Automated Fixtures Chauvet Legend 5000x Display Problems

[Amiers]

My theatre purchased 3 of these fixtures last year. We had them running for a while and then they began blowing fuses. We solved that issue and now the next problem is that they are giving erroneous DMX address on the LED display when i hit the up and down arrows the numbers change to letters and are never in any specific order. I have tried everything I can think of and I have searched the internet high and low for similar problems and come up with nada. The weird thing is that everything else in the display menu works. The even weirder thing is that all 3 that i have do the same thing. We are running them on R20 Dimmer Packs switched to non-dim.

 

[icewolf08]

My theatre purchased 3 of these fixtures last year. We had them running for a while and then they began blowing fuses. We solved that issue and now the next problem is that they are giving erroneous DMX address on the LED display when i hit the up and down arrows the numbers change to letters and are never in any specific order. I have tried everything I can think of and I have searched the internet high and low for similar problems and come up with nada. The weird thing is that everything else in the display menu works. The even weirder thing is that all 3 that i have do the same thing.

I don't know anything about the fixtures other than it is Chauvet, and it doesn't surprise me that they would fail in the first year. It happens with cheap gear.

I would love some clarification on this though:

We are running them on R20 Dimmer Packs switched to non-dim.

There are some contradictory things in that statement. R20 modules are not dimmers D20s are, so are you using them on R20s or D20s? The statements about setting them to non-dim indicates to me that you would be using D20s, as an R20 is by definition a non-dim. If you tell the rack that it has an R20 in it, you should not have a non-dim option. If you are just patching them as non-dims in your console, it won't matter for the R20, but doesn't help you with the D20. If you are using them on R20s, that is a good thing.

 

[Amiers]

I don't know anything about the fixtures other than it is Chauvet, and it doesn't surprise me that they would fail in the first year. It happens with cheap gear.

Ya from what I have seen they aren't very reliable

I would love some clarification on this though:

There are some contradictory things in that statement. R20 modules are not dimmers D20s are, so are you using them on R20s or D20s? The statements about setting them to non-dim indicates to me that you would be using D20s, as an R20 is by definition a non-dim. If you tell the rack that it has an R20 in it, you should not have a non-dim option. If you are just patching them as non-dims in your console, it won't matter for the R20, but doesn't help you with the D20. If you are using them on R20s, that is a good thing.

This is the R20 Dimming Module. We have our Sensor Racks set to use the R20 along with setting the racks to have the dimmers Non-Dim. When you put it the way you said it its kind of redundant to have the relay module and set the rack to non dim this just being for our Chauvets everything else runs the D20E's set to non dim where other Automated Lights are plugged in.


Thanks for the input but if anyone has some real information on the Legend 5000x it would help us greatly.

 

[icewolf08]

We have our Sensor Racks set to use the R20 along with setting the racks to have the dimmers Non-Dim. When you put it the way you said it its kind of redundant to have the relay module and set the rack to non dim this just being for our Chauvets everything else runs the D20E's set to non dim where other Automated Lights are plugged in.

I am going to make one more quick Hijack here.

If you are putting any devices other than incandescent conventional fixtures on D20 modules, this is not a good thing. Even when set to non-dim mode the SCR/SSR still switches and can really mess up electronic devices like automated fixtures. There is only one fixture that I know of that is rated for use on dimmers set to non-dim and that is the ETC Revolution. Automated fixtures, electronic devices (like scroller power supplies), and most motors should always be connected to R20 or CC20 modules or regular non-dimmed power from a standard wall outlet.

/hijack

As for your fixture issues, have you tried calling Chauvet?

 

[Amiers]

I am going to make one more quick Hijack here.

If you are putting any devices other than incandescent conventional fixtures on D20 modules, this is not a good thing. Even when set to non-dim mode the SCR/SSR still switches and can really mess up electronic devices like automated fixtures. There is only one fixture that I know of that is rated for use on dimmers set to non-dim and that is the ETC Revolution. Automated fixtures, electronic devices (like scroller power supplies), and most motors should always be connected to R20 or CC20 modules or regular non-dimmed power from a standard wall outlet.

/hijack

As for your fixture issues, have you tried calling Chauvet?

This is the setup I have to work with but I will definitely tell my boss however since nothing has failed due to our setup in 3yrs besides dust filling the sensor motors in our Fixtures we probably wont overhaul our dimmer racks

/hijack answered


My boss says you cant contact Chauvet directly we apparently have to go through Barbizon. I personally have sent in 3 emails to Chauvet and have yet to get any replies. I believe that since its an outdated product the emails fall to the wayside.

 

[icewolf08]

You may have better luck visiting a dealer that specializes in DJ type gear. Barbizon is great, but they mostly deal in higher end products. If you can get in touch with them they will certainly do whatever they can to help though.

 

[soundlight]

While it is discontinued from Chauvet, it is still being sold elsewhere - it's actually the Geni/Irradiant Oby-5. I think that Chauvet stopped selling it when Irradiant started selling directly in the US.

And now for troubleshooting: is the address displayed an actual address that just isn't the one it should be

 

[Amiers]

While it is discontinued from Chauvet, it is still being sold elsewhere - it's actually the Geni/Irradiant Oby-5. I think that Chauvet stopped selling it when Irradiant started selling directly in the US.

And now for troubleshooting: is the address displayed an actual address that just isn't the one it should be

Your trying to be funny. Ill put it this way say I get to dmx address menu I clear out the dmx completely by hitting both the up n down arrows at the same time. Then I go to hit up to get to 0001 but instead I get 04f4 I hit it again and get 0045 and again 0178 now by now I'm thinking um broken or error clear it out again. Ill start with the down arrow and the same problem exists. I didnt get a chance to take pictures today because we had to move flats n what not for this weekends tech and 2 other rehearsals. But I will defiantly try to get a few to give the people here a visual if my words dont paint the picture

 

[soundlight]

I'm simply trying to figure out exactly what the symptoms are.

I would try to get on the phone with Chauvet. They may be able to give you instructions for a hard reset of the fixture, which may fix this as it sounds like a software issue that could be fixed by such a reset.

 

[JD]

Check to make sure you haven't jumped out of the DMX mode. Chauvet has some other modes the units can be programmed into where the lights talk to each other, but not DMX. If it got programmed into this mode, the DMX addressing may not work correctly. BTW, I have a few of the Chauvets, and they are not too bad for low end units. I don't have any of the 5000s or I would try to reproduce it for you. Manual- Products Legend? 5000X | | CHAUVET® Lighting

If you use one of the odd addresses, does the light work?

 

[Amiers]

Check to make sure you haven't jumped out of the DMX mode. Chauvet has some other modes the units can be programmed into where the lights talk to each other, but not DMX. If it got programmed into this mode, the DMX addressing may not work correctly. BTW, I have a few of the Chauvets, and they are not too bad for low end units. I don't have any of the 5000s or I would try to reproduce it for you. Manual- Products Legend? 5000X | | CHAUVET® Lighting

If you use one of the odd addresses, does the light work?

I am in DMX mode and all 3 of our 5000x's are doing the same thing so its not a random event its something gone wrong. Im just looking for answers I have done everything by the book with the exception of sending it to Chauvet. Which A. cost money and B. time away from our theatre which opens on the 3rd. We are in crunch time looking for real answers quick.

 

[JD]

It is really odd to have 3 identical failures.

You said there had been a prior problem, could you give us detail on that?

One other thought, sometimes these things have service test modes for factory jigging. One would never end up in that mode, and they are not usually covered in manuals. I used to run into this all the time when doing service. Customers would call up and describe some crazy thing they were seeing, and I would have to chuckle and wonder how on earth they ever got in that mode! Usually, service modes are entered by holding down a button or combination while powering it up. Usually, that is the same way you get out of the mode! Might want to Email Chauvet and see if there is anyone there who can shed light on this. My gut tells me it is not a failure.

 

[Amiers]

It is really odd to have 3 identical failures.

You said there had been a prior problem, could you give us detail on that?

One other thought, sometimes these things have service test modes for factory jigging. One would never end up in that mode, and they are not usually covered in manuals. I used to run into this all the time when doing service. Customers would call up and describe some crazy thing they were seeing, and I would have to chuckle and wonder how on earth they ever got in that mode! Usually, service modes are entered by holding down a button or combination while powering it up. Usually, that is the same way you get out of the mode! Might want to Email Chauvet and see if there is anyone there who can shed light on this. My gut tells me it is not a failure.

Yep Yep all three of them are giving bad address readings. The only other problems that has occurred was fuses blowing. They still blow fuses but not as often. We have been trying to connect to Chauvet but they are so hard to get a hold of directly hence the reason why I came here to see if anyone had some good answers besides the obvious one

 

[JD]

I think BillESC is a Chauvet dealer, he may be able to help. Try sending a PM.

Lack of tech support is one of the drawbacks on some of these units. I have actually got answers from Chauvet before, but prompt would not describe the event !

 

[Amiers]

Ya tell me about it its super hard to get ahold of them and when shows open in a week for when we need this extra fixture.

 

[JD]

Do post the solution if you find out.

You might want to try holding down the "menu" button as you switch on the power. (Random guess, but what the heck, give it a try!) The most you would end up is with the unit in yet another strange mode.

 

[len]

My boss says you cant contact Chauvet directly we apparently have to go through Barbizon. I personally have sent in 3 emails to Chauvet and have yet to get any replies. I believe that since its an outdated product the emails fall to the wayside.

It's been 4 - 5 years since I had to, but the one problem I had with a Chauvet product I contacted them directly. Sent it to them and they fixed it, even tho it wasn't under warranty. The unit failed again a short time later (dmx splitter) so I just trashed it, but I was impressed with their customer service.

 

[Amiers]

Do post the solution if you find out.

You might want to try holding down the "menu" button as you switch on the power. (Random guess, but what the heck, give it a try!) The most you would end up is with the unit in yet another strange mode.

lol JD ill try that tomorrow and bring back the results. What i did start to do was take out the LED Module and replace it with one of our other Chauvets thats a 5000 because the fuse and fuse holder did a nice exploding act on fried a few important things and it had a working LED Display. I got down to one wire and my boss was like stop. I thought u were gonna do something else. So now I got 2 Chauvets 5000 and 5000x sitting all cracked open on the work bench.

 

[JD]

No real intelligence in the display board, it just displays whatever comes over to it, so I suspect changing the displays would have not helped. When they go bad, you get no display, or ugly garbage on everything.

 

[bitbrat]

OK, I know this is an old thread, but I found it after searching a problem I had...

I had two oby-5 lights doing the same thing.

Fix is to hold the left and right arrow keys (menu keys) while turning on the fixture. You have to wait while the lamp strikes and then the unit starts to home (takes about 2 minutes - not much fun when you're standing on top of a ladder). This will perform a full factory reset on the light. This is what finally did it for me.... don't know how long they will last though.

On an associated note, both these units are ALSO running on dimmers parked at full - and they're also Sensor D20s..... suggestive of a wider issue.

This is at an install I supervised but did not handle all of, and I told them NOT to do this for moving lights as it means you can't absolutely guarantee the power coming to the light is steady 120v.

AJ