Tripping to black out

[hevtech]

I am using an ELAN 24 channel MIX-2448 DMX dimmer and it keeps tripping to Black Out mid show...... any ideas what could be the problem???? HELP!!!

[Dmills]

WHAT keeps tripping?

 

The MIX-2448 seems to be a control desk NOT a dimmer, so is it the dimmers that are tripping (could be overload, could be earth fault, could be something else) or is it the desk that keeps dropping to blackout?

 

My crystal ball is broken so I cannot help without way more information then just that "somethings going wrong, please help".

 

Regards, Dan.

[Russ83]

If something electrical is actually tripping then take some of the load off the dimmers. Something tells me you possibly didn't mean 'tripping' though.

 

When some dimmers loose the DMX signal they will drop all the channels to zero so if the fault is completely random test the DMX cable and connectors for any bad contacts. If the cables are fine, does the problem occur when you move any of the master faders, it could be a piece of grit or a faulty fader that puts the output to zero.

 

Really need more info to suggest anything else, exactly what are you doing when it happens? What do you do to get them back on?

[pritch]

Although Dan has seemingly found the desk you refer to, I can't seem to find much info on it on Google; perhaps you could post a link to it? I'm wondering if it might be a desk that we're more familiar with, rebadged?

 

A couple of other questions I'd ask:

 

Do any indicators on the desk/monitor (if there is one) show that it's gone into blackout?

Does the desk lock up - are there signs of life when it goes into blackout?

What do you have to do to get out of the blackout - does just pressing the blackout key work? Do you have to unplug the desk and turn it back on?

If the dimmers (note: dimmer, not desk) have a DMX light on them, is this on/flickering/off when things go black?

[hevtech]

Appologies on my part, I meant to write dimmer controller desk, not dimmers

 

I have tried powering down and restarting the desk which does not make a difference. The same with unplugging the desk. The dimmers themselves are working fine so no problem there.

 

When the desk goes to black out, pressing the black out button sometimes works but I usually have to switch the desk off and on which allows me to disable black out but only for a few minutes max. Most times it has happened has been when I am using the B channel bank in a programmed chase but has also happened when the desk is static. The indication on the desk that it is in black out mode is a flashing button that appears in this mode.

 

I have looked for this desk online and can't find any information or manuals for it. I`ll look for another model and post on here also.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

[boatman]

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I have looked for this desk online and can't find any information or manuals for it. I`ll look for another model and post on here also.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

 

It's more than likely a badged clone of another controller from the PRC. If you can take a picture of it and post it here I'm sure one of us will have seen something similar.

 

Here's a couple of possibilities:

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/glp_light_operator_24.htm

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_lc_24_light_operator.htm

[hevtech]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5350...mp;l=07386ea1bd

 

Ive posted the pictures to my facebook and the link to the album is above.

 

Still had no joy with manuals though....

[boatman]

It looks very like a clone of the Stairville LC48, Botex-DC2448 and GLP Light Operator 48. You can find a manual here. It was posted by brian in May this year in response to one of my threads. I hope that helps.

 

Edited to add: The original thread is here.

[niclights]

It sounds like it's faulty hardware to me, possibly just the blackout switch itself. A little squirt of some contact cleaner and a few presses won't do any harm.

 

That manual also mentions 1/4" jack socket for blackout remote so that's another possibility to investigate.

[David A]

I have had similar problems with a similar desk, on that occassion the plug pack was giving out marginally too little voltage and the desk would default to blackout, as it does on power up, I would change the plug pack to a 1amp 12 volt unit as a first option.

[hevtech]

Thanks for the help guys! Manual is a life saver!

[boatman]

I hope it helps you to find the problem. If not, try a beefier power supply as suggested by David.