Lighting not working

[school tech]

Ok I feel that first I must point out that my lighting knowledge is limited.

 

I recently started a new job where my main duty is to look after the schools drama dept. In my first few days I have been checking the four lighting rigs that the school, has and have found that on one of them only three of the lights are working, when I checked the patch panel, I found everything plugged up and was assured that they were working last term, however when I switched a none working light into the work lights place it would not work. I tried re-patching, I checked the lamps in all the lights and none are blown, I checked that the DMX channels all correspond to a fader channel.

 

We are using a Zero 88 Jester 12/24 board, the dimmers are zero 88 chilli, then on top of that is a LSC MDR 5 Way Rack without RDM or wirless DMX fitted.

 

Would really appreciate advice/ suggestions on a fix that anyone can think of as this is winding me up

[timsabre]

So get a working light and plug it into a working socket, verify that the socket is OK

Then get your non-working light and plug it into the same socket.

If it doesnt work then either the lamp is blown (sometimes hard to see visually) or the cabling of the light is faulty.

[school tech]

I tried that and none of the 14 other lights worked in the working socket, only the original light would come up, but when I try them on the rig in one of the other class rooms they all work fine.

[pjrails]

Hi

 

Have you checked the trip switches on the dimmers, there should be one for each socket in the rig, they are behind the door on the right

 

PJ

 

http://zero88.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/Chilli-Dimmers-3.png

[school tech]

Just been and checked the trip switches, nothing has been tripped and am now curious as to why there are only 12 trip switches when I have 30 sockets. I checked and It is a Chilli HF Dimmer.

[timsabre]

Just been and checked the trip switches, nothing has been tripped and am now curious as to why there are only 12 trip switches when I have 30 sockets. I checked and It is a Chilli HF Dimmer.

 

You said you had a patch panel - presumably you then have 12 dimmer channels which you can connect to any of your 30 sockets using the patch panel. It would be unusual, though not unheard of, to have a dimmer channel for every socket in the rig.

 

I must confess to being a bit confused by post #3. Are these normal theatrical lanterns being plugged into 15 amp round pin sockets?

[Dmills]

IIRC a chilli HF is a dimmer for dimmable florescent (Nasty things!), not normal stage lighting, I think you are looking at the rack for the hall general lighting rather then the stage dimming.

 

Regards, Dan.

[school tech]

Ok in answer to tomsabre the patch panel has the 30 sockets on and then the 12 channels that can be doubled up. The panel looks kinda like a switch board in the sense of all the cables can be taken out and them moved to different spots. and second the sockets are the 15amp round pin. this thing is completly messing with me and I hate it.

 

Dmills I'm certain that it is the stage dimming, only because I tried turning off a couple of the trip switches and the onbly working lights went out. where as the classrooms main lights stayed on.

 

I tried moving the working lights to different channels whilst keeping it on the same socket and they still work if that is any help to anyone

[timsabre]

Me very confused, can you take some photos?

Or are there any details of who installed the system who might be able to come and assist you?

[Dmills]

The Chilli HF dimmer (datasheet http://zero88.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/122/227/ ) is definitely a dimmer for florries of the DSI or 10V analogue variety, it is not a stage lighting rack in the usual sense.

 

If you are competent to do so, pull the front cover and look to see if there are banks of triacs bolted to the heatsink, and a whole pile of suppression coils, or if there are relays, that will settle the question of exactly what you have there (Be careful there are live terminals inside).

 

You can (and I have) used the HF series as relay racks where they will switch 10A loads, but they will not dim them.

 

If the Chilli HF is running the stage sockets then someone stuffed up in a major way in either specifying or signing off that installation, a standard Chilli Pro 1210 or such would have been fine.

 

Where is this school, there may be someone in the area who could have a look.

 

Regards, Dan.

[ImagineerTom]

Since we're talking about an installation in a school, the OP has admitted he has limited knowledge of lighting and so far we're all struggling to even grasp the most basic details of what the problem is I really think this is one of those times when the OP shouldn't be seeking the random help of complete strangers on the internet but rather look for a real person who can visit your venue. I don't doubt that someone with a relatively basic grasp of theatre lighting could take a look at your rig and diagnose (and treat) the majority of your problems in a matter of moments whereas trying to deal with this online is going to result in weeks of back-and-forth whilst the OP learns new teminology and practices and the contributors try to second guess someone else's guestimates as to what equipment exists.

 

Where is this school?

 

 

[kerry davies]

I'd like to reinforce Tom's post. We are getting into electrical safety areas here and as the OP is self-confessedly new to the game web advice should really be confined within the competence of the OP.

 

This, for me, becomes very much a no-go zone when it refers to school power supplies for what should be obvious reasons.

Get a man-who-can in. Schools will have contracts with electrical maintenance firms and those with theatre/drama departments often with theatrical specialists.

[ImagineerTom]

I wouldn't necessarily suggest the "official" school theatre technical people in this instance as they tend to be more interested in selling equipment/services than imparting useful knowledge. Once the OP tells us where he is it's more likely an experienced tech from a nearby venue could properly assess the problems and teach the op some basic skills / answer questions that official suppliers generally will only supply as part of a very expensive course. It could even be the beginning of a working relationship between a local venue and the school that will enable future students to experience the real theatrical world and gather experience and knowledge that'll make our next generation of techs.

[J Pearce]

+1 to the above. My experience is the smaller local companies are the most helpful and cultivating a working relationship with them is a very healthy way to work. That said, never let a company think they have a monopoly!

 

I'd also push for your school to get you some training. They have a budget for this, and if they have recruited you to do the stage lighting stuff they should make sure you are able to do it. Your friendly local company may be able to help with this...

[Ynot]

Can't agree more here.

Over the years I've advised a fair few local schools on things technical, and regularly go in as a freelance (on a budget) job for one of the local secondaries for their 2+ productions each year.