DMX-Controlled Relay Design
Thought for 1 min 11 sec
Great—next is adding copper cutouts/keep‑outs (for isolation and the metal enclosure), then doing initial placement.
What the Flux docs say about copper cutouts
“This tutorial will explain how to accomplish this in Flux.
There are two options for creating copper cutouts:
- Keep Out Rule: can be applied to any object. Will keep copper fills (and any other object) away from the element that the rule is applied to.
- Zones: is an object on its own. Can be placed on the design and configured to create a cutout on any layer.” Source
Do this now
- Isolation barrier cutout
- Create a rectangular Zone (or apply a Keep Out rule) that runs between the mains section and the logic/DMX section on both layers. Keep all pours and traces out of this band, especially under U2.
- Mounting hole and edge keep‑outs
Placement checklist (inputs on one side, outputs on the other)
- Inputs side: place IECIn and DMXIn together.
- Outputs side: place IECOut and DMXOut together.
- Relay path: place K1 between IEC input Line and IEC output Line so the high‑current path is short and straight. Neutral can route directly input→output.
- Isolated DMX: place U2 straddling the isolation band, with its DMX side facing the XLRs and logic side facing U1. Keep no copper under its isolation gap (use the cutout above).
- Aux AC‑DC: keep U7 in the mains section, away from logic; route mains to it short and direct.
- Coil driver and snubber: keep U4 close to the relay coil pins on [K1], and place the RC snubber across the relay contacts.
- Termination and ESD: put SW1 and TVS1 right next to the XLR pins; keep the A/B pair tight and symmetrical.
- Indicators: place LED1 (Relay ON) near the output side; LED2 (DMX present) near the DMX input.
Confirm after you:
- Add the isolation and hole/edge cutouts, and
- Rough‑place the parts per the checklist.
Then I’ll guide trace width targets for the mains path, final routing order, and a quick DMX termination/bias check before routing.
Ask about isolation zone sizing
Clarify cutout implementation
Request DMX termination guidance
Ask about mains trace widths
Ask about enclosure grounding
Flux stopped
