Automated Fixtures Mac 300's/ETC ION issue

[Shillyer]

First a little background info:

I am working with an ETC Ion and a variety of martin fixtures on the second universe and an MSI dimmer rack on the first. As far as I can tell everything is addressed correctly on actual fixtures and on the patch in the console.

The problem:

When I go to change the settings of any of the shutters whether it be to strobe or pulse or anything of that nature I find it will work for a few seconds and then the fixture or fixtures I am adjusting will reset themselves. That being said all of the other fixtures continue to work flawlessly(including shutter effects on any of the non mac300 fixtures)

Any ideas as to what is causing this problem I have not had much time to investigate but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on possible causes or solutions.

I know that that the 300's can work in 4 modes using anywhere from 9 to 13 channels. I believe they are in mode 4 using all 13 channels however I did not get a chance to double check that today, I will tomorrow. They are setup to run in mode 4 on the board. I am hoping that is my problem and a simple adjustment on the fixture will solve my problems, does my problem sound like a possible symptom to an incorrectly set mode?

 

[Shillyer]

Looks like I may have solved my own problem. according to the manual for the 300's values from 208-255 on the channel that controls the shutter is in charge of things like reset, lamp off, lamp on and more. Is it possible that the Ion is sending a reset value when I turn the encoder to a certain point for the shutter control?
Is there any way to avoid this?

the manual also says
"Note: To override (DMX) Reset or Lamp
Off = OFF, set all 3 CMY channels to a
value from 230 to 232."
If I do that before I start programing/playing with the shutter will that solve the problem? it seems strange that the Ion does not know those values on the channel are used for reset. It knows all the other values on the channels and obviously knows how to reset the fixture.

 

[theatretechguy]

There should be a parameter on the light setup itself to disable the lamp reset. Even my cheapie Elation has that function... You can have the lamp strike when DMX is detected or the instrument is powered on.

 

[Shillyer]

There should be a parameter on the light setup itself to disable the lamp reset. Even my cheapie Elation has that function... You can have the lamp strike when DMX is detected or the instrument is powered on.

yes I know I can do that, and it should work as a temporary solution however, I would not like to lose that functionality from the board. I'll try the "note" from the manual and see if that fixes it.

 

[Esoteric]

Yeah, that is odd. But I had this problem with an Avo once with Martin Mac250's. Make sure you have a correct, updated personality. I know no the MAC250 reset was in between low open and strobe (open, reset, strobe, open, close) and so if you had the unit in low open, and then went to strobe, the unit would reset.

Mike