richie_from_metallitia Posted April 24, 2006 Share Posted April 24, 2006 Hi all.. I wanna set up my lights for DMX, I have the controller, I have 2 spectre type lights and 8 of the par 56 ledswill show ya links to them. I have set the two spectres to the same address (1) and split the par 56 leds off into two groups of 4 with the sameaddress. My problem is at the back of the spectre theres two leds, one red for on and one yellow for signal. when I plug it in the red comes on grand but the yellow led just flickers non stop, is that cos I need a terminate on it? or dodgy leads or what? please please help ooh ps excellent forums here. was browsing and had to join Richie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelxbloke Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 I'm unfamiliar with these particular units but 9 times out of 10 I find a flickering DMX status LED to be just "displaying the data" HTH Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Some Bloke Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 You don't say whether they work Ok or not! If all is well, don't worry about it. If they don't work then I think you've answered the question yourself. It could be either that it needs terminating or that you're using dodgy leads. You may, for instance, be using mic leads instead of data leads. Otherwise, one of the leads may be wired differently to the others. Otherwise one of the leads may just need some basic maintenance (re-soldering a connection, for example). The only other thing: have you left enough channels between the start addresses each time. E.g. if the Spectres need 6 channels then the second start address can't be before 7. Same with the LED Pars. Best way to fault-find is to unplug everything then plug them all in again one at a time starting at the beginning of the chain and see where the problem comes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 I think one pair of lights is unlikly to cause problems with using mic' cable. However check your cable is intact and there are no breaks in it, also check that the data is the same way round on your controller as your lights. Depending on your controller you might find pins 2 and 3 are the other way arround to the lights, if so you will need a crossover cable. This is unlikly if the controller is the same brand as the lights. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richie_from_metallitia Posted April 25, 2006 Author Share Posted April 25, 2006 cheers all got it going , used a terminator and its hunky dory. now tell me again why I shouldn't be using mic leads? surely they work as good as the data ones? cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Now tell me again why I shouldn't be using mic leads? surely they work as good as the data ones? cheersWhilst you CAN use mic cables to run DMX fixtures, it's not recommended for various reasons, especially on long cabling runs or on systems where there are a good number of DMX fixtures on the line.DMX datacable is manufactured to support the type of signals being transmitted over it, just as mic cable is suited to micsignals and other cable is better suited to instrument feeds etc. It's all down to the correct impedance cable, screening, pair twists, etc etc. TD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 now tell me again why I shouldn't be using mic leads? surely they work as good as the data ones? Basically, you shouldn't be using them cos they don't work as "good" as mic ones. Different type of cable, with different electrical properties, designed for a different application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Some Bloke Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Basically, mic leads are designed to carry (analogue) mic signals and data leads are designed to carry (digital) data. It may well work using the wrong one because essentially they both contain just strands of copper connecting the 3 pins of an XLR. However, analogue and digital signals are affected differently by different types of interference. Mic cables are designed to avoid the types of interference which affect analogue signals and data cables are designed to avoid the types of interference which affect digital signals. The longer your run of cables, the more likely interference is to create a problem; thus short data runs should be fine using mic leads, but the longer the run or the more other cables they run alongside, the less likely they are to work. There may be other reasons, but I'm not a physicist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 Well, I am a physicist - or at least I used to be - and that's why I came up with the deep, complicated "cos they're different" answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richie_from_metallitia Posted April 25, 2006 Author Share Posted April 25, 2006 ahh o.k. cheers.. will get some DMX specific leads post haste. using short wee parch ones mostly but also two 15 footers, hi ho hi ho its off to thomann I go.. again..** laughs out loud ** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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