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:
Turn the system on by pressing the ON key. The projector starts, and the green LED blinks for the warm-up time;
(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;
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
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.)
This option is intended for classrooms and theatres where manual turnoff might be missed, to save lamp hours.
Installation
The wiring for the T430 system is very straightforward:
Mount the T430 in or on a panel or Clipsal 2000 base on the wall;
Wire a supplied 12 volt regulated power supply to the power input socket;
Connect a three wire RS232 cable (TX, RX Ground) to the display device; and
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!
What's inside the T430
The T430 is based on the Atmel ATmega2561 CPU.
I/O connectors for the T430: Serial
The connection to the display device is a Phoenix plug in screw terminal at the lower, far right end of the back. This RS232 data cable usually needs only three wires (TX, RX and Ground). (A connection for a fourth wire with 9 volts on it is available as a CTS or DTR line HIGH to the projector to enable RS232 transmission, as some projectors expect this input to be HIGH before allowing transmission.)
(There is no second serial port in the T430).
Note: JED controllers all use bi-directional RS232 communications with displays and audio boxes, and provide blink codes on the red LED for display communications OK.
The T430 serial port is full +/- RS232
levels, not just 0-5 volts as some other controllers only
provide.
I/O connector for the T430: PIR
(There are no screen relays or Relay 3 (Auxiliary Relay) out on the T430. If screen control is needed, an alternative is the T440- Code 6, which actually uses a T430 keyboard (both KB1 and KB3 versions) but on a T440 printed circuit with T440 software and screen relay drive.)
PIR Input: This input adds a powerful feature to the
T430 … it allows a Passive Infra Red detector to be connected
to the unit. This senses the presence of students
in a classroom, and this is used to control an internal power-down timer.
I/O connectors for the T430: IR transmission (optional)
The last connector on the lower left edge is a transmitter output to an IR "bug" to drive commands to projectors or displays which have IR control only and no RS232 interface. Currently this supports a range of Epson projectors only, and keyboard KB3 allows projector turn ON and OFF and rolling of the source through available sources.
(IR control of displays is usually at a disadvantage compared to RS232 ... usually there are no absolute "On" or "Off" power commands, rather one IR code, "Power", serves for both ON and OFF. Thus the controller has to make assumptions re the state of the projector. Also "Source" commands are limited, and as per the "Code 1" keyboard, there are no absolute source commands, rather the "Source" IR command just moves to the next source in a loop which happens to have an input at that moment.)
I/O connectors for the T430: Power input +12 volts
The DC power input to the T430 controller is the 2-pin Phoenix connector at an angle on the bottom left corner.
Power supply: Power input is rated for 8 to 20 volts …
we recommend a 12v regulated power pack. Current consumption
is under 50mA at 12v.
A suitable regulated +12 volt power supply is included to Australian and new Zealand purchasers. See:
I/O connectors for the T430: CAT5 (centre) to the T447 or display
Note: To reduce costs, when ordering, the choice has to be made between "-p" for Phoenix connectors (and no CAT5) or "-CAT5" for a CAT5 connector (and no Phoenix connectors."
The use of the T447 allows very simple wiring of the T430 A/V control environment: a single CAT5 cable is all that is needed through the wall to the T430 at the operators location. A T447 box is installed up by the projector, and a single pre-terminated CAT5 Type A cable (non-crossover) interconnects the two units. See T447.
Then, up at the T447, 12 volt power in, a D9 serial connector to the projector via an included patch cable and the PIR connections are all connected via the CAT5 cable to the controller.
The T447 also provides Tx and Rx line LED monitors with pulse stretchers so that signal communications in both directions with the display are shown to installers.
Software for the T430
All JED controllers can be field-upgraded from a lap-top or computer via a serial port, or via a USB to serial converter, to include new device drivers and data-base via a serial cable. Software to do this can be downloaded from a link on the top left of this page, as a windows application. The latest software release is available by request from JED.
Each released version of the software includes all projectors (or flat panels) currently supported. (The "Included projectors" file lists supported devices.)
Other T430 details
Mechanical: The T430 is 117 by 76mm, and uses Australian/NZ standard Clipsal 2000
mountings.