Cresnet Wiring Overview
Communications between Crestron Cresnet devices occurs on the Cresnet bus. Cresnet is Crestron's proprietary 4-wire communications network that provides both 24V DC power and low-voltage, bidirectional communication that adheres to to RS-485 standards.
Each job with Cresnet devices will have at least one Cresnet bus network. Every Cresnet bus network has a single host or primary device and one or more client or secondary devices (older materials may refer to hosts as masters and clients as slaves). Every Cresnet device on a Cresnet bus must be assigned a unique, one-byte hexadecimal Cresnet address. The range of available addresses is determined by the bus host:
| Host | Available Addresses | Start | End | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Series or 4-Series processors | 252 | 03 | FE | Chief Integrations has experienced significant communications slowdowns on systems with more than 100 devices, and recommends using DIN-CENCN-2(-POE) or additional processors to break up larger Cresnet bus networks |
DIN-CENCN-2 or | 25 per Net (50 total) | 03 | 1B | |
| ZUMNET-JBOX-16A-LV or ZUMNET-JBOX-DALI | 32 | 03 | 22 | ZUMNET-JBOX local controller counts as a device; only 31 additional Zūm Link or Cresnet devices may be connected Zūm Link and Cresnet can be intermingled; more details are available here |
Power considerations also play a role in determining the number of Cresnet devices which can be supported on a Cresnet bus, however we will not cover them here due to the wide array of variables which impact power calculations and determining whether there is sufficient power for a given device.
Cabling
Cresnet cabling provides the physical infrastructure for communication between Crestron Cresnet devices and consists of a 4-wire, 2-pair cable available directly from Crestron with either plenum and non-plenum rated jackets.
| Pair | Color | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 18 AWG pair | Red | 24 V DC Power |
| Black | Common | |
| 22 AWG shielded twisted pair | White | Data + |
| Blue | Data - |
Terminations
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See Figure 1 for details.
See Figure 2 for details.
Crestron Wiring Notes
Crestron includes some general Cresnet wiring guidelines in their submittals. Many of these suggestions are covered above, but we have included them here for reference:
