Dying Rainbow scroller?

[Mr Steve]

Hello,

 

I have a Rainbow 2/16 scroller which yesterday ripped off it's spool. No biggy - the tape attaching the scroll to the spools was old. I took it down, re-taped it, applied power so that I could tension it as normal. However when it is connected it rips straight to the end, then the unit powers down. The red power LED goes out, then the Data LED goes out and the fan switches off!

 

From what I remember when you calibrate these, you lift them slightly off the scroller's motors, and wind the gold spool to tension the scroll. However, there is no tension in the gold spool at all.

 

It's been a few years since I've worked on these units. Am I missing something?

[gareth]

From memory (which is very hazy - like you, it's a long time since I've used these chaps!), you have to apply power and a DMX value of zero without a scroll loaded to let the scroller find its 'home' position, then load the two spindles with the scroll positioned at the first frame. Lift the take-up spool slightly off its spindle and turn it to tension the scroll, then push it back down onto the locating pins. After you've done that, you need to set the control signal to full and calibrate the scroller using the little trim pot on the back.

 

Not entirely sure how accurate that is, but I hope it helps ...

[david.elsbury]

Sorry for a "me too" post but what Gareth says sounds about right to me as well. ;)

[Oovis]

Here's the manual for the 2/16s on the Rainbow site which took mere seconds to find ;)

[Mr Steve]

Thanks for your replies. Gareth - your memory serves you well. This is correct B-)

Here's the manual for the 2/16s on the Rainbow site which took mere seconds to find ;)

 

Thanks Oovis. I had the manual and have previously set these up from scratch before, but had not seen this behaviour before hence the post. I believe I've now narrowed it down to the spring in the gold spool which is at fault. There is no tension within the scroll and the part you attach the scroll to on the spool freely rotates, so, as you ramp up the DMX level the scroll just gathers around the spools.