ETC Color Source

[carsonld]

Ive been having a little trouble with some research im required to do for a class. I am researching the ETC Color Source Par. I was discussing with my teacher some of the things I had found. She believes that the color source pars need to be plugged into a special dimmer that is designer to run LEDs. I believe she said a dual dimmer. I have heard of the dimmers that are able to switch from constant power to dimming power and wasnt sure if that what she may have been talking about. I have attached the manual to the color source par. I thought that most LEDs had a dimmer built into them and all you needed was constant power and DMX. We are looking to purchase a couple of these fixtures and wasnt sure if we can plug them into constant power or if we have to purchase special dimmers.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

I think you're confusing dimmer doubling with the CS Par, which allows control of two quarts fixtures on one dimmer. Or maybe the Through Power module, which can be switched between being a dimmer or constant power, dimmer by dimmer. The ColorSource fixtures require constant 120 vac and, for control, DMX. They have both in and out, so you can daisy chain both power and data to other fixtures.

 

[carsonld]

Thats what I was thinking. I was just confused when the manual said this:
Up to nine luminaires (15A max) may be linked via power thru connector (10 luminaires total per circuit) when used with R20 relay module or Unison® Echo Relay Panel. Consult breaker trip curves when used with other equipment. Requires power from a non-dimmable source

 

[theatricalmatt]

Most LEDs have on-board dimming; but they handle it through very different means than a dimmer you would use for a conventional theater light.

Your teacher may have been thinking of a relay card, which would replace a dimmer card in your rack (ie, a "special dimmer") and provide constant 120VAC, and allows the board to turn them off when not in use, to preserve power supplies and fans. It all depends on the type of dimmer racks you have -- an ETC Sensor rack would be able to swap cards, an ETC SmartPack can't. Relays can run many other things besides LED fixtures, of course.

 

[Van]

The only thing "special" about the power for the Color Source series is that, as Bill said, they Daisy chain but they do it with "Power Con" connectors. When you order the fixtures from your ETC dealers they will ask what type of plug you want on the tail they ship it with. You can choose from a wide variety of plugs GSP, Twist-Lock, or Edison being the most common. While you don't need special dimmers you do have to make sure that is you plug them into a dimmer that it is set to "non-Dim" mode as they need a constant 110v. ETC also markets a great little item called the Color Source Relay It plugs into the wall, or other power source, and acts as a distro source. You can daisy chain xx number of Color source fixtures of of it. using it's powerCon connectors. It also distributes DMX for you. When the relay stops receiving DMX it shuts down the 110 so there is no longer power running to the LED fixtures. It comes in both a wired and Wireless DMX config.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Let's not forgot that some LEDs are in fact designed for mains dimming. ETC 4WRD and Chauvet's Ovation are two that come to mind.

The 10 fixture limit for ColorSource is IIRC a result of the current carrying capacity of the jumpers and powercons.

 

[danTt]

You'll also find if you jump into the Rabbit hole that ETC will likely tell you that while they dont' officially support running off a dimmer, they have never encountered issues running off a dimmer parked at full. YMMV.