Architectural (house) Lighting Control

[Esoteric]

Hey guys I am setting up an LED house lighting system for a church. I have the units (DMX, they will be divided into about 15 "groups" for area control), but in thinking about control I am in a bit of a quandary.

The currently have a traditional house light system which goes...

Unit -> Dimmer -> Controller (DMX console and wall panels)

Well, with my LED setup it has to go....

Unit -> Dimmer (DMX controller and wall panels)

You see my problem? Most wall panels I know speak some proprietary language directly to dimmers whether the console is on or not.

Anyone know of a system where the wall panels can send out DMX? I would prefer it if they would work with the console off, but if the console has to stay on that could work too.

They insist on having the panel controls because of the size of the room, it would take a few minutes and present several trip hazards to get to the board in the dark.

Any thoughts?

Mike

[Footer]

Fleenor makes this and the remote station which should do what you want. Thats the only solution I know of beyond a full Unison system that will spit out DMX. Unison would give you much more control. However, the DFD unit will do exactly what you need it to.

[derekleffew]

See also http://dmx2go.com/index.php?main_pag...products_id=14 and SceneStation Overview.

[Esoteric]

Fleenor makes this and the remote station which should do what you want. Thats the only solution I know of beyond a full Unison system that will spit out DMX. Unison would give you much more control. However, the DFD unit will do exactly what you need it to.

Awesome! I should have thought to look at DFD, I am using one of their DMX splitters for the install.

The only thing I can't find out about that is when the console is on, is it a latest takes precedence system? That would make sense to me, but I never want to assume anything.

Mike

[Footer]

From the looks of it, when the console is on, the console takes over. If the console fails, it can hold the last look. Its meant to be both a backup console and an archectual control. Though its not documented, I would think it would run in an HTP mode. We have some people from DFD around here... I am sure they will pipe up.

[SteveB]

(DMX console and wall panels)


Mike

You mention existing wall panels. Whose and what do they do ?. Might be a Unison, might be Strand, might be an architectural system - Leviton, Lutron etc...

If ETC or Strand, then there's probably a processor somewhere that has a configuration program running the existing house lights.

Both Unison and the Strand version are essentially lighting consoles sending DMX, thus it's possible to change the configuration file to add the functionality of the LED fixtures and to re-distribute the DMX data to the fixtures directly, 'cause you're basically just not sending DMX to a dimmer, instead a fader/button on the wall panel will be telling the LED what value via direct DMX, which is certainly doable on a basic system.

Something I'd look into before buying more hardware.

Also, I assume the LED's are an extra system and that there's a separate emergency lighting system in place ?. All kind of warning bells go off in my head when somebody mentions wanting to change the house lighting, as often the current system may be tied in as part of an emergency lighting setup and that all goes away or changes and sometimes no longer functions in an emergency when it needs to.

[Studio]

Doug Fleenor Design - Preset 10 Architectural
We have this in two different theaters at my school, and it works well. It replaced a touch system that got into a DMX cat fight with our board.

[Esoteric]

It is an old system by some company I don't even recognize anymore. Electro-controls or something like that. So I very much doubt the panels are sending out DMX. In fact I am surprised they didn't need an AMX to DMX converter since the sytem was installed in 1980.

There is an entirely seperate emergency light system. If they like this houselight replacement they are going to switch their emergency and safetly lighting over to LED as well.

This is not my first rodeo with house lighting (although it is my first renovation that is not a 1 for 1 exchange) and I understand all the possible code problems.

That is why I use licensed Master Electricians for all my installs.

Mike

[SHARYNF]

2madmax a former electro controls employee recently joined this forum

He might be able to help

Sharyn