Set the device to DMX mode.
Match the printed ON mark. Check switch 10 / MODE in the manual; auto, sound and master/slave modes can override DMX control.
LIGHTING TOOLS
DMX DIP Switch Calculator
Set DIP switches, plan addresses for lights or DMX decoders, and find channel overlaps.
Standard 9-switch binary · 1–511Will this work with my device?
Enter 1–511 to see which switches to turn ON.
ON at top · Switch 1 on left
Switch 10 / MODE: use the setting in your device manual.
No account needed.
OPTIONAL
channels per device
Look for the selected mode in the manual, such as 3CH or 4CH. RGB devices may use extra dimmer or effect channels.
Channels usedNot checked
Enter the channel count to see the range and the next available address.
Controller needs fixed address blocks? Open .
Plan addresses for several devices.
Use this for identical lights or DMX decoders in the same channel mode.
Devices in a group share one address and respond together. Use identical models and modes on the same universe. The last group may be smaller.
How many channels does each device use?
Check the selected mode in the manual, then enter its channel count above. Or try the 6-device example to see how a plan works.
devices
universes required
channels allocated
Your address plan
Turn ON the numbered switches shown below| Device | Universe | Start | Channel range | Switches ON | View switch settings |
|---|
All unlisted address switches are OFF. Switch 10 / MODE: check the device manual.
Before using this plan, check that your controller supports this many devices and universes. Each device stays within one universe. Start address 512 is excluded because nine standard address switches cannot represent it.
Find devices using the same channels.
Enter the current settings of each light or DMX decoder. This tool compares your entries; it does not scan connected equipment.
Add a device
Up to 1,000 devices. Use “Save device list” before reloading or closing this page, so you can open it again later.
Why check for overlaps?
On the same universe, a 3-channel device at address 1 uses channels 1–3. Another at address 3 uses channels 3–5. Both use channel 3, so a command on that channel reaches both devices.
Add your devices to find shared channels. For separate control, give each device its own channel range. If you want matching devices to respond together, give them the same group name.
devices with overlaps
Which channels are in use?
In useShared on purposeOverlapUnused
Unused channel ranges
| Device / address | Channel check | Actions |
|---|
TAKE IT TO THE INSTALLATION
Use this tool without internet.
Download a copy of this tool with your current settings and device list. Open the downloaded HTML file in a browser to use it offline. Download a new copy after making changes.
Open the downloaded file in a desktop browser. On a phone, check that your browser can open local HTML files before relying on it on site.FROM CALCULATION TO CONTROL
Before you test your lights.
Use the same settings on the controller.
Select the correct device model, channel mode and start address on the controller. Connect the device to an output carrying the assigned universe.
Test one device first.
Enable DMX output, release blackout and set the required dimmer, shutter and color channels. Confirm a response before adding the rest.
QUICK ANSWERS
DMX addressing,
explained.
Understand the settings before you change them. Keep your device manual nearby.
What do address, channel and universe mean?
A channel carries a control value, such as a dimmer or color level. The start address is the first channel a device listens to. A 3-channel device at address 1 uses channels 1, 2 and 3.
A universe is a separate set of 512 channels. Address 1 in universe 1 is different from address 1 in universe 2. Use the universe number from your controller; the nine address switches do not select it.
Will this work with my device?
Use this tool when switches 1–9 have the values 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256, and the ON values add up to the address. For address 17, turn ON switches 1 and 5.
Devices with different switch weights or a different addressing rule need their model’s instructions. A tenth switch may select an operating mode; it is not automatically an address bit.
Why can’t I set address 512? What does all OFF mean?
A DMX universe has 512 channels, but the largest sum of nine binary switch values is 511. This tool never substitutes all OFF for 512.
All OFF gives a binary value of 0, which is not a normal DMX start address. Your model may assign a special meaning to it. Follow the manual for both 0 and 512.
Should the next address be 4 or 17?
It depends on the device mode and controller. A 3-channel device at address 1 uses channels 1–3, so the next device can start at 4 if your controller allows it.
Some controllers reserve fixed blocks: a 16-channel block makes the next start 17, even if the device uses only 3 channels. In the planner, keep “Channels per device” at 3 and set “Step between start addresses” to 16. Check your controller manual before using this pattern.
Can two devices share the same address?
Yes, if identical devices in the same channel mode should respond together on the same universe. Set them to the same address. To control each device separately, give each one its own channel range. Choose “Together in groups” in the planner to repeat an address within each group. Separate groups receive separate channel ranges.
The same address in different universes is a different control destination. A universe is selected by your controller and output routing, not by the nine address switches.
The address looks right, but there’s no light.
First confirm DMX mode, the channel mode, start address and output universe on both the device and controller. Disable blackout and send the dimmer, shutter and color values required by the device’s channel chart.
Test one device directly with a known working DMX cable. If the signal is intermittent, inspect the cabling and termination at the end of the chain. Change one thing at a time; a calculator cannot verify a physical DMX connection.
Where do these addressing rules come from?
References checked: 6 October 2026. Always use the manual for your exact model.
The binary weights and channel allocation are standard DMX setup concepts. The mode switch is model-specific: the CHAUVET manual below uses switch 10 ON for DMX, while the LT-880 uses its FUN switch for test functions.
YOUR SWITCH SETTINGS
To read an existing address, tap the switches to match your device.
Address001
↑ ONFollow the ON mark on your device
Top: switch numberBottom: binary value
SWITCHES ON1
All other address switches OFF1 = 1Binary (9 → 1)
000000001Large touch controls
Tap a numbered button. The full diagram above updates with every tap.
Numbered switches 1–9 only