Control/Dimming - Isolating Pairs of Fixtures

[GHSStageManager]

In my high school's auditorium, we have a total of 16 lekos, 4 fresnels, and 3-4 colored light bars. Currently, the lekos are arranged into eight pairs of two fixtures on the board. Currently, it is a bit awkward to work with pairs of fixtures, as some of the lekos are burned out/melted out (don't ask, bad electrician)

The question is: is it worth it to dedicate a 1:1 ratio of channels for each leko (one leko to one channel) rather than pairing them?

Thank you

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by GHSStageManager

In my high school's auditorium, we have a total of 16 lekos, 4 fresnels, and 3-4 colored light bars. Currently, the lekos are arranged into eight pairs of two fixtures on the board. Currently, it is a bit awkward to work with pairs of fixtures, as some of the lekos are burned out/melted out (don't ask, bad electrician)

The question is: is it worth it to dedicate a 1:1 ratio of channels for each leko (one leko to one channel) rather than pairing them?

Thank you

The question "is it worth it?" is totally subjective. If you feel like you want/need more control then it is worth it. ONe question for you is: are the twofered fixtures connected to the same dimmer or are the patched together on the console? If the former, then you have your work cut out for you as you will have to re-circuit.

Also, when you say that you have burned out/melted out fixtures, what do you mean? If the lamps are just burned out, replace them. If something is melted, what is it? In general, it is probably worth fixing your fixtures.

[mstaylor]

Originally Posted by GHSStageManager

In my high school's auditorium, we have a total of 16 lekos, 4 fresnels, and 3-4 colored light bars. Currently, the lekos are arranged into eight pairs of two fixtures on the board. Currently, it is a bit awkward to work with pairs of fixtures, as some of the lekos are burned out/melted out (don't ask, bad electrician)

The question is: is it worth it to dedicate a 1:1 ratio of channels for each leko (one leko to one channel) rather than pairing them?

Thank you

It's always good to have one light/one dimmer. Whether you then pair them or use some as specials depends on the show. Many theatres don't have the available dimmers to do a 1/1 patch.

[GHSStageManager]

I'm not sure exactly how the fixtures are wired into our dimmer packs, I cannot access any part of the dimmer packs as the DMX is piped in from a sealed tube on the top and the packs themselves are mounted on the wall.

I say that the fixtures are "melted" because about a year ago, the music director attempted to replace the bulbs for a few fixtures. He said that he couldn't get the bulb seated correctly, because the structure to hold it in place wasn't all there (melted was the word he used.) Now, the auditorium had been worked on recently by a local electrician to accomodate the addition of 16 lekos - in addition to physically adding the instruments, the electrician added a new circuit dedicated to the lighting system. The director's theory is that the electrician screwed up the voltage level on the circuit.

Thank you

[Studio]

Look at the fixtures and where they are plugged in. Are there numbers near each plug? If there are numbers and these numbers are one per fixture then you can use the light board to change the light channel assignments. Look for a patch button.


If it looks as if two lights are plugged together then you have two lights on a dimmer and the only way to fix this is get more dimmers.

I would recommend looking at the patch assignments on your light board.

[Les]

Originally Posted by GHSStageManager

I'm not sure exactly how the fixtures are wired into our dimmer packs, I cannot access any part of the dimmer packs as the DMX is piped in from a sealed tube on the top and the packs themselves are mounted on the wall.

I say that the fixtures are "melted" because about a year ago, the music director attempted to replace the bulbs for a few fixtures. He said that he couldn't get the bulb seated correctly, because the structure to hold it in place wasn't all there (melted was the word he used.) Now, the auditorium had been worked on recently by a local electrician to accomodate the addition of 16 lekos - in addition to physically adding the instruments, the electrician added a new circuit dedicated to the lighting system. The director's theory is that the electrician screwed up the voltage level on the circuit.

Thank you

The "sealed tube" is probably either flex conduit or EMT (electrical metallic tubing). The DMX is not what is run through this, its more than likely the home runs going to your raceways.

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And I don't think I would blame the electrician for the melted bases. You probably just have some bases that are in dire need of replacing, perhaps expedited by someone at some point in time using the wrong lamps in the fixtures. It would be hard for an electrician to get the wrong voltage to an instrument when they all come from the same dimmer pack, which will not produce more than 240v -- not enough to melt a base. Those bases are probably rated for something like 600v in reality. Just get some new bases in there - they only cost about $20 each. And don't open up the conduit leading to the dimmers, leave that to a qualified electrician .

[photoatdv]

See if you can find someone around there to help you out. If you have a college nearby someone from there might be willing to take a look and even teach you how to replace the bases and meter the power just to make sure its correct. I've volunteered helping several schools near me (everything from advice to running shows). If there's a real electrical problem you can't get around a qualified electrician, but a good (not high school student... no offense, but frankly you just don't typically get this kind of training at a high school) technician could verify that the power to the lights is good and replace whatever needs to be on the fixtures to make them fully operational.

[GHSStageManager]

Apologies for bring up an old topic but I thought it'd be better than starting a new one on the same topic...

Is there an easy way for my to check the validity of the power supply of the fixture? Or how about that the fixture is receiving the correct voltage/amps? I know my school has voltmeters, if those would be of any use to me.

Thanks,
Zach

[photoatdv]

By power supply do you mean the outlet? Or are we talking about automated fixtures now?

As far as outlets, if they're edison a cheap plug in outlet tester (the king with the leds) well verify the wiring is correct.