PowerDMX Cloud User Manual

Welcome to the PowerDMX Fleet Manager. This cloud-based dashboard allows you to securely monitor, configure, and control your entire G3-PLC lighting network from anywhere in the world.

1. Getting Started

Account Authentication

To ensure the security of your lighting network, all access requires a verified account.

Log In: Enter your registered email and password.
Create Account: If you are a new user, click "Create Account" and register with a valid email and a secure password (minimum 6 characters).
Forgot Password: Click "Forgot Password?" to receive a secure 6-digit recovery code via email.

Claiming & Managing Your Nodes

Once logged in, you must bind your physical Master Node to your account.

Click the green + Add Node button in the Target Device Control panel.
Enter your device's MAC ID (e.g., PowerDMX_ABCDEF123456). Note: This is verified against a factory whitelist. If your hardware is not recognized, contact support.
Enter a Friendly Name (e.g., "Main Stage Controller") and click Claim Node.
Use the dropdown menu to select your node. The dashboard will automatically lock onto the device and begin pulling live data.

2. Real-Time Stats & Forensics

This tab provides a live heartbeat of your Master Node's health, as well as deep forensics for all remote Slave nodes via the Poll Hardware Diagnostics tool.

CPU / Environmentals: Real-time powerline voltage, min/max historical voltage, ambient temperature, and ESP32 CPU core temperature.
Link Quality (LQI): View the precise Signal-to-Noise ratio (LQI Min, Max, and Average) between the Master and any specific Slave node on the powerline.
Firmware Variants: Check both the ESP32 (App) firmware version and the TI (Renesas Modem) firmware version independently.

3. PLC Node Fleet

This tab maps out your entire G3-PLC lighting network.

Discover Afresh: Commands the Master Node to scan the powerline network for all connected Slave nodes.
✏️ Edit Node (Sync to Hardware): Click this to configure a node's physical lighting setup:
- Global Color Rules: Set Global Brightness limiting (0-255) and Hardware Gamma Correction (e.g. 2.2) to match your LED profiles perfectly.
- Pixel Strip Routing: Define Start/End Null Pixels (sacrificial buffer LEDs), assign an Absolute Start Channel for xLights, and set LED IC models (WS2812, WS2811, etc.).

4. System Configuration

This tab provides administrative tools for maintenance, updates, and SD card management.

► Firmware & OTA Updates

Execute Local OTA: Flashes the Master Node over Wi-Fi.
Execute Remote OTA (Broadcast): Broadcasts the firmware over the powerline to update all Slave nodes simultaneously. (Takes ~30 minutes).
Target Single Node (Unicast): Select a specific Slave address from the dropdown to update ONLY that node without halting the rest of your fleet's DMX show.

🔒 Advanced System Settings

(PIN Protected). Contains dangerous engineering tools.

Live Networking: Start/Stop Wi-Fi, Ethernet, MQTT, sACN, and DDP protocols on the fly.
Wi-Fi Credential Injection: Assign a new Wi-Fi SSID and Password to a remote offline Slave node entirely over the powerline network.
Network Boot Defaults: Set exactly how the node should behave when it loses power and reboots.

5. Playback & Automation

This tab acts as your live lighting console and unattended show automation system.

Automated Scheduler: Set a Start Time and End Time (e.g., 18:00 to 23:30) and toggle it ON. The ESP32's internal RTC will start and stop the selected effect automatically every day.
Macro Playlists: Chain together a playlist of built-in math effects (e.g., Meteor Rain) and SD card .fseq files into a single, looping sequence block.
SD Card FSEQ Player: Stream Uncompressed v2 .fseq files directly from the onboard SD card.

6. Serial Debug & SSH-over-PLC

A remote Command Line Interface (CLI) for advanced technicians.

Local Serial: Type raw serial commands to interact directly with the Master node's internal menus as if plugged in via USB.
SSH-over-PLC: Type r in the Master's top menu, enter a Slave node's address, and the Master will open a bi-directional serial tunnel over the powerline. You can now navigate the Slave's menus, run diagnostics, and trigger commands remotely! Type exit to close the tunnel.

7. FAQ & Troubleshooting

Q: My node says "Offline" in the System Events log. What do I do?
A: Ensure your Master Node has an active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and that MQTT is enabled in its Boot Defaults.

Q: Why is my Remote Nodes OTA taking so long?
A: Powerline network bandwidth is designed for distance and noise-immunity, not speed. A 1.5MB firmware file broadcast across the G3-PLC network naturally takes ~30-45 minutes. If you only need to update one node, use the Unicast (Single-Node) option.

Q: How do I use Null Pixels?
A: If the distance between your controller and the first display pixel is too far, you can insert sacrificial "Null" pixels into the wiring to boost the data signal. By entering a value of `2` in the Start Null Pixels field, the controller will send blank data to the first two LEDs and start your actual DMX show on the 3rd LED.