Have you ever wanted to configure the LED display cascade connection with multiple controllers to control the LED displays?
LED screens are capturing our attention every day. But to manage more screens or a ultra large-scale video wall, we need a robust method of control. This is where cascading comes into play. So, what exactly is cascading?
In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the cascading connection and guide you on how to do it for various LED controllers.
In This Article
What is Cascading?
Cascading refers to the process of connecting multiple LED controllers in a series, allowing them to communicate and function as a single unit. In the context of LED display management, cascading allows for the seamless synchronization and control of several LED screens using a single control source.
To put it simply, cascading creates a hierarchical structure where the control PC communicates with the first controller, which then passes the control information down the chain to the subsequent controllers.
Why Use Cascading Multiple Controllers?
Now that we understand the basic concept of cascading, you’re likely aware that it involves adding more controllers to the LED screen. You might wonder if this increases complexity and why we need to implement cascading at all.
There are primarily three reasons for utilizing cascading in LED screen management:
- Unified Control: Cascading allows for the unified control of LED screens when connecting multiple LED controllers. This means you can adjust the brightness for multiple screens simultaneously, upgrade firmware, load configuration files, and more, without having to set each one individually.
- Redundancy Configuration: Cascading also provides a redundancy configuration. This ensures that if one controller fails, the others can still function, thereby enhancing the reliability of the entire LED display system.
- Control Large Screen: Cascading enables you to control larger and longer LED screens more effectively.
Required Hardware
Now that we understand the importance of cascading. Before we start, we need to know the basic connection structure of LED display. Here is a example without cascadeing with multi controller.
As you can see from the above image, for a standard LED display, you need a controller or an LED sending card, a control PC, a video processor(optional), an LED screen(made of the cabinet, LED modules, power supplies, Hub board, and receiver cards) and cables for connecting them.
When we need to cascade multipler controller for the same video wall, the structure will be changed like these:
As shown in the above figure, the cascading structure will include:
- Multiple Controller or sending card units
- Video Processor (Optional)
- Cables for cascading (USB and Ethernet as needed)
- Control PC
- LED Screen with all corresponding components
Before we start, ensure you have prepared all hardware as mentioned above.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cascading Connections
Once all components are prepared, let’s dive into how to create these connections. We’ll use Novastar controllers as our examples.
1. Cascading Multiple Sending Cards
First, let’s start with the basic products, for example, MSD300 and MSD600, which are the foundational products of Novastar LED sending cards.
To cascade these sending cards, you will use the 5pin cascading cable which is packaged together when you order from the LED supplier. Then do the steps as follows:
- Identify the Ports: Locate the Port IN (J6) and Port OUT (J18) on the sending cards.
- Connect the Cables: Use the provided cascading cable to connect the OUT port of the first card to the IN port of the second card. Repeat this for any additional cards.
Here is an example of cascading multiple MSD300.
2. Cascading LED Sending Box MCTRL300 or MCTRL600
Typically, LED sending boxes come in boxed forms compared to the previous models. They have different cascading interfaces and require a different type of cable.
In this case, we will use the Novastar MCTRL300 or MCTRL600 as examples. These LED control boxes usually use a 5-pin data interface but have a round socket, distinguishing it from the cascading cable used for MSD300 or MSD600.
To cascade these LED sending box, you can following these steps:
- Connect UART Ports: Use the UART OUT port of the first control box to connect to the UART IN port of the next controller using the specified cable.
- Ensure Proper Connections: Verify that each connection is secure to prevent communication errors.
This setup is conceptually similar to the cascading of sending cards. Here is an example of cascading multiple MCTRL300 LED sender boxes.
3. Cascading MCTRL660
To begin cascading, let’s take a look at the image below:
As you can see, the Novastar MCTRL660 controller features interfaces labeled UART IN and UART OUT. You might have guessed that these ports are designed for cascading purposes. However, since the ports resemble standard Ethernet connectors, you may wonder if an Ethernet cable can be used for cascading.
The answer is yes!
Unlike previous cascading methods, the MCTRL660 utilizes a regular Ethernet cable for this purpose. The connection process is the same: simply connect the UART OUT of the first controller to the UART IN of the next controller using an Ethernet cable.
Cascading other Novastar Controllers
For advanced controllers such as the MCTRL R5 and MCTRL 4K, and all-in-one systems like the Nova PRO, UHD, UHD Jr, VX4s, and VX6s, cascading is achieved using USB cables instead of ethernet cable.
If you examine the front panel of the controller, you’ll notice that there are USB IN and USB OUT interfaces, which are used for cascading. You can apply the same connection principle discussed earlier; simply connect the USB OUT port of the first controller to the USB IN port of the next controller using a USB cable.
It’s important to note that if the control PC is connected to the first controller using an Ethernet cable, cascading additional controllers with USB cables will not work. The cascading only functions when both the connection between the control PC and the first controller, as well as the cascading connections among other controllers, are made using USB cables.
Verifying the Cascading Connection
After establishing the hardware connections, it’s critical to verify that the cascading setup is functioning as expected. We will still use the Novastar controller as an example again.
After completing the hardware connection, run the NovaLCT software and navigate to the main interface. If not installed, download it from the Novastar official website. Log in as an administrator using the password “admin” if required.
After that, click on “View Details of Device“. This will display the number of devices connected. If you cascaded two devices but only see one, the connection may not be successful—double-check your hardware setup.
In addition, when you do screen configuration in the software, you will also see all the communication ports in the list if the cascading is successful.
Cascading Connections for Other Brand Controllers
Apart from Novastar, there are other brands to consider, each with its own nuances in cascading.
Colorlight Controllers
Models like the S2 sending card, S4, S6F, S20, S20F, X1, X2m, X2s, X3, X4E, X4m, X4s, X6, X7, X8e, X12, X16, X16 pro, X16E, X20, X20m, X26m, X40m, X100 pro, Z3, Z4 Pro, Z4F, Z5, Z6, Z6 Pro, Z8, Z8t, D16, D9, VX10, VX6, among others, uses USB cables for cascading. Simply match the USB IN and USB OUT ports accordingly.
HUIDU Controllers
For Huidu controllers like the HD-T901, HD-T902 (both models), HD-T16, and HD-T08, as well as others, all utilize a USB-B cable for cascading. If the device supports cascading, you will find a standard USB-B port. Simply connect the USB-B ports of two controllers using the USB-B cable.
Linsn Controllers
For Linsn controllers such as the X104, X102, X8414, X8408, X8406, X8216, X8212, X8208, X100, X200, X2000, Y8, TS16, TS12, TS08, TS852D, TS921, TS951, TS952, TS802D, TS962, and TS952 Plus, all models utilize a USB cable for cascading. These devices have USB In and USB Out ports. You can process the steps as the same as what we mentioned earlier.
To Sum Up
Whether you’re working with Novastar, Colorlight, Huidu, Linsn, or any other leading LED display control solution, understanding the cascading concept and how to properly implement it can help you design more robust, flexible, and efficient LED display systems. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. For more LED display tutorials, check here.