Lumenetix araya DMX Cable Guide
Share
Lumenetix araya tunable-color lighting systems use DMX512-A/RDM communications. The official ERP Power/Lumenetix wiring specification specifically identifies Liberty 24-2P-485 and Liberty 24-2P-P485 as recommended field-wiring cables. These are purpose-built 24 AWG, two-pair, dual-shielded, 120-ohm, low-capacitance control cables.
Which Liberty cable should I use?
| Installation pathway | Liberty cable | Lumenetix-listed Belden reference |
|---|---|---|
| Non-plenum | Liberty 24-2P-485 | Belden 9842 |
| Plenum / CMP required | Liberty 24-2P-P485 | Belden 89842 |
The choice between the two Liberty part numbers is primarily the pathway rating. Use 24-2P-485 in an approved non-plenum pathway. Use 24-2P-P485 where a CMP plenum-rated cable is required by the plans or applicable code.
Why this is not ordinary low-voltage cable
DMX512-A is a digital data protocol based on an EIA-485 physical layer. Cable impedance and capacitance matter. The ANSI E1.27-1 DMX cable standard calls for 100-to-120-ohm cable, with 120 ohms preferred, and conductor-to-conductor capacitance no greater than 19.8 pF/ft.
The Liberty cables are engineered for this job:
- 24 AWG, two-pair construction
- 120-ohm characteristic impedance
- low mutual capacitance
- foil plus high-coverage tinned-copper braid shielding
- stranded tinned-copper conductors
- CM non-plenum or CMP plenum construction
This is why microphone cable, generic alarm cable, and other cable selected only by conductor count are poor substitutes. A cable can have the right number of conductors and still have the wrong impedance, capacitance, or shielding for reliable DMX communication.
Lumenetix araya installation rules
The Lumenetix/ERP wiring document establishes several important field rules:
- Use a continuous daisy-chain topology.
- Limit a segment to 32 devices, including the controller or opto-splitter.
- Keep the total run at or below 1,600 feet without RDM.
- Keep the total run at or below 1,000 feet when RDM is used.
- Install a 120-ohm termination resistor at the final device.
- Create branches or star layouts only through an opto-splitter.
- Keep the DMX cable away from AC power and likely interference sources.
- Carry the shield continuously and bond it at one point as directed by the equipment documentation.
Project conditions, device count, splices, transmitter strength, RDM use, and electrical interference can reduce the practical maximum distance. Follow the luminaire manufacturer's submittal and the project's approved drawings whenever they are more restrictive.
Two-pair Lumenetix DMX pinout
For the two-pair cable identified in the Lumenetix guide:
| Signal | Conductor colors | DMX connector pin |
|---|---|---|
| Signal common | White/blue and blue | Pin 1 |
| Primary data negative | Orange | Pin 2 |
| Primary data positive | White/orange | Pin 3 |
| Secondary pair | Not used unless required by the equipment | Pins 4 and 5 |
Confirm the connector type and pinout against the exact Lumenetix/araya module or luminaire documentation before termination.
Are Liberty 24-2P-485 and 24-2P-P485 the only acceptable cables?
No. The official Lumenetix/ERP document describes its list as recommended field wiring and permits an equal cable. That means a properly documented equal can be used when the electrical performance, shielding, listing, pathway rating, and project requirements all match.
The important commercial distinction is that Liberty 24-2P-485 and 24-2P-P485 are not merely generic cables marketed as compatible. They are explicitly named in the Lumenetix manufacturer's wiring specification.
What is Lumenetix?
Lumenetix developed the araya tunable-color light-engine and digital-control technology. ERP Power acquired Lumenetix in 2019 and continues to publish araya technical documentation. Araya modules can be built into luminaires sold by other lighting manufacturers, so the Lumenetix wiring requirement may appear in a fixture schedule or submittal carrying a different brand name.
Need help selecting the cable?
Send RF-AV the luminaire model, required footage, pathway rating, and delivery date. We can confirm the correct Liberty cable, reel or cut-length option, and current availability.