Jack B Drury Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Hello all! So, I work at a school and as a result of this most of our basic fixtures are over 40 years old. Our main hall lighting system is a classic mish mash of retro 0-10v analogue interfaced with modern DMX processing via a Demultiplexer. At the heart of this system lay 4 ultra classic Strand MINI 2 dimmer racks. I recently found a 5th Mini 2 in storage. In a haze of optimisum, my head of department send it off to be serviced and I now have a spare fully working MINI 2. I believe I have found a use for this beast, but have come unstuck with its analogue dimming system. On the side of the MINI 2 there is a port which I believe was used to connect a lighting desk directly to the dimmer. It is not in standard 0-10v configuration, instead it is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter and sports 8 pin inputs, positioned in a cool diagonal motif. I have been scouring the internet trying to find out how these racks used to be wired, but so far the most useful article I have found is this http://www.strandarc...ini2/mini2.html What I really need to know (on the assumption that there might be someone with a PHD in strand egeneering operating out of blue room) is:- 1 - How would the MINI 2 system originally have been deployed in a theatre2 - What is the name of the cable that inputs into the side of the rack and allows it to be controlled by a desk?3 - is it possible to get hold of these cables?4 - anyone have a spare £1,000,000 laying around I can use to update out kit? Ta! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Sounds like an Octal connector Octal_Connector, which were common before Strand moved to the 8-pin locking Preh (like DIN) connectors. Don't think the components are manufactured any more, but they do turn up on Ebay. eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-SETS-TUBE-OCTAL-CABLE-CONNECTORS-FEMALE-MALE-/310395830270 If you make up an adaptor from octal to 8-pin din - wire the pins 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc - it should work with your existing strand control setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Indeed they were octal connectors, they are still used for plug in relays and you can buy the plugs from Farnellhttp://uk.farnell.com/1547942 You can probably get them from RS too but their website search is so rubbish I can't find it. To answer your question 1, the dimmer racks normally piled up at the side of the stage, and there was a lovely 2-preset control desk with red and green knobs which you took as far into the audience as the cables would reach (one 8-way cable for each dimmer rack). Usually leaving you at the side of the audience in the 2nd row. However this was a great improvement on the Junior 8 resistance dimmers which most places had, as you were stuck backstage with those. Ahh, Mini 2, happy days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicktaylor Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 This is sad as I just cleared out a load of old Strand bits! Includes some mini 2/tempus bits and pieces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 That farnell product is the socket - he needs the plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafferted Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 The wiring info is on the Strand archive here. I think it's pins 1-6 channel control, 7 power supply and 8 common 0v. Bear in mind that the control voltage is NEGATIVE (as it the power supply from the rack) i.e. 0 to -10v so you'll need a demux that can output that, or knock up a board to invert the control signals. ps if you search for "Octal Plug" on eBay you'll hopefully find something. They're a bit of a niche market nowadays unfortunately so not cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Pratt Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Probably worth a post in the "parts wanted" section of the UK Vintage Radio Restoration forum as a source for the octal plug http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humey Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Ahh the Mini 2, I'm running four at work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 That farnell product is the socket - he needs the plug. Doh, I'll get me coat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior8 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 4 - anyone have a spare £1,000,000 laying around I can use to update out kit? Well if these are working you could the spend the money on something worthwhile. If you were to buy modern packs apart from the possibility of DMX and a memory control you'd be buying something of the same kind of kit in the same configuration. They were well built, robust, as Timsabre says, a massive improvement on what had gone before and if I were touring a small show today I'd be quite happy to use these - they were made for carrying - and the contemporary desk with its pretty knobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 this is the kind of thing.http://angela.com/images/products/detail/310310617451Two.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrV Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 That farnell product is the socket - he needs the plug. Doh, I'll get me coat And it was 11 pins, not 8 - better get your scarf, it's cold out there :D Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbuckley Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 If you get really stuck for a plug, go your local guitar amp repairers, and ask for a old failed EL34 valve. Take it home, wrap in newspaper and tap with hammer. Don gloves, and remove all bits of glass from everywhere around the valve base. Next task is to convert into a useful plug. Grab one of the wires in the base with a pair of needle nose pliers, and using largest soldering iron you can find (Weller instant heat gun is pretty good), pop blob of solder onto iron, and then touch iron onto the end of pin, all the while gently pulling on wire with needle nose pliers, Eventually wire will come out. Quickly turn base around and blow into it, and solder will come shooting out of pin leaving a hollow pin. Be careful, solder is hot and will burn, so make sure you blow it away from you and the cat. Repeat for all eight pins. Take eight core cable, and strip about one inch off each core, and tin said exposed bit of wire. Place wire into pin so that the insulation just goes into the top of the pin, and the exposed core pokes out the end of the pin. Apply soldering iron and solder to end of pin, and that'll attach the pin to the wire. Cut off excess wire very close to pin, or it'll catch you and hurt you later. Repeat as necessary, and job done. If you want to make it look more impressive, fill empty end of valve base with epoxy resin, or apply pvc tape around base enclosing cable. Must be getting on for thirty years since I last did this. Even the purchased plugs required the same soldering technique. Of course, these days, you'll need a risk assessment and a visit from health and safety before you even start... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack B Drury Posted April 27, 2012 Author Share Posted April 27, 2012 Thanks to everyone for replaying to this :D It is indeed an octal Connector and after a bit of net trawling I have found quite a few floating about in various places :) Looks like its time to get the soldering iron out! :) Cheers guys!! Jack D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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