TTI Dimmers & Late Night Theater

[Edrick]

Well off-topic thread here, but a while back I asked some type of question relating to some old dimmers. So I figured I'd update you guys and avkid as I know he mentioned that he thought they were TTI Dimmers. They are in fact TTI Dimmers and they're defiantly built tough.

Now for the off-topic part, here's a photo of one of the connectors that had some damage to it and some random photos from the night. Was at the theater till 3 AM.

 

[meatpopsicle]

Now for the off-topic part, here's a photo of one of the connectors that had some damage to it and some random photos from the night. Was at the theater till 3 AM.


View attachment 4140View attachment 4141View attachment 4143View attachment 4144

So the connector was melted into the dimmer? Love the bent pin. I'm very fond of TTI dimmers so it kind of hurts to see them so messed up. Seems like most of the 20 amp fuse holders broke and they taped them in. I know there are still parts out there. Try Light Parts. Robert Mokry.

 

[Edrick]

I've personally never used them but from what I was told is the fuse holder is no longer used and instead the 6 breakers to the right are what is used for protection.

Luckily they have a bunch of extra Stage Pin connectors so the ones that got melted were replaced.

 

[Sony]

If you had posted this say 6 or 7 months ago in June I could have given you at least 20 or 30+ working and undamaged TTI dimmer modules like those you have there. Unfortunately they were left with the old school and are now probably in the recycling, I can't even go over to the old school to look for them because the building is in full out asbestos abatement right now.

 

[Edrick]

Hmm well shucks that would of been great but that seems to be my problem I keep running into. I was suppose to get 4 extra banks but they went missing.

 

[Footer]

Hmm well shucks that would of been great but that seems to be my problem I keep running into. I was suppose to get 4 extra banks but they went missing.

I gave away 8 6 packs in various states of working to a theatre in Vermont over the summer. These things are out there. Many places have a pile of them laying around. If you are in need of parts, I have a feeling some people around here might be able to help ya.

 

[SteveB]

LiteTrol Service has a large shelf full of TTi dimmers, as well as assorted parts that would renovate the system.

800 548 3876, Steve Short
They're in Hicksville, NY (Long Island)

FIW, back in the day of TTI, the SCR's, which were very expensive at the time, were generally not sized much larger then the rating of the dimmer. Thus they were very sensitive to dead shorts. As the SCR would blow before the circuit breaker, it was not uncommon to install a KA rating fast blow fuse on the load side. The breaker protects the line side.

 

[avkid]

I have 6 of these packs and extra parts.

We are available for service calls in the Boston Metro area.

As Steve said, without those fuses the SCR's are in danger.
They are not expensive anymore, but they're are not exactly easy to find either.

 

[Edrick]

What do you think it'd take to refurbish the units (new paint, and repair on fuses etc...). Also are the 6 packs you have just for parts or for sale? I'd like to get ahold of some to have if you guys have them for sale.

 

[JD]

The unit uses HPF style fuse holders ( http://www.bussmann.com/library/bifs/2114.PDF ) which are available from multiple sources. If I remember right, on the 2.4k mods, it used a 20 amp breaker AND a 35 amp silver sand rectifier fuse (KAA / KAW) wired in series in the power loop (breaker before dimmer, fuse after.) The breaker would trip for normal overloads, but the high speed (higher rated) fuse would blow on sudden dead shorts, providing much better protection.

I would bet the fuse holders are bypasses on this unit. That works, but disables an important second layer of protection! I would suggest restoring the unit to it's design. They are nice dimmers! Sad to see one so beat up.

 

[Edrick]

I'll have to take a look and talk it over with them, they seem kind of iffy about other help so if I say well hey you should do this they'll probably say well it's been working fine for so many years (aside from burning up connectors and it did catch on fire once). But to them they'll say that probably. But I'll talk to them and see what they want to do.

 

[Edrick]

Thanks to AVKid I now have three of these packs that I'm working on for personal use when I do small live events. I'm purchasing new fuse holders and fuses and planning on giving them a new coat of paint and cleaning out the insides. I'll post up pictures of my progress.

One question I have is, on the back there's a door where the cord for the Analog connection is. Is there a circuit board I can directly put inside of these dimmers and just install a DMX connector?

 

[JD]

One question I have is, on the back there's a door where the cord for the Analog connection is. Is there a circuit board I can directly put inside of these dimmers and just install a DMX connector?

You mean like this?

Here is one company:
Northlight Systems DMX512 decoder, 0-10 VDC output.

There are others. Check out this thread:
http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/...71-diy-dmx-demux-protocol-converters-etc.html

 

[Edrick]

I'll give those a look. I'm thinking I can put some risers on the inside of the case to secure the board to.

 

[SteveB]

One question I have is, on the back there's a door where the cord for the Analog connection is. Is there a circuit board I can directly put inside of these dimmers and just install a DMX connector?

You'd have to do a bit of a hack job to install a DMX to Analog converter inside the individual packs, and it not be cost effective to convert for 6 dimmers at a time. Better maybe to get separate and stand-alone Digital to Analog convertor (Fleenor, ETC, etc...) with the required cables to the Cinch Jones connector used by the packs.

 

[Anvilx]

I was looking at the northern lights stuff earlier this morning and the only issue I see is if is installed in an enclosure it would be a PITA to re-address has anyone ever addressed this issue. Pun not intended!

 

[dramatech]

I was looking at the northern lights stuff earlier this morning and the only issue I see is if is installed in an enclosure it would be a PITA to re-address has anyone ever addressed this issue. Pun not intended!

Most of the Northernlight boards have an option of mounting the address switches remote from the board. If that is not the case with that particular board give James Cart, owner of Northlight, a call. He loves to do custom stuff for no extra cost.

Tom Johnson

 

[JD]

That little board is 8 channels. (Two would not be used.) You would just use 1, 7, and 13 as your starting addresses and the three packs would give you a seamless 18 channels. Looks like they sell the little supply transformers, standoff posts, and anything else you would need.

Never tried them, but they have been selling them for a few years and I haven't heard anything bad. At $125 per pack or so, (and a bit of work) looks like a nice way to bring an otherwise good 1980's dimmer into the current century.

TTI dimmers were one of those brands that worked so well, you forgot they were even there. About the only thing needed is a dust-out and cleaning/setting the trim pots.

 

[Edrick]

Yeah that's what I figure, I looked at other options that would give 2.4kw a channel and even if I throw 200-250 into these dimmers (DMX Board, Cost of the Dimmer, and Fuse Parts). I'm still saving a boatload compared to other options.

I'm looking at the receptacle / plug I'll need for these units. Would the L6-60P be the correct for Single Phase 240V operation for Locking?

 

[n1ist]

I have used that exact board with some blue TTI dimmers. I mounted mine in an external enclosure (since the dimmers were at the facility we were renting) and powered the board with a wall-wart. I see no reason why you couldn't install the board in the dimmer as long as there's a place with suitable spacing from the high voltage wiring and not blocking airflow.
/mike