CK Colorblast 12 powercore without data enabler

lennyEP

Member
So I have a couple of these colorblast 12's and I was wondering if anybody has had any success with controlling them without the use of the CK data enabler.

Any possibility to use with the Enttec USB - DMX controllers?

I know that there is only one data lead on the powercores, and I was wondering if that one lead can be isolated and can be used to control the fixture using some other method, ideally using a computer interface.

lennyEP
 
I realize that this forum is directed towards the type of crowd that runs shows/outdoor entertainment/wall washing, and as such I think that this isn't the type of forum that would be best to 'decode' the CK proprietary data enabler magic.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where one might look to attempt to control the colorblast 12 powercores without the CK data enabler? I realize that CK says that it is required, but has anyone ever tried to figure it out?

Thanks a bunch!
 
...Does anyone have any suggestions as to where one might look to attempt to control the colorblast 12 powercores without the CK data enabler? I realize that CK says that it is required, but has anyone ever tried to figure it out? ...
This sounds at least immoral and possibly illegal, akin to circumventing a software product's dongle or copy protection. See the CB/FAQ/Content Policy/Software and Media Piracy. No public discussion of reverse engineering shall be permitted on ControlBooth.
 
The CB12 powercore units are unusable without the Data Enabler. Don't bother trying to figure out how it works unless you are well versed in electrical engineering and have an oscilloscope. There is no simple way to get DMX into the fixture without the DE.
 
This sounds at least immoral and possibly illegal, akin to circumventing a software product's dongle or copy protection. See the CB/FAQ/Content Policy/Software and Media Piracy. No public discussion of reverse engineering shall be permitted on ControlBooth.

Derek
I beg to differ. As far as I know, there is no license or agreement with the CK gear that you agree not to reverse engineer it. ( If so this entire argument is moot). If there is no such agreement this would not be illegal or imorral in my view.

Now does it make any sense from a practical point of view? I don't see how. I could not use the gear in any comercial environment ( no longer UL listed etc). I could not be sure that I had not made some error in my design of the hardware I would have to build to make it work that would destroy the CK units (Can you imagine what CK's response would be when you told them the unit quit working, but you did not use their data enabler?). Data enablers are not that expensive and the cost to research and build a replacement would be much greater than the cost of just buying a unit - unless you were doing out of curiosity.

I don't see how this post is about Media Piracy. It's a little like having an ancient analog dimmer that I don't know the control voltage or polarity for. I want to build a console for it so I need to know the protocol. How do I find the protocol? ( With a multimeter and scope as LuxMax says) I don't see how asking that would be violation of policy.
 
I have to say I agree with John. We're talking about hardware here, no harm in poking around with your own gear to see what makes it tick. Now if someone reverse-engineered the data enabler and started selling them for $25 then that's a problem. I fully embrace the hacker/DIY culture, there is a lot of independent innovation brewing out there these days. And when I say 'hacker' I mean it in the positive sense of tinkerer/curiosity minded person.
 
I have to say I agree with John. We're talking about hardware here, no harm in poking around with your own gear to see what makes it tick. Now if someone reverse-engineered the data enabler and started selling them for $25 then that's a problem. I fully embrace the hacker/DIY culture, there is a lot of independent innovation brewing out there these days. And when I say 'hacker' I mean it in the positive sense of tinkerer/curiosity minded person.

I think it'd be fine even if they were selling them, as long as they were engineered safely/properly (cleanroom, UL listed, etc...). It'd be just like the power and data supplies that DFD sells for the non-powercore ColorBlasts.
 
On a side note,
Isn't the data enabler around $300?
Very reasonable, and a fair amount cheaper than a traditional LED power supply...
If you haven't gotten a price, I would check it out, it may just be worth getting the correct product instead of trying to figure it out.
Joshua Wood
 
Thank you all for who has responded to this post. When I first stumbled across this forum, I was ecstatic and very interested in what could be offered from the knowledge and experience from the group.

My expected usage of my CK colorblast powercores at the present time are not quite on the same scale as most of you are used to; mostly smaller, one room venues, one-off shows, and simple setup and tear-down with maybe 45 minutes combined for both. I'm really looking to enhance the pre-existing space with something more lively then that house lights.

Because of this goal, I was looking for a, gasp, simple workaround of the DE in order to control a few of these puppies. Now realizing that it is superbly simpler to just use the DE and cough up the dough for one, I may just do that and be done with it.

I thank the DIY'ers and the like for speaking their voice. It's good to know there are many still out there.

In light,
LennyEP
 

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