Furse Analogue Wiring Help Required

[wicktech]

hi all. I have acquired an old analogue furse lighting desk. It has 2 outputs from the back. It is a 12 channel, 2 preset desk and has output connectors that look like a computer data port (9 pin version of a VGA screen port). I would like to link this desk upto my selection of vintage lighting however the cables included do not have plugs on the other end. Can anyone advise how I would connect this desk upto an 8 pin din plug if that's even possible?

Many thanks

[Tom Baldwin]

Sounds possible to me.

The Furse system we had at college used those connectors, and we were able to control the Furse dimmers with a Pulsar desk.

 

Unfortunately, I can't remember the pinout - unless someone else can provide it, you'll need to open up the desk and trace wires back to figure out which is ground, +ve and the individual channels (which is how we did it back then).

 

The only gotcha I can see is that potentially the Furse desk might have a higher current draw than your dimmers are willing to supply - in which case a 10V (ish) external power supply would see you right.

[wicktech]

1414273724[/url]' post='510035']

Sounds possible to me.

The Furse system we had at college used those connectors, and we were able to control the Furse dimmers with a Pulsar desk.

 

Unfortunately, I can't remember the pinout - unless someone else can provide it, you'll need to open up the desk and trace wires back to figure out which is ground, +ve and the individual channels (which is how we did it back then).

 

The only gotcha I can see is that potentially the Furse desk might have a higher current draw than your dimmers are willing to supply - in which case a 10V (ish) external power supply would see you right.

 

Hi. Thanks for your help. Do you know where I would find the wiring diagram for the din plugs? The desk is in parts already so I'm sure I could trace the channels but not 100% sure how to find the +ve and ground?

Thanks. :)

[Tom Baldwin]

Ground is likely to be connected to large areas of copper on the PCB, and also directly to the end of the faders representing "off".

+ve will probably be connected directly the the little green power lamp, and perhaps the top ("100%") end of the master faders,but probably to not very much else (perhaps a few small transistors).

 

Hope that helps - if you're still stuck and no-one else has the pinout, the post some pictures of the PCBs and we should be able to guide you further.

 

Tom

[alistermorton]

I've got a no name 12 channel 2 scene preset analogue desk which I opened up to trace the wiring and as has been suggested it was pretty obvious what was power and ground and which channel was which. There's surprisingly little in a simple analogue desk. Give it a go.

[adamharman]

1 - ch1

2 - ch2

3 - ch3

4 - ch4

5 - ch6

6 - 0v

7 - 24v from dimmers

 

The output is standard 0 to +10 volt.

 

24v supply is reduced by a pair of transistors with a small preset pot inside the desk. Simple but effective and allowed you to trim the voltage to compensate for loss on long cable runs.

Should also allow you to run the desk on less than 24v if your dimmers don't supply that much.

 

Tom - no large areas of copper on those pcbs, they look like they're hand drawn! Lots of thin curvy tracks.

All the connections are labelled though, very easy to work out what's what.

[ianl]

What about ch 5?

[adamharman]

What about ch 5?

 

That's what happens when I'm half asleep.... Looked at desk and worked out it was 6 channels then 0v then 24v, then had a bit of a typing failure!

 

I'll try again!

 

1 - ch1

2 - ch2

3 - ch3

4 - ch4

5 - ch5

6 - ch6

7 - 0v

8 - 24v from dimmers

[musht]

 

Tom - no large areas of copper on those pcbs, they look like they're hand drawn! Lots of thin curvy tracks.

 

 

Crepe tapes on transparency, when CAD stood for Coffee Aided Design..

[wicktech]

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll have a look tomorrow and give it a go :)

Thanks

[adamharman]

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll have a look tomorrow and give it a go :)

Thanks

 

If you want any spare parts let me know. Half the fader caps are missing from the one I've got and it's quite tatty so will probably be throwing it out anyway.

[wicktech]

1414624131[/url]' post='510259']

1414623452[/url]' post='510256']

Thanks for everyone's help. I'll have a look tomorrow and give it a go :)

Thanks

 

If you want any spare parts let me know. Half the fader caps are missing from the one I've got and it's quite tatty so will probably be throwing it out anyway.

 

 

Hi, if you decide to get rid please let me know how much you want for it :) I too have some fader caps missing, and a couple of faders have snapped off. Obviously I'm happy to give you something for it and for P&P. And the cables if you still have them would be very useful :)

Thanks

 

 

[adamharman]

Hi, if you decide to get rid please let me know how much you want for it :) I too have some fader caps missing, and a couple of faders have snapped off. Obviously I'm happy to give you something for it and for P&P. And the cables if you still have them would be very useful :)

Thanks

 

I'll find out what postage will cost when I get chance. Pulled it out of a local village hall when they upgraded but didn't bother to keep the cables.

 

If you're collecting old lighting gear, I've got the matching dimmers too but a couple of channels are dead which is why they upgraded. I have repaired them before but from what I remember some of the parts are obsolete and very hard to get hold of.

[wicktech]

1414956308[/url]' post='510444']

1414930775[/url]' post='510421']

Hi, if you decide to get rid please let me know how much you want for it :) I too have some fader caps missing, and a couple of faders have snapped off. Obviously I'm happy to give you something for it and for P&P. And the cables if you still have them would be very useful :)

Thanks

 

I'll find out what postage will cost when I get chance. Pulled it out of a local village hall when they upgraded but didn't bother to keep the cables.

 

If you're collecting old lighting gear, I've got the matching dimmers too but a couple of channels are dead which is why they upgraded. I have repaired them before but from what I remember some of the parts are obsolete and very hard to get hold of.

 

That sounds great. I have a selection of old lighting gear. I like to collect it in he hope that in the future they might be of some use for historical and demonstration purposes. 'Old junk' is always much appreciated hahaThanks. Mat

[Brian]

I have a selection of old lighting gear. I like to collect it in he hope that in the future they might be of some use for historical and demonstration purposes.

 

Have a look at http://www.backstageheritage.org/. They're setting up a virtual museum and are cataloguing what's out there.