How DMX DIP switch addressing works
Traditional DMX DIP addressing uses binary addition. Each switch has a value that doubles from the previous switch. Turn on the switches whose values add up to the desired DMX start address.
For example, DMX address 137 is:
128 + 8 + 1 = 137So switches 8, 4 and 1 are ON.
Why switch 10 is different
A nine-bit binary address bank can represent values from 0 through 511. Since usable DMX start addresses normally begin at 1, switches 1–9 cover addresses 1–511. Many compact LED decoders therefore use DIP 10 for a separate feature such as standalone mode, test mode, speed, termination or a mode selector.
A small number of manufacturers use switch 10 as a 512 address bit. This calculator follows the much more common layout where switches 1–9 set the address and switch 10 is manufacturer-specific. Check the decoder manual for uncommon layouts.
Address 512: a decoder using only switches 1–9 for addressing cannot represent start address 512 with standard binary DIP addressing. Check whether the device uses switch 10 as 512, provides another programming method, or simply does not support 512 as a DIP-set start address.
DMX decoder channel count still matters
The start address is only the first slot a decoder listens to. A 3-channel RGB decoder set to address 101 normally uses 101–103. A 4-channel RGBW decoder set to 101 normally uses 101–104. Make sure the complete channel footprint stays inside the intended universe.
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