DMX problems

[pantoman]

Good morning all

I have just installed a RGB led system in my showroom , I have a problem, I am using enttec opens DMX with an iPad running luminaire everything talks fine and I have no signal strength problems. I have 5 DMX controllers running different areas of the room . If I set all the addresses to 1 the whole system works fine , however when I set the change the addresses to 4 -7 etc on other controllers so I can zone the room they flash when I try to dim them , the one on DMX address 1 still works fine I have a termination resistor fitted any ideas ? Cheers ian

[Ricky]

Ok not big on DMX myself but when your are addressing the units a you allowing for the number of channels each unit needs? Ie unit 1 needs 3 channels so unit 2 would be addressed 4 if unit 1 was addressed 1. Hope that makes since but it's the first thing I would check. Maybe you could give more details on the equipment you are using.

[Brian]

What lights are you trying to control? It certainly sounds like the offset might be something other than 3.

[pantoman]

What lights are you trying to control? It certainly sounds like the offset might be something other than 3.

 

Hi Brian the lights are a rgb led ceiling light. I brought with a matching rgb DMX controller. I have set controller one to address 1 If I set the address of controller 2 to 6 it still flashes however if I set controller 2 to address code 8 I have no problems but the first channel of the controller works on channel 9 ian

( when I say controller I ment decoder / driver

[musht]

Could be an odd timing problem, try inserting a dummy value at channel 512 , forces the Enttec to send a full all channel frame.

[Ynot]

I too think it may be just the start channel you're setting.

 

From the OP, you mention the next fixture being 4-7 - that suggests that the kit you're driving has FOUR channels, (logical if they have R/G/B and master dimmer) so in fact your second fixture needs in fact to be 5 (to 8) then subsequent units 9, 13, 17...

 

 

 

Try that and see if it helps.

[Brian]

Also...how do you set the DMX address on the decoder? Switches?

 

Be careful with your counting. DMX addresses run from 1 to 512. DIP switches often run from 0 to 511 so it's quite easy to find yourself out by 1.

 

Also...how have you set up your software? I'm not familiar with Luminair(e?) but does it think in terms of fixtures? If so, how many channels does it expect each fixture to have? Or are you running it in a simple per-channel mode?

[pantoman]

Hi Its Switches will have a play later cheers

 

Ian

[ianknight]

Chinese drivers by any chance? We've had problems with DMX frame mark/space ratio's not being quite to standard with some products - the symptoms you describe are very similar :(

[pjrails]

Hi Pantoman

 

I had something similar to what you described with my Pulse LED cans, need to use a DMX terminator at the end of each individual DMX run. This solved all the flashing issues.

 

 

PJ

[timsabre]

I had something similar to what you described with my Pulse LED cans, need to use a DMX terminator at the end of each individual DMX run. This solved all the flashing issues.

In his first post he says he has already done that.

Like IanKnight says I've had a lot of funny DMX problems with chinese drivers but the problem seems to be flickering all the time. It does sound like some sort of DMX effects channel is coming into action due to a wrong address setting.

[themadhippy]

so I can zone the room they flash when I try to dim them

like others have said check your adresses,maybe to be on the safe side set the first unit as 1,the second as 20 ,the third as 30 and so on

I am using enttec opens DMX

This particular interface relies on the host computer for the DMX timing,and will often cause things to flicker,especially if the machine is busy doing something else

[Don Allen]

Usually people using open DMX interfaces do not have a large budget, but if you have timing problems with DMX from low budget DMX sources, try using a DMX merge as a buffer as it will supply middle of the road DMX timing. This also works when using "name" desks that send out DMX at a rapid refresh rate and trying to run budget strobes that cannot read the high DMX refresh rate, the DMX merge may sort out the timing.

[pantoman]

many months on I have changed the drivers and everything talks correctly

 

is there anyone who can programme it for me ( happy to pay ) I can address all the lights but I cannot get my head round the process of stacks , scenes etc

 

cheers

 

Ian

[dmxtothemax]

Intermitant open circuit dip switchs are a common problem on cheap LED fixtures.

switchs can be working one minute , the next minute they can go open circuit,

This causes the DMX address to suddenly change,

And it could land anywere, on top of, or half way thru an existing fixture,

This can cause some really weird results.

You might have to check and change your dip switchs !