martin mx1

[andeejay]

Any one help me on this one?

I have 4x mx1 effects and one has developed a fault. Only minor but can be seen in a show.

When used with an mc1 controller or the showtime this one head wont catch up with the others in time regarding the colour/ gobo wheel.

Have had all 4 lights on the bench and watched them operate. This one unit was thought to have a faulty motor which was swapped with a working new one but still fault was there.

If you look at the wheel on the others they all snap to the colour gobo fast but this one unit goes for a walk in the park and then gets to the colour gobo when its ready ! The mirror pan tilt is fine tho just to point out...

Im wondering it the driver chip is on the way out ? The wheel does not judder and is smooth.

by the time its got to its colour gobo position the program has changed and makes the show look pants. its def not DMX leads as ive tried all leads and heads in different positions.

any help?

andy

[MrSpeedy]

Andy,

 

I am wondering if the dipswitch values can contribute towards pan tilt/colour gobo wheel functions on an MX-1?

i.e. a certain dipswitch value orders the light to control the gobo wheel in a scroll instead of snap fashion?

 

Also, how does the light behave when it is not connected with other lights and or the controller?

Does it function correctly in standalone/sound activated?

 

And have you taken the unit apart and had a good look around inside? I would assume so as the motor has been changed but there may be something very simple that is at fault here.

 

Does anything look out of the ordinary (internals of the fixture) as compared to the others?

 

Hope this helps

 

Toby

[Richard CSL]

it sounds as if the internal software is different version in one head to the others. might need to take it to a martin dealer to upload the same software.

not very helpful I know , but it sounds like it is the problem. you may have version information on a small label on the cPU chip. may be worth checking.

[MrSpeedy]

Yes,

 

Thats the very first thing to check

[andeejay]

Hi guys thanks for the input there.

Yes the motor has been changed to a know working one and its the same.

Spoke to Martin and they say try swapping driver chip 02121010 - ULN2803A for another one.

Have not tried on its own good point.

The software has been updated to latest version as we have the uploader here.

Tried them again last night at a big gig and still faulty ! but then head 4 decided to die !! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.....4meter gantry with 2 faulty lights !

head 4 just died, powered up and fan came on but thats all. no lamp or motors...on dear....

[MrSpeedy]

Crikey.

 

Just died?

 

Thats pretty damn odd.

 

Maybe something is loose within the light? (the 4th head)

 

As for the other head in question, all I can suggest is try the aforementioned, and also try what Martin suggested.

 

I had a capacitor fall off the circuit board on one of my abstract VR4's, a quick solder and it was back on form.

 

Can you describe the fault with head 4 in any greater detail?

 

Toby

[andeejay]

Hi,

Yes I had a look at the 4th head today.

Its fan works and thats it, no lamp or motors.....swapped the transformer and no difference.

looked at the slow response unit on head 3 and martin say swap chip ULN2803A as this may be dying but easier said than done as its soldered on both sides of board....!!!