Novastar MON300

NovaStar MON300 — the card that sees failures before the client does

The MON300 is a cabinet supervision card for installations with high availability requirements. It detects pixel-level open-LED faults, ribbon cable failures, cabinet temperature and humidity, the voltage of eight power supplies, the speed of four fans, and cabinet door opening.

Specifications

Detection: pixel-level open LED, ribbon fault, temperature, humidity, voltage of 8 power supplies, speed of 4 fans, door opening
Connectors: 16 or 20 data group configurations
Power: DC 5.0 V, 0.15 A, 0.75 W
Dimensions: 144.0 × 91.5 × 22.5 mm — Weight: 115.7 g
Temperature: −20 °C to +60 °C
Compatibility: MRV320 and MRV560 receiving cards

NovaStar MON300 — technical analysis

Pixel-level open-LED detection is what separates this card from a simple probe. On a wall in service a dead diode is invisible from the ground until there are several — by the time the client reports it, there are often a hundred. The MON300 counts them as they appear, turning an emergency call-out into a planned intervention. It is a maintenance-contract tool, not an installation one.

An important caveat we would rather state: the official datasheet declares compatibility only with the MRV320 and MRV560 receiving cards, two earlier-generation references. Open-LED detection also requires a driver IC and hub board that support it. On a recent Armor or BR estate, the complete chain must therefore be validated before committing. NovaStar announces no end of life and the datasheet was revised in 2024, but this restricted compatibility must be checked project by project.

• Maintenance contracts — early detection of open LEDs and ribbon faults.
• Critical installations — control rooms, airports, industrial sites.
• Hard-to-reach screens — height, façades, anywhere each intervention is expensive.
• MRV320 or MRV560 estates — manufacturer-declared compatibility.
• Cabinet supervision — power supplies, fans, door, humidity.

• Restricted compatibility — the official datasheet is limited to MRV320 and MRV560 cards: validate the chain before ordering.
• LED detection — requires a compatible driver IC and hub board, not just the card.
• Use — a maintenance-contract tool: its value is measured in avoided call-outs, not purchase price.
• Thermal range — +60 °C maximum, lower than receiving cards: check in a hot cabinet.
• Alternative — for simple temperature monitoring, an MFN300 with an MTH310 probe is enough and costs less.