T430 A/V controller family

The T430 is a very low cost RS232 remote controller for LCD and DLP video and data projectors, LCD and Plasma flat panels, for budget installations in lecture theatres, classrooms, churches or conference rooms.

It uses two LEDs to show system status, and has a two keyboard options.

The JED T430 projector controller offers a convenient system to control video and data projectors from a suitable point on a lectern, bench or wall near a speaker's location in a hall or theatre.

The T430 has an attractive white, or black, smooth escutcheon surrounding it, to give an overall size of 117mm by 76mm. This covers the screw holes and can be mounted into a lectern or desk at a convenient point for the speaker to control video and data projector operations.

The T430 is wired to the LCD projector or flat panel via a three wire RS232 data cable, using TX, RX and Ground.  

The control codes for different projectors are programmed into the T430 controller, and are selected on the two rotary switches on the back. Options are selected on a DIP switches on the back.

Keyboards

The T430 has a choice of two keyboard labels (shown in the right sidebar on this page)

Type KB1 is for a system where just one source command, e.g. "Computer" or "Video" is sent to the display at the end of the warm-up period. The only user commands are to turn the display device ON or OFF.

Type KB3 is for a system which allows the user to turn the display ON or OFF and to toggle the display between TWO sources (by using the On/Source key). Using the DIP option switches, these two sources could be two "computer" channels, two "video" channels or one of each.

The normal keyboard background colour is off-white, or "beige", as the photos show. Other colours and key layouts can be produced if a quantity are needed.

Application

The simplicity of operation of the T430 is its major advantage when installed in locations where a number of users/teachers/lecturers who are unfamiliar with A/V equipment, and without an audio/visual assistant/operator, need to run a "show".

They need to power up the projector, select a source, run a video or computer presentation and then close the system down again. Contrast the two buttons on this unit with the 20 or 30 on some IR remote controls, each one different from room to room. This unit is identical from room to room, even with a mix of different projectors.

And when the show is over, T430 controller does not walk out the door in the lecturer's pocket like IR remote controllers often do!

Operation

The operation of the T430 is very logical:

1. Turn the system on by pressing the ON key. The projector starts, and the green LED blinks for the warm-up time;

2. (With the On/Source key keyboard, If a different source is needed, press the On/Source key to toggle the source. The green led blinks during the changeover period). Pressing it again goes back to the original source;

3. When the show is finished, pressing the OFF key turns off the display device. The red Off LED flashes for the cooldown period.
   
   The proper warm-up and cool-down and lockout times are set for the projector, until the unit goes to standby mode for the next cycle; and 

4. Pressing the OFF key in the standby mode will re-poll the projector, and if the projector communications is responding, the red LED with blink once. If there is no communications, the red LED with blink three times. (If there is no blink at all, it is because that particular projector has no read-back of status on OFF mode, or no feedback at all, i.e. the IR controlled projectors.)

PIR input for automatic closedown

The relay contact from a PIR (Passive InfraRed) detector in the room is sensed by a T430. This can be used for a reset of a time-out on the projector power, so that while people are in the vicinity, the projector keeps running until manually turned off. Users can set a time-out period after which the projector automatically powers down if no activity is detected on the keyboard or via the PIR. The Run-time is adjustable from zero (disabled) to sixteen hours. (Default is 30 min.)

See PIR.

This option is intended for classrooms and theatres where manual turnoff might be missed, to save lamp hours.

Installation

1. The wiring for the T430 system is very straightforward:

2. Mount the T430 in or on a panel or Clipsal 2000 base on the wall;

3. Wire a supplied 12 volt regulated power supply to the power input socket;

4. Connect a three wire RS232 cable (TX, RX Ground) to the display device; and

5. Wire the PIR into the T430 3-pin plug, or jumper the PIR line to Gnd if no PIR used, so the timer function operates, if desired.

Setup

Setting up the T430 is also very straightforward and done from rear with a small screwdriver. 

Note: Every T430 holds all codes for all supported projectors and all flat-panels. (Originally, there are two software loading options, one for "projector" and one for "flat panel". As at release V100 in May 2015, projector and flat panel code sets are combined into one master file, and the user at install time can set Flag-F to pre-select projector codes or flat panel codes to be sent.)

Display devices are selected by just setting the pair of rotary numbered switches (called "Program select")  to the specified 2-digit hex family code.

The option DIP switches allow for some special functions, e.g. to automatically send a "pixel align" command after a "computer" channel select or when the computer button is re-pressed. Option switches set the sources to be used. OPT4 is set always for a KB3 keyboard to allow source toggling, and other switches set it for computer 1/2, Video 1/2 or computer/video toggling.

Constants can also be setup using a screwdriver to alter channel mapping to keys or alter warm-up, cool-down or PIR time-out times. See the user's manual for details.

No lap-top based programming is needed ... just a screwdriver!