gareth Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Got a production coming up which requires a battery-powered oil lamp which can be wirelessly DMX-controlled - it needs to be carried on by an actor while lit, placed on a table, and subsequently turned off and on with scene change cues without any actor intervention. I've looked into the RC4 wireless DMX/dimmer system, which looks great but is probably cost-prohibitive for this particular project. We already have a City Theatrical ShowDMX transmitter, but it's apparently incompatible with their current products (the ShowDMX Neo D2 would've been ideal for this application) so we'd have to buy a complete new system even though the transmitter we have is less than three years old. I was deeply unimpressed by that, and it puts me off purchasing anything by City Theatrical in the future. Is there anything else along these lines that I should be looking at? Alternative route - does anyone have (or know of) something useful which might be kicking around in someone's warehouse or props store? Either an oil lamp which functions in this kind of way, or if anyone's got some appropriate DMX kit (RC4 or similar) that we could hire/borrow for a few weeks? Any leads or suggestions appreciated. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Hi Gareth Speak to the RSC lighting dept, I had one off them for a show I've just done which would do exactly what you want. I don't know whether it's about to be used in the new season but it's worth a try. I'm there next week so could always ask around if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianknight Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Thinking slightly laterally - how about one of those Chinese wireless XLR DMX plugs that are on flea Bay? All you need then is to convert the DMX signal into something useable (i.e. something akin to this http://milinst.co.uk/shop/DM/DM.php#1-559) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldradiohand Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Does it have to be DMX? If it's just wireless you need an LED candle type bulb and one of these might work.... http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/quasar-single-channel-wireless-remote-control-kit-l26bk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRW Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Gareth, you could try contacting Light The Way....we had some bits off them for the last Buxton Festival for wireless control of scenic pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henny Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Gareth, you could try contacting Light The Way....we had some bits off them for the last Buxton Festival for wireless control of scenic pieces. could you go wired ? jack socket in table top, jack plug in bottom of lamp so when placed down they connect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 could you go wired ? jack socket in table top, jack plug in bottom of lamp so when placed down they connect? it needs to be carried on by an actor while lit, placed on a table, and subsequently turned off and on with scene change cues without any actor intervention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 There is a board available from China that has four latching relays operated by a RF remote, usually about 200m range, not DMX though. As the 8 momentary 4 latching board it is often matrixed out to 32 channels, See Pyro Universe forum for details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 could you go wired ? jack socket in table top, jack plug in bottom of lamp so when placed down they connect? it needs to be carried on by an actor while lit, placed on a table, and subsequently turned off and on with scene change cues without any actor intervention. It could still be battery-operated and fail "on" without any control signal. It's not an impossibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 I think I'm on the way to getting this sorted. Got a possible lead on someone who might be able to rent us a complete fitting, and another couple of potential leads on loan of RC4 remote dimmers that we can fit into one of the oil lamps we've got in the props store. Will let you all know what we end up doing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alistermorton Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 I've found Technical Performance and Presentation are very helpful and good on price when renting RC4 stuff. We rented a DMXio and a DMXdim2 for about two weeks and the whole lot including shipping and VAT was about 130 quid. It worked perfectly first time and every time, every performance. I spoke to Beverley at TPP and she sorted everything out with no problems and very accommodating around our rehearsal and performance schedule (which clashed with two bank holidays effectively extending the hire). The DMX2dim is really small - about the size of a box of matches in its case. I have no connection with TPP other than as a satisfied customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I managed to rent an RC4 system at a good rate, and it's being fitted into our own lamp. So everyone's happy - the director gets the control they wanted over the light, and the designer gets the oil lamp that he chose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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