House light dimmer

[dbuckley]

Who makes these things? Looking for 20A, with both button control and DMX512 input. Any ideas...?

[Ynot]

Who makes these things? Looking for 20A, with both button control and DMX512 input. Any ideas...?

May be a little OTT, but the ETC Smart packs have a relatively new gizmo - Smartlink - which allows the install of a remote button box for off-line control whilst still allowing DMX control as an over-ride. I was contemplating something like this as an upgrade for our existing racks but haven't yet gone far enough into it.

As the racks come in a six-way 15A version as well as the 12-way 10A jobs that we have, it MAY be something worth investigating...

[peter]

If you can split the load over two channels, you might want to look at a Chilli 410 from Zero88. You can then attach a Chilli Pannel wherever you want local house light control, and also assign the unit to a DMX address. More info here

[gareth]

Remote outstations are nothing 'new', Tony. Back in the mid 90's I worked in a brand new venue which had an installation of 14 Strand LD90 racks, one of which was for the houselights - this rack was connected to a network of pushbutton outstations around the auditorium which could be used to select one of four pre-programmed houselight state when the lighting desk was off.

 

One thing to be aware of, which we learned the hard way during the first few days of operation at the aforementioned venue - make sure you fit some sort of protective panel or flap over the pushbutton panel, otherwise you'll get some doddery senile volunteer usher leaning against the button at a most inopportune moment and bringing the houselights to full in the middle of a show. ;)

[Ynot]

Remote outstations are nothing 'new', Tony.

** laughs out loud **!!

I know - it's just that the only one that was fresh in my mind (because we'd been looking) was the ETC!!

;) :) :D

 

(After all, I'd HATE to offer advice on anything I had NO experience of...... :D )

[Just Some Bloke]

I've just got some Anytronics ones. They do a 5K version tripped at 25A which seems excellent value for money. DMX option is extra but still good value.

[Ynot]

I've just got some Anytronics ones. They do a 5K version tripped at 25A which seems excellent value for money. DMX option is extra but still good value.

Care to post a link?

[niclights]

I would also look at Anytronics for the most cost-effective. Have just purchased a very basic 4x5A dim/switch for the same purpose. Most of their products have DMX as option & there is 'Anyscene' which is designed to act as a neat stand-alone controller in which you pre-record memories & can then recall with various fade times. If DMX is received into the Anyscene the DMX control overrides the device. On disconnection the device reverts to its last output.

 

http://www.anytronics.com/

 

Anyscene

[Richard Bunting]

I've just got some Anytronics ones. They do a 5K version tripped at 25A which seems excellent value for money. DMX option is extra but still good value.

Care to post a link?

 

www.anytronics.com

 

they do a wide range of this type of dimmer, along with various outstations to control them

 

HTH

 

Richard

[Don Allen]

House dimmers can have analogue, DMX, RS485 and proprietary control options and have a range of remote wall plates for control, usually with remote programming available.

 

Your local regulations may require restricted access to control panels in public areas.

 

In Australia some options are :

Q Engineering http://www.qengineering.com.au/products/dimmax.htm

LSC http://www.lsclighting.com.au/Documents/EKO/EKO%20USP.pdf

Theatrelight (NZ) http://www.theatrelight.co.nz/moodset.htm

Bytecraft http://www.bytecraftentertainment.com/salescatalogue_f.phtml

Dynalite http://dynalite-online.com/default_code.ht...chitectural.htm

Strand from Dynalite

Clipsal http://www.smarthomeuae.com/product.php?pr...pcategory=17005

HPM http://www.hpmtech.com.au/frmshowpage.aspx...gename=products

 

And so the list goes on. Architectural tends to be more expensive, less sales, more discerning end users.

[peternewman]

Out of interest do all of these work on a HTP system, I can see possible issues such as those mentioned about them being overridden accidentally, so I was just curious if anyone had come up with a clever system to solve all the problems. I guess some sort of remote lockout via DMX, with the option to override that by entering a code on the panel could work perhaps, but would probably be too complicated.

[agermich]

Reading the information for the Chili Net system

 

User Selectable DMX interface relationship – DMX on/off, DMX takes precedence, LTP or HTP.

 

Therefore there shouldn't be a problem if someone leans on the panel when it's under DMX control (well with this system anyway!). We've got an LD90 in our cafe set up with a similar strand system. You set up a scene on the board and then hold down one of the buttons on the control panel to store the scene. I think that with our system is HTP.

 

Mike

[mar]

We recently had a full Chilli Dimmer system installed with Chilli Net panels for houselights, 'blues' and 'whites'. Mostly the system seems very good and includes an optional master key switch to turn off all the rig, houselights and backstage lights in one go or lock out the unit to prevent accidental 'leaning on the panel' problems.

 

I can see one problem with using a DMX takes precedence system and that is when you boot up your lighting desk it will override the houselight control thereby turning off the houselights (unless you preset the desk to have them on before booting) which might cause problems for those working in the auditorium. Likewise, should the desk decide to crash and lock up with the houselights off you would then not be able to turn on some houselights using the panels.

 

Ours is set up for HTP meaning that we can control it all from the desk, but in the event of an emergency the LX op or the SM both have control panels next to them so can put something on. The two risks of this are that a member of the audience or cast could push the panels near both main and backstage entrances (but as soon as this happened the Lx op could correct it) or that you forget to turn off the houselights from the panel before the show (meaning they stay on until you realise this).

 

Generally we are very pleased with the Chilli system, escpecially as we no longer have huge banks of lightswitches scattered around the place to turn off at the end of the day.

[back_ache]

Who makes these things? Looking for 20A, with both button control and DMX512 input. Any ideas...?

 

I would also suggest Dynalite, given half the chance they'll be controlling every non-theatrical light you've got!

 

Keep in mind when spec'ing a system you may need to link out to the fire alarm system (so that it go to a preset scene in an emergency) and as you expand the system you may need it to talk to flourescants, leds, motion sensors and astronomical clocks.

[Ynot]

Have just purchased a very basic 4x5A dim/switch for the same purpose. Most of their products have DMX as option & there is 'Anyscene' which is designed to act as a neat stand-alone controller in which you pre-record memories & can then recall with various fade times. If DMX is received into the Anyscene the DMX control overrides the device. On disconnection the device reverts to its last output.

Having just spent a while this afternoon looking at this, and swapping mails with Anytonics tech dept, I've actually re-opened my own investigations into this. The Anyscene option (esp as they're releasing a multi-controller option in about a month) is looking quite favourite at this point!

Cheers for that heads-up, guys!!