Operating Manual
Technical Data
Controller CTR-50/51
CTR-50 Controller
Models in Series
| CTR-50 | CTR-51 |
| Current controlled 1-channel operation for steady LED light and simple LED flash light applications | Voltage controlled 1-channel operation for short, very precise and high-power LED flashes, precise flash pulses from 5 µs to 100 ms |
| Easy set-up of LED current via rotary switches | Easy set-up of LED flash duration and cur- rent via rotary switches |
| Straight flash control via the camera’s ‘exposure’ or ‘strobe‘ signal or manual flash set-up | |
Electrical Connections
| Pin………………….. CTR-50 Function ………………….. CTR-51 Function ……………………… Comment | |||
| 1 | 24 VDC | Controller power input | |
| 2 | GND | Device ground | |
| 3 | Dimmer 0 V … 10 V1) 0 V= 0 % of sel. current 10 V=100 % of sel. current | Time base multiplier for rotary switch2) Ground: 10 – 90 µs Not connected:100 – 900 µs 24V: 10.000 – 90.000 µs | On CTR-51 pin 3 has three status: connected to ground, left un- connected (open) or connected to 24 V. |
| 4 | Trigger 12-24V | ||
| 5 | Trigger GND | Trigger ground, isolated | |
| 63) | Trigger 5V – TTL | Signal low ≤ 0.8V Signal high ≥ 2.0V | |
| 7 | GND | Ground RS-232, int. connected to device GND | |
| 8 | RxD | Receive data RS-232 | |
| 9 | TxD | Transmit data RS-232 | |
| Pin | Wire4) | Output to light | |
| 105) | black + blue | LED (-) | |
| 11 | white + brown | LED (+) | |
- Dimmer switched off by factory Needs to be enabled via RS-232.
- Longer flash times can be set via RS-232
- Input voltages above 5 V will destroy the trigger input circuit!
- for MBJ connecting cable and MBJ LED light (-x) without integrated controller
- Do NOT connect to the external ground of the power supply or the ground of the trigger signal! This might destroy connected lights or devices.
Operating modes
| Mode………………………………….CTR-50 Function …………………………………CTR-51 Function | ||
| STEADY | Continuous light, LED always on | – |
| AUTO1) | LED-output follows the trigger | LED-output follows the trigger |
| FLASH | Manual set-up for flash, delay and duration (via RS-232 only) | Flash-on-trigger with set flash duration via rotary switches or RS-2322) |
| OFF | LED output switched off | |
- The CTR-50 factory setting of the operation mode is AUTO. Other operating modes are selectable via the RS-232 interface.
- The CTR-51 factory setting of the operation mode is FLASH. Other operating modes are selectable via the RS-232 interface.
Detection of the light source
After the CTR is powered on, it remains in detection mode until an LED illumination has been connected and detected.
Afterwards the CTR starts operation.
RS-232
The serial interface allows changing the operation mode and set-up of individual timings and currents. The control commands are described in a separate RS-232 manual which can be found at:
www.mbj-imaging.com/en/products/led-controller.
Rotary Switches
Use the rotary switches to set-up the allowed current for the connected LED.
Please check the LED light manufacturer’s manual to make sure not to exceed the maximum LED current.
Upper rotary switch
| Position | CTR-50 | CTR-51 |
| LED current 1 A steps | Flash current | |
| 0 | 0 A (to 0.9 A)1) | Controlled via RS-232 (0 – 30 A)2) |
| 1 | 1 A (to 1.9 A) | 1.0 A |
| 2 | 2 A (to 2.9 A) | 1.5 A |
| 3 | 3 A (to 3.9 A) | 2.1 A |
| 4 | 4 A (to 4.0 A) | 3.1 A |
| 5 | – | 4.5 A |
| 6 | – | 6.5 A |
| 7 | – | 9.4 A |
| 8 | – | 13.7 A |
| 9 | – | 20.0 A |
- CTR-50: If both rotary switches are set to 0 the factory default setting for the current is 50 mA
- CTR-51: The factory default setting is 150 mA
Lower rotary switch
| Position | CTR-50 | CTR-51 | ||
| LED current 0.1 A steps1) | Flash duration 2) | |||
| Pin 3 on GND | Pin 3 – open | Pin 3 on 24 V | ||
| 0 | add 0 mA | Controlled via RS-232 (0 – 30 A) | ||
| 1 | add 100 mA | 10 µs | 100 µs | 1 ms |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| 9 | add 900 mA | 90 µs | 900 µs | 9 ms |
1) CTR-50: If both rotary switches are set to 0 the factory default setting for the current is 50 mA
2) CTR-51: Shorter and longer flash times (5 µs – 100 ms) can be set via RS-232.
| Specification | CTR-50 | CTR-51 |
| Electrical parameter | ||
| Operating Voltage | min. 2 V above the forward voltage of the LED light source | |
| LED steady current1) (ON & AUTO mode) | 50 mA … 4000 mA | 150 mA … 1000 mA (AUTO mode only) |
| LED flash current2) | 50 mA … 4000 mA | 150 mA … 30 A |
| Min flash duration | 2 ms depending on LED work- ing point and duty cycle | 5 µs depending on LED work- ing point and duty cycle |
| Max. flash duration | 59 s | 60 ms |
| Max. flash latency3) | < 500 µs | < 1 µs |
| Max. flash frequency | < 500 Hz | 25 kHz |
| Flash duration & delay: smallest adjustable step | 10 µs | 1 µs |
| Voltage range for LED modules | approx. 2 V to 22 V | |
| Mechanical parameter | ||
| Dimension (H x W x D) | 36 mm x 80 mm x 93 mm | |
| Weight | 350 g | |
| Connectors | 2 Pin plug contact (RM5.08), 7 Pin plug contact (RM3.81), 2 Pin inv. plug contact (RM3.81) | |
| Certifications | CE, RoHS, EN61000-6-2, EN61000-6-4 | |
| Degree of protection | IP20 | |
| Humidity | 30% to 70% | |
| Operating temperature | Max. 45°C (duty cycle < 50 %) | |
| Accessories | Top rail mounting clip and plugs (scope of delivery). For cable, mounts and lighting modules please check www.mbj-imaging.com | |
- LED current less than 100 mA may cause LED light flickering
- The flash energy is provided by a capacitor and requires sufficient time for recharging. The flash energy (flash frequency * flash duration * current) is limited to 1A. E.g.: 100 flashes/s * 100µs * 30A = 0.3A
- The higher the current and the shorter the cycle time, the greater the latency can be.
Application Samples for CTR controller
Steady light 
Steady light with brightness control (CTR-50 only)
24 VDC triggered light , Common emitter, sinking (NPN) Inverted strobe signal
5 V triggered light, Common collector, sourcing (PNP)
Mechanical Integration
The CTR controllers are supplied with screwable plug-contacts for power supply, control signals, RS-232 interface and the LED light. The controller is made for top hat rail mounting, a clip locks the unit to the top hat rail.
Safety Notes
Before working with this unit, read the warning and application instructions carefully and completely.
- The device is designed for indoor use only.
- Health – The device must be disconnected from the power source before the installation and/or maintenance can start. The device must not be used when a failure may cause a personal injury.
- Electricity – The housing is electrically isolated from the ground of the power supply. Exceeding the permissible operating voltage or exceeding the maximum allowed switching current per channel can lead to the destruction of the device or to a significant shortening of the lifetime of the connected LED lighting module.
- Mechanical integration – The controller is made for top hat rail mounting. A clip can be used to lock the unit to the top hat rail. For optimal heat flow a left/right distance of 10mm to next unit is recommended.
Status LED’s CTR-50/51
| LED | Name | Status | Meaning |
| 1 | Power | OFF ON | Power input off Power input on |
| 2 | Status1) | OFF ON s-s-l-l s-l-l-l s-l-s-l s-s-s-s | LED light switched off LED light switched on No current, no LED connected Trigger received while still in IRQ2) (Flash + gap zone), trigger lost Max allowed temperature reached Check serial RS-232 status in logs |
| 3 | Trigger | OFF ON | Trigger low state Trigger high state |
1) s = short flash, l = long flash
2) IRQ = interrupt request
MBJ Imaging GmbH
Jochim-Klindt-Straße 7 +49 41 02 77 89 0 – 31
22926 Ahrensburg, Germany
sales@mbj-imaging.com
www.mbj-imaging.com
03736.07 Manual MBJ Controller CTR-50/51, Juni 2023
Documents / Resources
 | MBJ CTR-50 Controller [pdf] Instruction Manual CTR-50 Controller, CTR-50, Controller |