act 6/ GSX problem :S

[jim_holg8]

Hello!

 

We have been running a show in our studio space this week which runs 4x 6channel act 6 patchable dimmers (1997) and 1 x 50channel GSX

 

The first problem we experienced was all the channels on the 2nd dimmer in the sequence stopped working, When we had a look at the dimmer both the DMX lights were flashing, :S I reset the dimmer and it looked fine but just incase I swopped everything and made that pack redundant and moved them all to the bottom dimmer which currently wasnt being used, Unfortunatly about 2 hours later we lost the first dimmer in the line, It had the same problem with both the DMX lights flashing error :S uuuhm! obviously once I had reset it then the problem went away.

 

The thing thats worrying me now is that two dimmer packs and completly different times have had this problem, I am thinking it must be a problem with the desk but im not to sure ? The desk was just running basic ques and some subs, Nothing more than about 1.3k going through the dimmers so that wouldnt have caused it either... I dont think!

 

I am just v.confused about this one! If someone could give me some clues into why that would be great,

 

Thanks again,

 

J :)

[ampcats]

has anything been added to theatre recently / moved nearer the DMX cabling / racks / desk, specifically new radio apparatus - wifi hotspot / you are sitting underneath mobile phone transmitter mast / the induction loop wire running next to DMX / loop amp sitting on racks....

 

I assume the last rack in the DMX chain is terminated

 

If the desk is sending out iffy DMX, the last rack should be the one with the most chance of showing up an error, not the first - make sure your cable is good, and that all connections are good internally. if a wire is only attached at one end, it can act like an aerial....

 

A. (ps.. GSX?. unless I'm mistaken your profile shows an LBX... golf anyone?)

[stuartglen]

Agreed, it is an lbx in the profile.

 

If I remember correctly the act 6 dimmers have analogue inputs aswell as DMX, could you borrow a demux, this would allow you to take the DMX controllers in the dimmers out of the equation, leaving you with the desk and the triacs and associated control.

[jim_holg8]

I have checked the last rack is terminated and it is m(little switch is up and term light is on), The DMX lead looks fine I have even changed it just to make sure!

 

There are no arial masts etc or induction loop cabling around the desk ...

 

I defaulted the GSX to make sure and it appears to be fine, I also ran the basic diognostic tests on it and only one error came up and that was a bump button,

 

It was just strange how two different dimmers had to same problem with the DMX cards in them reporting an error!

 

PS- I like the blue golf ball on my GSX and the LBX!

 

Thanks again for your help, I will have a look to definatly make sure there are no cables that could be causing interference to the DMX, Dont think so though !

[ampcats]

ok, have you tried moved the desk to the racks to cut out the distance or are you in one of those lucky theatres where you could repatch dimmers inbetween cues without leaving your chair (great for shows with loads of specials - IF you remember where in the show you are! :) )

 

have you also just ran one act6 at a time to see if all the racks have the same error on thier own, and then tried 2, then 3, to try to see if one of the racks is inducing anything on the line...

 

you said you changed the DMX cable - you should have 4...

[la grande homme]

happened with my identical set up a few years ago... had the racks serviced, solved the issues. something had become un-terminated in the DMX card, took a few goes tho as with all intermitttent faults the first 3 times they looked it behaved perfectly...