Product Description
The Allanson ACL-DMX/SPI-LC puts DMX, TTL-SPI and Boosted SPI in a single unit. No converter, no adapter kit, no extra box on the wall — the protocols your job needs are already in the controller, on 16 configurable RJ45 output channels.
It is cULus certified, warrantied five years, and rated from -4°F to 131°F. For most sign work that combination matters more than any single feature: it is listed equipment, it is covered as long as the modules it drives, and it tolerates a real range of installed conditions.
What makes it the practical choice
- No converter to buy. DMX and SPI are native. Order the controller and you can run the job.
- Boosted SPI to 1000 feet with Allanson's SPI Range Extender — a different order of magnitude from the 60 to 100 ft that standard SPI wiring allows.
- Runs offline. Internal storage holds pixel-mapped files and plays them back with nothing else connected. No network dependency, no cloud account, no customer IT conversation.
- Hard key arrows alongside the touchscreen. Built for gloved hands and bright sun, where a capacitive screen alone gets frustrating.
- Password protected. Factory-set login with user password management, so the customer cannot reprogram their way into a service call.
- 12V or 24V. One controller across both module families.
Specifications
| Part number | ACL-DMX/SPI-LC |
| Display | 5" capacitive touch, 800 x 480, plus hard key arrow navigation |
| Protocols | DMX, TTL-SPI and Boosted (differential) SPI in one unit |
| Output channels | 16 x RJ45 |
| DMX output | Max 512 x 16 channels — 2,048 RGBW or 2,730 RGB modules |
| TTL-SPI output | Max 1,364 x 10 channels — 13,640 pixels |
| Boosted SPI output | Max 1,364 x 6 channels — 8,184 pixels |
| SPI signal range | Up to 1000 ft with Allanson SPI Range Extender (receiver) |
| Grey scale | 65,536 levels (64K) |
| Refresh frequency | 60Hz to 300Hz |
| Storage | 16GB internal memory |
| File upload | USB-C port |
| Side ports | RJ45 for TCP/IP, XLR for DMX in and out |
| Back ports | RJ45 for SPI and DMX out |
| Operating voltage | 12V or 24V DC, 2.5A Class 2 supply (included) |
| Maximum power | 30W |
| Dimensions | 8" x 6.5" x 2.5" (203 x 165 x 63mm) |
| Weight | 920g net |
| Operating temperature | -20°C to 55°C (-4°F to 131°F) |
| Certification | cULus E324538 |
| Warranty | 5 years |
What ships in the box
- Master controller unit
- 12V DC 2.5A Class 2 power adapter
- Shipping carton 10" x 9" x 4"
Reading the capacity numbers
The headline figure of 21,824 SPI pixels is TTL-SPI (13,640) plus Boosted SPI (8,184) combined — not what either output does on its own. Design to the output you are actually using. If the run needs the 1000 ft Boosted SPI reach, your ceiling on those channels is 8,184 pixels, not 21,824. Send us the layout and we will work the channel assignment with you.
On the DMX side, the figures come out of the same 16 channels: 512 addresses per channel, divided by 4 for RGBW modules or 3 for RGB. That is 2,048 RGBW or 2,730 RGB. DMX and SPI capacity can be combined across the 16 outputs to suit the installation.
Two specs worth understanding
64K grey scale
65,536 levels per channel is 16-bit dimming. It shows up at the bottom of the range — slow fades to black stay smooth instead of stepping, and low-level scenes hold their color instead of shifting. On a sign that dims for evening hours, this is the difference between elegant and cheap-looking.
60Hz to 300Hz refresh
The high end matters when the sign gets photographed or filmed. Low refresh rates produce banding and flicker on camera, which is a real problem for casinos, entertainment venues and anywhere social media is part of the point. Being able to push refresh up solves it.
How it compares to the ACL-MC-MP-V1
We stock both master controllers. They are aimed at different jobs:
| ACL-DMX/SPI-LC (this unit) | ACL-MC-MP-V1 | |
|---|---|---|
| SPI converter required | No — built in | Yes — ACL-ARTNET-SPI-KIT, sold separately |
| Certification | cULus E324538 | CE, FCC |
| Warranty | 5 years | 1 year |
| Operating temperature | -4°F to 131°F | 14°F to 122°F |
| Display | 5" touch plus hard keys | 10.1" touch |
| Remote / cloud management | No — local and offline playback | Yes — internet and cloud |
| DMX capacity | 2,048 RGBW / 2,730 RGB | Unlimited |
| SPI capacity | 21,824 pixels | 16,000 per converter, converters expandable |
| SPI reach | 1000 ft with Range Extender | Via ACL-SPI-SA amplifier |
| Storage | 16GB internal | Unlimited |
For most sign work, start here. The listing, the five-year warranty, the wider temperature range and the fact that nothing else needs to be ordered to run addressable modules make this the straightforward choice. Step up to the ACL-MC-MP-V1 when the customer specifically needs remote and cloud management across multiple signs, or when capacity genuinely exceeds what this unit holds.
Mounting
Rated from -4°F to 131°F — wider than the ACL-MC-MP-V1, and enough for most enclosure and interior locations across our territory. It is still below the 140°F the LED modules tolerate, so a west-facing unconditioned enclosure in a Phoenix July can exceed it. Give it shade and ventilation, or put it inside.
The hard key arrows exist because this controller gets installed in places where a touchscreen alone is awkward. Plan the mounting height and access accordingly — someone will be standing in front of it changing a schedule.
Programming
The controller works with Allanson's Module Pixel Mapping software. Designs and schedules load over USB-C and play back from internal memory, so the installation does not depend on a network connection. Scheduling covers days, hours and minutes, with manual triggering, auto-run and schedule editing on the unit.
Allanson also builds custom pixel-mapped programs from your artwork. Send us the vector files with the order and we will start that process.
Where it fits
- Large channel letter and cabinet installations needing animation across many modules
- Mixed systems running addressable modules alongside DMX fixtures and border tubing
- Long runs where the 1000 ft Boosted SPI reach solves a distance problem nothing else will
- Permitted commercial work where listed control equipment is required
- Installations with no network — offline playback means no IT involvement
- Casinos, theatres and entertainment venues where refresh rate and dimming quality show up on camera
Frequently asked questions
No. DMX, TTL-SPI and Boosted SPI are all built in. This is the main practical difference between this controller and the ACL-MC-MP-V1.
Up to 1000 ft using Allanson's SPI Range Extender on the Boosted SPI outputs. Standard SPI wiring without it is limited to far shorter distances.
No. Files load over USB-C and play back from 16GB of internal memory. There is an RJ45 TCP/IP port if you want it networked, but nothing requires it.
That figure is the TTL-SPI and Boosted SPI outputs added together. Each has its own ceiling — 13,640 and 8,184. Design to the output you are using.
The controller itself accepts 12V or 24V. The modules on each circuit still need the correct supply for their own voltage, and 12V and 24V modules cannot share a circuit.
Yes — cULus certified under E324538. If your jurisdiction requires listed control equipment on a permitted sign, this is the controller to specify.
It is rated to 131°F, which covers many enclosure locations but not a west-facing unconditioned box in an Arizona summer. Shade and ventilation, or an interior location, is the safe call.
Ordering
Send us the scope — module types, quantities, run lengths and whether the customer needs remote access — and we will tell you whether this controller or the ACL-MC-MP-V1 fits, and quote the supplies and extenders with it. Email Sales@kgsupplies.com or call (602) 272-8655. KG Supplies delivers overnight throughout Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado, and ships nationwide via UPS.
