I have an ETC Express 48/96 at a local high school and one of the kids accidentally plugged a clearcom cable using a 3/5 pin adapter into the Universe 2 output (please don't reply to that part). It fried the DMX universe output. The board works as normal, but the universe the clearcom was accidently plugged into does not work at all. I'm assuming the 24v traveling through the clearcom cable fried the board controller for that universe. Is that something I could get replaced or am I out of luck? The repair shops I've emailed with the problem either don't know what to do about it and have suggested just buying a new board or doing without the universe. Has anyone had any experience with replacing the boards inside an ETC express? Is that a possibility?
BROKEN ETC EXPRESS
- Thread starterjtvd
- Start date
soundlight
Well-Known Member
Probably just toasted the output chip. That's what it's there for! Protects the rest of your board from getting toasted as well. Your best bet is indeed to call ETC, and they'll probably recommend you take it somewhere to get serviced. This is a common issue if it's the problem that I'm thinking of, and any reputable rental shop with a good service department should know what to do in this case.
If it's the output chip the one from the RFU output should work. Theres details in this thread http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting-electrics/20280-express-faceplate-problems.html . I'd suggest calling ETC and having them walk you/the most tech savvy person you can find through it if you want to do it yourself as the express is a PITA to take apart and reassemble.
The chips to repair the output aren't that expensive, and are socketed to facilitate easy replacement (at least if the people doing the replacement are EE students who think that kind of thing is fun). This happened summer '11, so I'd imagine ETC still has the parts to repair that. Might be a good idea to move the 5->3 adapter further down the chain to help prevent future accidental cross connects in the booth. DMX driver chips probably also don't like phantom power, and speakers really don't like square waves.
It happens all the time, a tech just needs to swap out the opto coupler chip. They are designed to take a hit so you do not fry your console. Consoles do not like power through their dmx ports. I have had to deal with several consoles over the years where the chip was not socketed but that was always the first modification I would make when replacing the chip. While out on the road I always kept spare chips in the console case
Still have not heard back from them.
This did the trick - ETC/Elec Theatre Controls Z1458 F IC | Full Compass
I got it from them for like $6 and had to wait a week, I'm not sure why the price suddenly jumped up.
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