Placing expansion panels

You can install the following optional, accessory key panels:

  • The VI-EXP-12P Pushbutton Expansion Panel adds 12 pushbutton talk/listen selectors to a panel.
  • The VI-EXP-12R Rotary Expansion Panel adds 12 rotary talk/listen selectors to a panel.
  • The VI-EXP-16L Lever Key Expansion Panel adds 16 lever key talk/listen selectors to a panel.

The installation procedure is identical for these panels.

Expansion panel types (lever key, pushbutton or rotary) may not be mixed in a daisy chain of such panels and must be connected to a main panel of the same type.

    The VI-EXP-16L expansion panel can only be used with the VI-EXP-32L panel.

Only one rack unit (1RU) of a standard Electronics Industry Association equipment rack is required for each expansion panel. The panels’ compact size makes them ideal for use in TV control rooms, edit suites, mobile OB vans, and any other location where many talk/listen keys are necessary but space it at a premium.

All panels provide 12 or 16 additional selectors with displays.

Mounting

All accessory panels are mounted in a standard 19-inch wide (48.3 cm) standard Electronics Industry Association rack, requiring one unit of rack space each. Leave at least 2 in. (51 mm) of clearance behind the rear of the chassis to allow for cable connectors.

Power

Each expansion panel is powered by an external power supply which may be mounted on the back of the panel using the mounting clip provided. To connect the power supply to an expansion panel, route the transformer’s output lead to the power connector on the back of the panel. This is a 4 pin connector.

Panel connection

A cable is supplied with each panel to connect it to a main panel or to additional expansion panels. The cable is a 6-ft. long (1.8 m) CAT5 cable with RJ45 connectors at each end. If custom length cables are to be made, they should be made with cable with 22 to 24 AWG wire. The pins should be wired one-to-one between the RJ45 connectors. The maximum distance between the panel and the last expansion panel should be 25 ft. (7.6 m).

To connect an expansion panel to a main panel:

  1. Plug one end of the CAT5 cable into the RJ45 expansion socket on the back of the main panel.
  1. Plug the other end of the CAT5 cable into the input connector on the back of the expansion panel.

To connect an additional accessory panel:

  1. Plug the CAT5 cable into the output connector of the last expansion panel in the chain.
  1. Plug the other end of the CAT5 cable into the input connector of the new expansion panel. More panels can be added by using this daisy-chaining method.

The numbering of expansion selectors follows the order of the daisy chaining.

Panel configuration

After physically placing the expansion panels and connecting them to a main panel, the expansion panels must be programmed in EHX

For more information, see your EHX documentation.