ETC Board Strand Dimmer Pack

Goph704

Active Member
A Novice question
A T.D. i work with mentioned to me that his "Strand" theater, which has litterally all Strand insturments,(19-45 degree) Strand dimmers ( I think they're the older brother of the CD 80's, didn't get a good look) and a Strand board (520i) had acquired ( though a Poker game? ) An ETC Expression 3. In an earlier poker game my buddy had also aquired four cyberlights. Now, the Apparentyly the ETC board will not "Speak" to the strand dimmers. I'm assuming this is a DMX problem since I know for a fact that without DMX you can run ETC and Strand, and a bunch of 16x22's togeather and they get along fine, but I'm not quite sure. Again, I' didn't get a great look at the dimmers but if strand has come out with a new dimmer in the past ten years this is probably it. My freind who was raised on ETC would love to be able to switch out the boards for when designers who don't know or don't like Strand come in and want to program without a lot of hassle. Personally I don't care which board it is as long as it works, but this might be a fun little experiment when we've got some shop time. Is there anything I should know first?

Suggestions, or general ideas?
 
They don't speak...? Have you tried this?

Kidding aside, I have no idea what your problem could be. DMX goes in, power goes out... except not in your case.
 
The only reason I could think of that you couldn't just hook up the ETC console is if you are running you DMX outputs from a network node as opposed to direct out of the console. It is true that the ETC console will not talk to a Strand node as ETCNet and ShowNet are both proprietary protocols.
However if you are running your DMX lines right out of the back of the console you should be able to plug in the ETC console and just go. No matter what the console, the DMX protocol is the same.

Then just grab a node and switch it to a DMX input and built a male to male cable and you are set. He probably is running a strait ethernet system, that is what strand has been installing since the 500/300 series rolled out.
 
...(I think they're the older brother of the CD 80's, didn't get a good look) ...
I highly doubt they're pre CD-80, as the CD-80 was introduced in 1979, and was the first to use AMX-192 protocol. About 1989, Strand gave in and accepted DMX-512, abandoning AMX-192.

The interface issue may have something to do with how Strand does/did multiple dimmer racks. An two-rack installation here in town requires two DMX runs, with the first set to dims 1-96, and the second (from universe2 of the Exp3) set to output dims 1-96 on Exp3's 2/97-192 (609-704), [or something convoluted like that. Original console was a Mantrix w/ Memory, which only spoke AMX-192.]
 
all of the cd80 installs down here are wired to where the dmx jumps from one rack to another. If things act glitchy change the dmx refresh rate on the etc console to normal or slow. It may be set on high. Also if you have a way of verifying that the etc console is actually putting out dmx would also be a good start.
 
I've designed in a theatre that used an ETC Impression 2 (early Expression) into a Strand CD-80 system via DMX and everything worked fine. I guess I would see if you can connect the board directly into the simmer with a DMX line, if that works or does not then go from there. If it does not work, then the problem is most likely in the board. If it does, then start checking how the dimmers are connected to the booth wiring. It might also be possible some kind of house lighting system is getting in the way - are the house lights run off the same Strand rack or a separate rack elsewhere?

Won it in a poker match?!? :shock:

Clark
 
...an ETC Impression 2 (early Expression)...
The Impression was not an "early Expression." It was merely a "Control Channel-Limited" Expression, for those value/budget conscious.

ETC peeps: Why no Impression or Imp2 datasheet or manual at etcconnect/downloads? Edit: manuals are there, but one must change "download type" to "all" rather than "datasheet" or "manual".
 

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