Light-O-Rama controllers are connected to a data network for communications.  In typical configurations, the controllers are daisy-chained so each requires a unique Unit ID. How that unique Unit ID is assigned depends on the type of controller. Here's how our most common controller families have their IDs set:

  • CTB16PC = Hardware Utility Program (Connect to Computer via USB485 Adapter)
  • LOR160x = Front LCD Panel on Controller
  • CMB24D = 12 DIP Switches on Controller Board (see table at bottom of this page)
  • Pixie Controllers = DIP Switches (Recommended), OR Hardware Utility Program/USB Adapter (only use ONE method)

Here's what DIP Switches look like on a Pixie Controller

 

For an in depth look at all of our products and how to set the IDs, see the chart below. The instruction manual for the controller is also an excellent source for how to configure your controller.

If you need the DIP switch table for Pixie Controllers, are trying to configure a CPC Package for use with an RGBPlus sequence, or the last 6 ports on your Pixie16 "aren't working:" 

Click Here to Jump to the Unit ID Table and Learn How to Set a Pixie's Unit ID

 

Cosmic Color Bulbs/Pixels/Floods/Ribbons

 Set Unit ID via
Hardware Utility
 Set Unit ID via
front panel
Set Unit ID via board
DIP/rotary switches

CCB-100

Cosmic Color Bulbs using latest available firmware.

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CCP-100

Cosmic Color Pixels using latest available firmware.

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CCR-150

Cosmic Color Ribbon using latest available firmware.

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High-Power-RGB-Flood-50W

Cosmic Color Flood using latest available firmware.

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Pixel Controllers

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
DIP switches

CMB24D

8 pixel controller board using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20

PixCon16

16 SPI ports and 4 DMX-512 ports, each with 340 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.

set via Advanced Configuration

Pixie2

2 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20if all DIP switches off Icon-Checkmark-20x20

Pixie4

4 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20if all DIP switches off Icon-Checkmark-20x20

Pixie8

8 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20if all DIP switches off Icon-Checkmark-20x20

Pixie16

16 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20if all DIP switches off Icon-Checkmark-20x20

DC Controllers

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
rotary dials

CMB16D

16 channel DC controller board using latest available firmware.

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Digital I/O

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
rotary dials

DIO32

Digital I/O motherboard and daughter boards using latest available firmware.

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DMX Bridge

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
DIP/rotary switches

idmx1000

DMX-512 bridge to Light-O-Rama data network using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20

Servo Control

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
DIP/rotary switches

ServoDog

ServoDog servo controller board using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20

CTB04PC/CTB16PC Residential High Voltage AC Light Controllers

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
DIP switches

CTB04PC

Residential Generation 3, 4 channel controller using latest available firmware.

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CTB16PCg3

Residential Generation 3, 16 channel controller using latest available firmware.

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CTB16PC

Residential 16 channel V2 controller boards.

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CTB16PC-Kit

Residential 16 channel kit built controller boards.

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CTB16/32/LOR8xx/LOR16xx Professional High Voltage AC Light Controllers

 via
Hardware Utility
 via
front panel
via board
rotary dials

CTB16 blue

Professional 16 channel blue controller V7 controller board. Latest firmware version. if your board already has firmware version 4.40 or higher then it cannot use version 4.30 or lower.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20 Icon-Checkmark-20x20

CTB16 green

Professional 16 channel green controller board using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20 Icon-Checkmark-20x20

CTB32LDg3

Professional Generation 3, 16 channel commercial controller board using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20 Icon-Checkmark-20x20

LOR160x

Professional 16 channel commercial controller (metal box) using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20 Icon-Checkmark-20x20

LOR160xWG3

Professional Generation 3, 16 channel commercial controller (metal box) using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20 Icon-Checkmark-20x20

LOR800Wg3

Professional Generation 3, 8 channel commercial controller for LOR800Wg3 (metal box) using latest available firmware.

Icon-Checkmark-20x20 Icon-Checkmark-20x20

 

See the appropriate product manual for how to set other unit IDs.  The manual will also discuss what the other switches are for.

 

Setting the Unit ID via DIP switches on controllers with 8 Switches (Pixie16, Pixie8, Pixie4, etc)

With Pixie controllers, each port on the controller gets its own Unit ID or DMX Universe, but you only need to tell the controller what the FIRST port is assigned to, then it will automatically assign the rest. When you look for a Pixie controller in the Hardware Utility, the "name" of the controller will have the FIRST Unit ID of the Unit - remember that there are more numbers assigned to each.

Pixie2 = 2 Unit IDs/DMX Universes

Pixie4 = 4 Unit IDs/DMX Universes

Pixie8 = 8 Unit IDs/DMX Universes

Pixie16 = 16 Unit IDs/DMX Universes

 

We recommend setting the Unit ID of a Pixie controller using the DIP Switches located on the physical controller board (see picture below). You controller does NOT need to be connected to a computer.

Take a look at the picture below for an example Pixie8 controller set to start at Unit ID 40 (the ID our 6'6" Pixel Tree needs to start with to work with our store sequences). "ON" is up and "OFF" is down. Turning any DIP switch on means the controller's ID can no longer be set with the computer - it will revert to the Unit ID setting of the DIP switches every time its repowered. To set the Unit ID of a Pixie with your computer, ensure all DIP switches are turned OFF. It is easier to set the ID with the DIP Switches, NOT the computer. You cannot set it using both methods at once.

A common problem is that the 8th DIP switch is left in the 'on' position (which sets the Pixie start at Unit ID 01), then trying to change the Pixie to start at another ID using a computer. The ID will revert to the DIP Switch's directions (01), every time you remove power from the Pixie. Turn all DIP Switches off to set the ID with a computer, or ensure the DIP switches are at the correct number (not 01).

DIP Switches 40

 

LOR Unit IDs include 6 additional hexadecimal assignments in every normal set of 01 through 10. This means that a Pixie16 controller with a starting ID of 01 will use the following Unit ID assignments for its 16 ports:

01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 0A, 0B, 0C, 0D, 0E, 0F, 10

NOT

01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Your Unit ID assignments must match in both the Sequencer AND on the physical controller in order for your sequences to play. Take a look at the table below to make sure your controller's DIP switch settings are correct. a "1" means the switch should be in the "on" position and a "0" means the switch should be "off."

The Pixie controller must be disconnected from power when you change DIP Switches. If the controller is powered, the change will NOT take effect.

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

01

0000

0001

 

11

0001

0001

 

21

0010

0001

02

0000

0010

 

12

0001

0010

 

22

0010

0010

03

0000

0011

 

13

0001

0011

 

23

0010

0011

04

0000

0100

 

14

0001

0100

 

24

0010

0100

05

0000

0101

 

15

0001

0101

 

25

0010

0101

06

0000

0110

 

16

0001

0110

 

26

0010

0110

07

0000

0111

 

17

0001

0111

 

27

0010

0111

08

0000

1000

 

18

0001

1000

 

28

0010

1000

09

0000

1001

 

19

0001

1001

 

29

0010

1001

0A

0000

1010

 

1A

0001

1010

 

2A

0010

1010

0B

0000

1011

 

1B

0001

1011

 

2B

0010

1011

0C

0000

1100

 

1C

0001

1100

 

2C

0010

1100

0D

0000

1101

 

1D

0001

1101

 

2D

0010

1101

0E

0000

1110

 

1E

0001

1110

 

2E

0010

1110

0F

0000

1111

 

1F

0001

1111

 

2F

0010

1111

10

0001

0000

 

20

0010

0000

 

30

0011

0000

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

31

0011

0001

 

41

0100

0001

 

51

0101

0001

32

0011

0010

 

42

0100

0010

 

52

0101

0010

33

0011

0011

 

43

0100

0011

 

53

0101

0011

34

0011

0100

 

44

0100

0100

 

54

0101

0100

35

0011

0101

 

45

0100

0101

 

55

0101

0101

36

0011

0110

 

46

0100

0110

 

56

0101

0110

37

0011

0111

 

47

0100

0111

 

57

0101

0111

38

0011

1000

 

48

0100

1000

 

58

0101

1000

39

0011

1001

 

49

0100

1001

 

59

0101

1001

3A

0011

1010

 

4A

0100

1010

 

5A

0101

1010

3B

0011

1011

 

4B

0100

1011

 

5B

0101

1011

3C

0011

1100

 

4C

0100

1100

 

5C

0101

1100

3D

0011

1101

 

4D

0100

1101

 

5D

0101

1101

3E

0011

1110

 

4E

0100

1110

 

5E

0101

1110

3F

0011

1111

 

4F

0100

1111

 

5F

0101

1111

40

0100

0000

 

50

0101

0000

 

60

0110

0000

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

61

0110

0001

 

71

0111

0001

 

81

1000

0001

62

0110

0010

 

72

0111

0010

 

82

1000

0010

63

0110

0011

 

73

0111

0011

 

83

1000

0011

64

0110

0100

 

74

0111

0100

 

84

1000

0100

65

0110

0101

 

75

0111

0101

 

85

1000

0101

66

0110

0110

 

76

0111

0110

 

86

1000

0110

67

0110

0111

 

77

0111

0111

 

87

1000

0111

68

0110

1000

 

78

0111

1000

 

88

1000

1000

69

0110

1001

 

79

0111

1001

 

89

1000

1001

6A

0110

1010

 

7A

0111

1010

 

8A

1000

1010

6B

0110

1011

 

7B

0111

1011

 

8B

1000

1011

6C

0110

1100

 

7C

0111

1100

 

8C

1000

1100

6D

0110

1101

 

7D

0111

1101

 

8D

1000

1101

6E

0110

1110

 

7E

0111

1110

 

8E

1000

1110

6F

0110

1111

 

7F

0111

1111

 

8F

1000

1111

70

0111

0000

 

80

1000

0000

 

90

1001

0000

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

91

1001

0001

 

A1

1010

0001

 

B1

1011

0001

92

1001

0010

 

A2

1010

0010

 

B2

1011

0010

93

1001

0011

 

A3

1010

0011

 

B3

1011

0011

94

1001

0100

 

A4

1010

0100

 

B4

1011

0100

95

1001

0101

 

A5

1010

0101

 

B5

1011

0101

96

1001

0110

 

A6

1010

0110

 

B6

1011

0110

97

1001

0111

 

A7

1010

0111

 

B7

1011

0111

98

1001

1000

 

A8

1010

1000

 

B8

1011

1000

99

1001

1001

 

A9

1010

1001

 

B9

1011

1001

9A

1001

1010

 

AA

1010

1010

 

BA

1011

1010

9B

1001

1011

 

AB

1010

1011

 

BB

1011

1011

9C

1001

1100

 

AC

1010

1100

 

BC

1011

1100

9D

1001

1101

 

AD

1010

1101

 

BD

1011

1101

9E

1001

1110

 

AE

1010

1110

 

BE

1011

1110

9F

1001

1111

 

AF

1010

1111

 

BF

1011

1111

A0

1010

0000

 

B0

1011

0000

 

C0

1100

0000

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

 

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

LOR ID

Switches 1‐4

Switches 5-8

C1

1100

0001

 

D1

1101

0001

E1

1110

0001

C2

1100

0010

 

D2

1101

0010

E2

1110

0010

C3

1100

0011

 

D3

1101

0011

E3

1110

0011

C4

1100

0100

 

D4

1101

0100

E4

1110

0100

C5

1100

0101

 

D5

1101

0101

E5

1110

0101

C6

1100

0110

 

D6

1101

0110

E6

1110

0110

C7

1100

0111

 

D7

1101

0111

E7

1110

0111

C8

1100

1000

 

D8

1101

1000

E8

1110

1000

C9

1100

1001

 

D9

1101

1001

E9

1110

1001

CA

1100

1010

 

DA

1101

1010

EA

1110

1010

CB

1100

1011

 

DB

1101

1011

EB

1110

1011

CC

1100

1100

 

DC

1101

1100

EC

1110

1100

CD

1100

1101

 

DD

1101

1101

ED

1110

1101

CE

1100

1110

 

DE

1101

1110

EE

1110

1110

CF

1100

1111

 

DF

1101

1111

EF

1110

1111

D0

1101

0000

 

E0

1110

0000

F0

1111

0000

 

For DMX Settings and other specifications, please reference the Pixie manual.

 

Setting the Unit ID via DIP switches on controllers with 12 Switches (CTB04PC, CMB24D, etc)

It’s easy to get intimidated setting the controller Unit ID via the little on/off switches on the circuit board.  The good news is it typically only has to be done once.

The manual goes into great details on how to set all the switches.  Here’s a quick example.

Locate the switches on the controller.  It should look like this if the controller is set for Unit ID 02.

Unit ID DIP switch
Unit ID DIP switch. 8 is shown ‘ON’. Click image to see it better.

Look carefully and orient the controller to see the switches as shown in the above image (click the picture to make it larger if needed).  On one side of the switch set there’s a marking for off/on.

ON is up

OFF is down

Each little switch is marked 1-12.  Using something small like a toothpick, set the switches as needed for the Unit ID required.  To make it easy, we’ve created a chart showing how to set Unit ID 01-09.

UNIT ID SWITCH NUMBER
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
01 off off off off off off off off ON off off off
02 off off off off off off off ON off off off off
03 off off off off off off off ON ON off off off
04 off off off off off off ON off off off off off
05 off off off off off off ON off ON off off off
06 off off off off off off ON ON off off off off
07 off off off off off off ON ON ON off off off
08 off off off off off ON off off off off off off
09 off off off off off ON off off ON off off off