Pharos TPC BB - Designer Touch Panel Controller with 512 DMX Channels and 4.3-inch Touchscreen in Black Finish

The Pharos TPC BB (Touch Panel Controller) is an advanced and elegant lighting control solution designed for themed entertainment and LED lighting installations, featuring a customizable 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen and 512 channels of eDMX output. Its sleek black finish and various colored bezels and overlays make it not only functional but also visually appealing, fitting seamlessly into any environment. This controller is powered by Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), simplifying installation and reducing cable clutter by delivering power and data over a single network connection, making it a versatile choice for a range of applications.

At the heart of the TPC BB is its intuitive 4.3-inch touchscreen, which offers a vivid color display for an engaging user experience. This interface allows users to easily navigate project controls, activating presets and manual overrides with just a touch. The customizable color picker further enhances user interaction by enabling personalized lighting effects at their fingertips. This design emphasizes accessibility and ease of use, ensuring that controlling the Pharos Designer system is both straightforward and enjoyable.

The TPC BB is powered by the robust Designer Engine, which turns light fixtures into canvases for artistic expression. Users can utilize the Designer 2 software to quickly create fixture layouts with pixel-precise adjustments, ensuring meticulous control over every detail of their lighting display. The software supports individually controllable and independently running timelines, allowing for the programming of dynamic, pre-programmed lighting sequences that can be adapted in real-time. This flexibility is critical for live events where lighting needs may shift rapidly, providing users with the tools they need to respond instantly to changes in their environment.

One of the key features of the TPC BB is the Designer Trigger system, which allows for responsive programming based on a wide variety of stimuli. This rules engine supports conditional logic and a diverse array of interfaces and protocols, facilitating seamless communication with other systems. Users can send and receive commands to and from any system, with the built-in scripting language offering the flexibility needed to customize functionality to meet specific project requirements. This capability is essential for installations that require integration with other control systems or environmental triggers.

Future-proofing lighting projects is made easy with the TPC BB's remote management features. By connecting to Pharos Cloud, users can manage their controllers from anywhere in the world, checking system statuses, scheduling events, and uploading new projects remotely. Additionally, each controller has a local web interface that provides real-time monitoring and access to system logs, ensuring that users can maintain control and oversight of their installations effectively.

The TPC BB is designed for scalability, allowing multiple Pharos Designer Controllers to be interconnected via a standard Ethernet network. This architecture supports extensive installations and ensures that the controller can adapt to the needs of various projects, regardless of their complexity. Moreover, the hardware and firmware are self-sufficient, eliminating the need for a dedicated PC on-site. This design ensures that the unit is rugged and compact, capable of continuous operation in demanding environments.

In terms of output, the TPC BB supports a range of protocols including sACN, Art-Net, KiNET, and DMX512, providing compatibility with various lighting fixtures such as RGB, RGBW, and intelligent moving lights. The extensive fixture library, featuring over 30,000 profiles, simplifies the integration of luminaires into the system. Additionally, the TPC BB can manage multiple eDMX protocols simultaneously, allowing for comprehensive control over diverse lighting installations.

Features

• The TPC BB features 512 channels of eDMX output and a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen for intuitive control.
• Customizable touch interface allows quick activation of presets, manual overrides, and personalized color picking.
• Powered by the Designer Engine for creative effects and video playback across multiple light fixtures.
• Designer 2 software enables fast, pixel-precise adjustments for fixture layout configurations.
• Responsive programming is facilitated by the Designer Trigger system using conditional logic and scripting.
• Remote management via Pharos Cloud allows global control and monitoring of installations.
• Scalable architecture supports linking multiple controllers over Ethernet for extensive lighting projects.
• Reliable hardware and firmware designed for 24/7 operation without needing a dedicated PC.
• Compatible with various output protocols: sACN, Art-Net, and DMX512, supporting diverse lighting fixtures.
• Extensive online fixture library with over 30,000 profiles for easy integration of luminaires.
• Supports simultaneous operation of multiple eDMX protocols, maximizing control over lighting designs.
• Built-in IR sensor allows integration with standard remote controls for convenient operation.
• Compact design measures 5.8 x 3.4 x 1.3 inches and weighs just 0.55 lbs, ideal for various installations.
• Power is supplied via PoE (IEEE802.3af, Class 2) with a typical consumption of 4W.
• Five-year warranty ensures reliability and support for installations.

Specifications

Supported Fixtures

• LEDs: Any colour configuration e.g. RGB, RGBW, 8-bit, 16-bit, tuneable white
• Generic: Downlights, spotlights, uplights, etc. via controllable dimmers, relays or ballasts
• Intelligent: Moving and multi-parameter fixtures
• Fountain Jets: Fountain jets for fountain animation or other animatronics
• Fixture Library: Pharos offers an online fixture library with over 30,000 fixture profiles, for easy download of your luminaires

Output

• sACN: ANSI E1.31 (with per fixture priority)
• Art-Net: Art-Net I, Art-Net II, Art-Net 3, Art-Net 4 (transmit only). Configurable broadcast override
• KiNET: KiNET V1, V2, V3; PDS/Data Enabler discovery
• Pathport: Pathway Connectivity protocol
• DMX512: Via EDN, EXT or second port on LPC 1
• RDM: Via Art-Net, EXT or EDN: supports discovery and addressing via Pharos Designer 2 software
• EDN: Via EDN: natively integrate, and output DMX, with the EDN
• SPI: Via EDN + SDI: synchronous and asynchronous serial data output
• DALI: Via EXT or RIO D
• Simultaneous: Multiple protocols can be in operation simultaneously. Limited by patched channels, not universes used
• Scalable: Synchronises with up to 40 Pharos Designer Controllers over network

Triggering and Integration

• Startup: Commences programmed playback automatically on receiving power
• Touchscreen: Buttons, sliders, colour picker, etc
• Clock: Battery-backed real-time clock for calendar and time-based triggers
• Astronomical: Sunrise/Sunset/Twilight and Lunar phases
• Temperature: Trigger on changes or entering a range
• Ethernet: UDP, TCP, Multicast; send/receive any Ethernet message
• eDMX: sACN or Art-Net
• DALI: Via EXT or RIO D: transmit and receive DALI commands
• Serial Data: Via EXT: RS232; via RIO: RS232 or RS485; configurable ports; send/receive free syntax in ASCII, HEX or decimal
• MIDI: MIDI Notes, SysEx or MIDI Time Code
• Timecode: Via RIO A: Linear Timecode (SMPTE, Film, EBU, NTSC)
• Audio Level: Via RIO A: stereo 30-band spectrum analysis
• Inputs: Via EXT or RIO: contact closure, active low, active high or 0-24V analog level
• Outputs: Via RIO: isolated relay outputs (48V, 250mA)
• Web Interface: Built-in or custom designed
• Wall Stations: Integrate with BPS, TPS, TPS 5 or TPS 8
• Conditions: Full conditional logic support
• Scripting: Lua scripting for total flexibility
• IO Modules: Supports our extensive IO Module library for easy integration
• Scalable: Supports Pharos Designer Remote Devices

Capabilities

• Orientation: Portrait or landscape
• Layouts: Free editable layouts
• Pages: Any number of pages, although performance may be affected by complexity and number
• Navigation: Convenient and custom navigation via configurable navigation bars
• Fonts: Custom font support, including fonts with extended character sets e.g. Chinese, Korean, Japanese
• Themes: Wide selection of themes available to download, or create your own with Designer's theme editor
• Controls: A wide array of customisable buttons, sliders, colour pickers, labels, keypads and clocks
• Flexible integration: Fully integrated with Pharos Trigger, so button states, graphics, and captions can change according to any number of preset triggers
• Infrared: Learning IR allows any standard remote control to be used to activate button presses/state changes
• Secure access: Keypad for PIN-code entry; multiple user levels
• Commissioning: Commissioned with Pharos Designer 2 software

Interfaces

• Ethernet: RJ45 socket for 10/100Base-TX Ethernet with Link/Data LEDs; Fixed IP or DHCP; Dual IP address for eDMX
• Touchscreen: 4.3-inch capacitive touch; 480x272 24bpp; 340 cd/m2; magnetic overlay
• IR Sensor: Learning IR sensor for remote control
• Temperature: Built-in ambient temperature sensor

Specifications

• Certifications: CE compliant, UKCA compliant, ETL/cETL listed, may be used as part of a Title 24 compliant lighting control system
• Power: PoE (IEEE802.3af, Class 2), 4W typical
• Configuration: Pharos Designer 2
• Data Storage: Removable SD Card (supplied)
• Temperature: 32F to 122F
• Humidity: 10-50% relative, non-condensing
• Ingress: IP40
• Physical: 5.8 x 3.4 x 1.3 inches, 0.55 lbs
• Shipping: 8 x 6 x 5 inches, 1.3 lbs
• Recovery: Hardware watchdog and recessed reset button
• Warranty: 5 years