Novastar BR420L

NovaStar BR420L — power supply and receiving card on one PCB

The BR420L belongs to NovaStar's BR series, a family of integrated control boards combining the AC/DC power supply and the receiving card on a single board. At the back of a cabinet it replaces the usual "power supply unit + receiving card" pair with one item: less internal cabling, fewer connectors, fewer failure points, and depth saved.

It is the atypical model of the series, and this must be known before ordering: it does not connect through parallel HUB connectors but through an LVDS interface. Its near-square 222 × 234 mm format is unique in the range.

Key specifications

Load capacity: 512×512@60Hz en 8 bits — 512×384@60Hz en 10 et 12 bits. Avec contrôleur COEX : 512×512@60Hz en 10 bits, 512×384@60Hz en 12 bits.
Module connectors: interface LVDS (paires différentielles TX, RX et GCLK) — nombre de connecteurs non publié par Novastar
AC input: 90–264 Vac, 47–63 Hz
DC output: 3,8 / 4,0 (défaut) / 4,2 V — 20 A nominal
Dimensions: 222,0 × 234,0 × 24,4 mm
Weight: 291,3 g
Operating temperature: -20 °C à +70 °C
Image processing: HDR10 compliant with SMPTE ST 2084 and ST 2086, HLG, 18bit+, one-frame Low Latency enabled by default, 3D, Cabinet LCD, Loop Backup

NovaStar BR420L — technical analysis

Buying a BR board is not the same reasoning as buying a receiving card. What decides is the available DC current, because it caps the luminance the cabinet can hold at full white. Its 20 A under 4 V gives around 80 W, at the same level as the BR480. The load capacity is higher: 512×512 in 8-bit against 512×384, and 512×384 in 10 and 12-bit against 512×256.

The LVDS interface is what decides. A differential link carries the signal much further than a parallel ribbon, with far better noise immunity. That makes this board relevant where the control board sits away from the modules, or in an electrically noisy environment. The trade-off is absolute: your panels must be designed for LVDS, there is no adapter. NovaStar does not publish the connector count or the RGB group count for this board — we will not invent them; ask us for confirmation before freezing a specification.

Three design points: the module connector format must match your panels exactly (interface LVDS (paires différentielles TX, RX et GCLK) — nombre de connecteurs non publié par Novastar); thermal derating means sizing cabinet ventilation accordingly; and since the board is both power supply and receiver, one failure takes out both — on a critical installation, plan spare stock accordingly.

• Long-link architectures — LVDS carries further than a parallel ribbon.
• Electrically noisy environments — differential link noise immunity.
• Compact cabinets — near-square 222 × 234 mm format.
• HDR projects — HDR10 ST 2084 / ST 2086 and HLG on a non-Pro model.
• LVDS panel design — a board to design in from the cabinet drawing.

• Available current — 20 A nominal, at BR480 level, with a higher load capacity.
• Connectors — interface LVDS (paires différentielles TX, RX et GCLK) — nombre de connecteurs non publié par Novastar: check the exact match with your modules before ordering.
• Thermal — -20 °C to +70 °C, with no published derating threshold.
• LVDS interface required — your panels must be designed for LVDS; there is no adapter to parallel HUB connectors.
• Single point of failure — power and reception on the same board: one failure takes out both, plan spare stock.