User's Guide

Home Controller HC-500
Installation Guide
Supported Model
C4-HC500-E-B Home Controller HC-500
Graphical Symbols in this Guide
The following symbols and their descriptions draw your attention to important
safe practices and additional information that can help you avoid death, injury,
or loss of material or time.
WARNING! This indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not
avoided, may result in death or serious injury. DO NOT IGNORE A
WARNING!
IMPORTANT! This indicates information that will help you avoid
damage to your equipment, loss of materials, or loss of time. PAY
ATTENTION TO THESE IMPORTANT STATEMENTS!
NOTE: This indicates information related to the current topic.
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A
polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding
type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into
your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the
apparatus.
11.Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12.Unplug this apparatus during lighting storms or when unused for long peri-
ods of time.
13.Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when
the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or
plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.
14.This apparatus has no AC mains power switch. The power cable is the AC
mains disconnect device.
WARNING! To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not expose this
apparatus to rain or moisture.
WARNING! This CLASS I apparatus must be connected to an AC
mains socket outlet that has a protective earthing connection (i.e., third-
prong ground conductor). DO NOT DEFEAT THE PROTECTIVE
EARTHING CONNECTION!
Introduction to Home Controller HC-500
The Control4 Home Controller HC-500 provides options for controlling lights,
home theaters, distributed audio systems, and other devices controlled using
various protocols, such as Infra Red (IR), Serial, Contact, and Relay.
It provides extensive media management services for audio sources, such as
CDs and DVDs stored in connected devices. It also allows you to use an
external storage device with USB support for media storage. It also includes
multi-zone audio capabilities, sending music to rooms throughout the home.
Once the controller and other system components are installed and configured
(using Control4 Composer software or another Control4 setup program), your
users can control the system using one of the two user interfaces included with
this controller: On-screen Navigator or System Remote Control or any other
Control4 user interface device (available separately).
Control4 Supported Devices
Control4 devices that can be controlled by this controller include:
For a more information see “Products” at http://www.control4.com
.
Specifications
Prior to installing this product, ensure that: Ethernet network wiring is in place.
The Home Controller HC-500 specifications include:
What’s in the Box
The following are included in your Home Controller box:
• Home Controller HC-500
• Pluggable terminal block connector (4)
• System Remote Control with LCD Navigator display and 4 AAA batteries
• IEC 320 power cord
• IR emitters (6)
• Home Controller HC-500 Installation Guide (this document)
• Control4 System User Guide
• Control4 System Remote Control User Guide
Accessories Available for Purchase
• USB WiFi Adapter for HC-500 (C4-NWA-11G-USB)
Warranty
Limited 2-year Warranty. Refer to http://www.control4.com/warranty.
Additional Resources
The following resources are available to provide you with additional support.
• Your authorized Control4 reseller
• Control4 Web Site: http://www.control4.com
• Composer online help
Front View
1. WiFi LED—This LED blinks first red, then orange, and finally blue during
the boot process. Once the operating system is running, the WiFi driver
changes the LED color depending on the signal strength of its connection to
its associated access point. Colors and signal strength are as follows:
orange = Fair to Good, blue = Excellent, and no light = No connection.
2. Data LED—This blue LED indicates streaming audio is received.
3. Link LED—Blue LED light indicates Home Controller has been identified in
a Control4 Composer project.
4. Power LED—Blue LED light indicates AC power is present. It turns on
immediately after the power is applied to the device.
5. IR Window / IR Blaster—For capturing third-party IR codes from hand-held
devices (such as remote controls) or blasting IR codes.
Back View
1. Power plug port—AC power receptacle for an IEC 320 power cord.
2. Video Out—Composite RCA, S-VIDEO mini-DIN, and Component RCA
jacks.
3. Digital Coax Audio Out
4. Audio Out (3 Left-Right pairs)—RCA jacks for stereo channel line output
(line level) for amplifiers or audio switches.
5. Digital Coax Audio In
6. Audio In (2 Left-Right pairs)—RCA jacks for stereo channel input (line
level) for two stereo analog sources.
7. Video Sense In-Out (2 pairs)—Composite In-Out RCA jack pairs for moni-
toring the On/Off status of up to two video sources.
8. Ethernet—RJ-45 jack for a 10/100 BaseT Ethernet connection.
9. USB (2 ports)—For external storage device with USB support (such as
FAT32 formatted devices) and WiFi adapter (C4-NWA-11G-USB).
10.Serial (4 sets, DB9)—Four serial devices, such as a receiver or disk
changer.
11.IR Out (6)—3.5 mm jacks for up to six IR output transmitters.
12.Contact (4 sets)—Pluggable terminal block connector for four dry contact
closures, logic input connections, door contact sensors, or motion sensors.
13.Relay (4 sets)—Pluggable terminal block connector for four normally
closed or normally opened switchable connections.
14. Identification button—Easily-pressed button used when identifying this
device in Composer.
Install the System
To install this controller:
1. Ensure that your home network is in place before starting your system
setup: The Home Controller HC-500 requires a network connection (wired
or WiFi) in order to use all features as designed. When connected, the
Home Controller can access Web-based media databases and Control4
system updates.
2. Connect the HC-500 controller to the network: To connect using an
Ethernet connection, plug the data cable from the home network connection
into the Home Controller RJ-45 port (labeled “Ethernet”) and the network
port on the wall or at the network switch. To connect using the optional USB
WiFi adapter (C4-NWA-11G-USB), refer to the installation instructions
shipped with the adapter.
3. Power up the controller: Plug the HC-500 power cord (provided) into the
Home Controller power plug port and an electrical outlet.
4. Connect system devices as described in the “Connect Devices” section
that follows.
5. Set up external storage devices as described in “Set up External Storage
Device” on page 2.
Connect Devices
NOTE: You can use Composer software to step through the connection
process before or after the physical connections are complete.
Connect all applicable devices to the Home Controller HC-500 using one of the
connection options described in the following table.
Table 1. Connection Options
Touch Screen (Wireless or Wall-Mounted)
Mini Touch Screen
LCD Keypad
Wireless 2, 3, & 6 Button Keypads
Wireless Thermostat
Speaker Point™
Supported Third-Party devices
Wireless Dimmer
Wireless Switch
Wireless Outlet Dimmer
Wireless Outlet Switch
Multi Channel Amplifier
Audio Matrix Switch
Multi Tuner
Model Number • C4-HC500-E-B
Network Support • Ethernet---required (included)
• WiFi--optional, requires a WiFi adapter (sold
separately)
Media Recognition • AMG online CD/DVD recognition and media
information service
Audio Playback Formats • MP3: 32kbps to 320kbps, CBR and VBR
Display • LED indicators
Power Requirements • 100-240 VAC, 60/50 Hz, 0.36 A MAX
Dimensions • H x W x D: 4.1” (104 mm) x 15.2” (386 mm) x
16.25” (413 mm) (with feet and connectors)
Weight • 13.85 pounds
5
1 2 3 4
7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 3 4 5 6
Power plug port—For use with the IEC 320 power connector
(provided).
Video Out Options—Composite, Component, or S-Video
port for displaying navigation menus on a monitor or TV.
The Component jack is only for displaying high-definition
video. To display standard definition video, use the Compos-
ite or S-Video ports. When available, use S-Video instead of
Composite for a higher quality display.
Audio Out (2 Left-Right pairs)—RCA jacks for stereo chan-
nel line output (line level) for amplifiers or audio switches.
Audio In (1 Left-Right pair)—RCA jacks for stereo channel
input (line level) for one stereo analog source.
Video Sense In-Out (2 pairs)—Composite In-Out port pairs
for monitoring up to two video In sources, such as DVD play-
ers or VCRs, that allow the system to determine the On/Off
status of devices. Each Out port allows the signal to loop
through the Controller and continue to its intended video con-
nection. See “Use Video Sense Loops” for more information.
Ethernet—RJ-45 for a 10/100 BaseT Ethernet connection.
USB (2 ports)—For external storage device with USB support
(such as FAT32 formatted devices). See “Set up External Storage
Device” for more information or for connecting the optional WiFi
adapter C4-NWA-11G-USB.