aeroalex Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Hi All I have basic knowledge of the ETC Ion lighting console so I know about dimmers and cues etc. and every year I control basic lights for a show at my local college. Last year I programmed a show at my local college with moving head fixtures which worked great, I saved the show to the hard drive and I have returned to my college this year to test all is great again ready for an another year but the moving heads no longer work. They are patched into the desk on the same channels as they were last year so that's not changed however, when you go to use the encoder dials to alter pan and tilt functions, colour, intensity etc. nothing happens and when I cue up the scenes that they were programmed in on they don't function! Trust me there is power going to the moving heads I know that far. So I'm basically just asking if anyone else has ever had this happen? I know a year is a long time and people have probably messed with the lighting console but I'm just after some troubleshooting steps to try really as I only know basic stuff. http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 When you sayThey are patched into the desk on the same channels as they were last year do you mean you've checked the address setting on the fixtures? Or just that the desk has them patched at the same address?Cos it sounds like the fixtures might have been set to a different address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroalex Posted June 12, 2017 Author Share Posted June 12, 2017 When you sayThey are patched into the desk on the same channels as they were last year do you mean you've checked the address setting on the fixtures? Or just that the desk has them patched at the same address?Cos it sounds like the fixtures might have been set to a different address. I've looked at the' Live Summary View' and all fixtures (pars, scrollers... etc) are patched into the same channel numbers as they were the year previous including the Moving Heads. So I guess I mean It looks to me that they are patched at the same address under the same channel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyJones Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 The lights themselves physically will need to have the same address as the console. I would load up some other show files that are on the desk and see if you can find one that works. Once you have done this, take a note of the fixtures address's in the patch view, and then update the patch of your showfile to match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted June 12, 2017 Share Posted June 12, 2017 Simple steps for fault finding: 1: Check the DMX channel on all of the movers2: Check that the movers are physically cabled to a DMX outlet at the stage end3: Check what DMX universe these outlets are connected to back to the desk - the Ion has 2 universes as standard. A year later the sockets you thought they were patched to may not be on the same universe that they used to be - new splitters may have also been introduced which will need to be checked also, so prove the whole path from desk to lantern4: Check what universe you have them patched onto on the desk, and that it's the same as the movers are plugged into5: Check that the profile on the mover is the same as the fixture you have patched on the desk - again this MAY have been changed in the past year, and will result in either nothing happening when you try to control them or all sorts of weird happenings6: Unlikely if this is a semi-permanent rig at the venue - if the fixture is being fed by 3-pin XLR for the DMX, check that a reversal cable/adaptor is not needed.7: most importantly - don't ASSUME that because something worked last year that everything will remain the same in your absence, especially after 12 months. :)8: Speak with the venue tech(s) as they may very well have a better idea of what status the lanterns are in and where they're connected etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroalex Posted June 15, 2017 Author Share Posted June 15, 2017 Simple steps for fault finding: 1: Check the DMX channel on all of the movers2: Check that the movers are physically cabled to a DMX outlet at the stage end3: Check what DMX universe these outlets are connected to back to the desk - the Ion has 2 universes as standard. A year later the sockets you thought they were patched to may not be on the same universe that they used to be - new splitters may have also been introduced which will need to be checked also, so prove the whole path from desk to lantern4: Check what universe you have them patched onto on the desk, and that it's the same as the movers are plugged into5: Check that the profile on the mover is the same as the fixture you have patched on the desk - again this MAY have been changed in the past year, and will result in either nothing happening when you try to control them or all sorts of weird happenings6: Unlikely if this is a semi-permanent rig at the venue - if the fixture is being fed by 3-pin XLR for the DMX, check that a reversal cable/adaptor is not needed. 7: most importantly - don't ASSUME that because something worked last year that everything will remain the same in your absence, especially after 12 months. :)8: Speak with the venue tech(s) as they may very well have a better idea of what status the lanterns are in and where they're connected etc. Thanks for all your help guys! I'm going back in on Monday for a full day to sort the whole thing out so I'll check all these things then. I'll give you all an update if I get them working again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Sounds like the first thing you should check, before anything else, is whether the fixtures are still addressed the same as last time around (and receiving their DMX from the same universe). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DNT Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Hi All I have basic knowledge of the ETC Ion lighting console so I know about dimmers and cues etc. and every year I control basic lights for a show at my local college. Last year I programmed a show at my local college with moving head fixtures which worked great, I saved the show to the hard drive and I have returned to my college this year to test all is great again ready for an another year but the moving heads no longer work. They are patched into the desk on the same channels as they were last year so that's not changed however, when you go to use the encoder dials to alter pan and tilt functions, colour, intensity etc. nothing happens and when I cue up the scenes that they were programmed in on they don't function! Trust me there is power going to the moving heads I know that far. So I'm basically just asking if anyone else has ever had this happen? I know a year is a long time and people have probably messed with the lighting console but I'm just after some troubleshooting steps to try really as I only know basic stuff. http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif Thanks I certainly understand the frustration of something like that, particularly if you are under time pressure. As with all troubleshooting, it is best to take it a step at a time, testing each element. You don't say if the generic rig is working, but knowing that would at least confirm the desk is outputting and DMX is functioning. I would endorse all of the comments already made by others here, but one thing that can sometimes be overlooked is the MODE that the movers are set to. As well as the usual checks for address and universe, you need to ensure the mode setting for the fixtures matches the one set on the Ion. If all else fails, I suggest that you set one of the movers to address 001 and create a new showfile and patch just that one fixture in. If it works, then you at least know that you can control them. It is then a choice between troubleshooting the old file or starting from scratch again. Not sure if this helps. DNT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeroalex Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share Posted June 16, 2017 Hi All I have basic knowledge of the ETC Ion lighting console so I know about dimmers and cues etc. and every year I control basic lights for a show at my local college. Last year I programmed a show at my local college with moving head fixtures which worked great, I saved the show to the hard drive and I have returned to my college this year to test all is great again ready for an another year but the moving heads no longer work. They are patched into the desk on the same channels as they were last year so that's not changed however, when you go to use the encoder dials to alter pan and tilt functions, colour, intensity etc. nothing happens and when I cue up the scenes that they were programmed in on they don't function! Trust me there is power going to the moving heads I know that far. So I'm basically just asking if anyone else has ever had this happen? I know a year is a long time and people have probably messed with the lighting console but I'm just after some troubleshooting steps to try really as I only know basic stuff. http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif Thanks I certainly understand the frustration of something like that, particularly if you are under time pressure. As with all troubleshooting, it is best to take it a step at a time, testing each element. You don't say if the generic rig is working, but knowing that would at least confirm the desk is outputting and DMX is functioning. I would endorse all of the comments already made by others here, but one thing that can sometimes be overlooked is the MODE that the movers are set to. As well as the usual checks for address and universe, you need to ensure the mode setting for the fixtures matches the one set on the Ion. If all else fails, I suggest that you set one of the movers to address 001 and create a new showfile and patch just that one fixture in. If it works, then you at least know that you can control them. It is then a choice between troubleshooting the old file or starting from scratch again. Not sure if this helps. DNT Glad you know the feeling DNT! The show is on Wednesday next week and I don't get access to the lighting box until Monday! The generic rig is all working, all the Pars, Fresnels and everything are working just fine and function to the show file it's just the movers that don't. Fingers crossed it's an easy fix and that they've just changed addresses or universes. Good Idea, I might have to try that if all else fails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ynot Posted June 17, 2017 Share Posted June 17, 2017 .... one thing that can sometimes be overlooked is the MODE that the movers are set to. As well as the usual checks for address and universe, you need to ensure the mode setting for the fixtures matches the one set on the Ion. Coughs politely :D 5: Check that the profile on the mover is the same as the fixture you have patched on the desk - again this MAY have been changed in the past year, and will result in either nothing happening when you try to control them or all sorts of weird happenings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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