There are a lot of comments and advise given, but the bottom
line is that there are several types of protocall and
connector configurations on scrollers, both old and new. For example the
Wybron Foreruner and the ColorRam have different configurations for the
power to the pins of the connectors. While both use a four pin
XLR, their website will warn you to not interchange the PSUs, as you will surely damage either the
scroller or the
PSU. Other than a few oddball scrollers produced early on, Almost all scrollers are mnaufactured by
Wybron (under their own Label), Camelont (under Rainbow and Stand) and Spectrum engineering (
Apollo Q series,
Chroma Q and some of the morpheus). Either Spectrum licensed from Camelont or visa versa as many of their parts are interchangeable and frame mount
spacing is exact. Camelont is in Stackholm Sweden, and Spectrum is in Canada either Toronto or Montreal. The most obvious exception would be the new
Apollo Colorsmart. The short lived
Strand ColorCall (Camelont) used a five pin
XLR connector with pins 1-3 the normal
DMX and 4&5 for the 24volt
power. All of the early Camelonts could also use analog 0 - 10 volt dc and the
Strand colorcall could also use some priority protocall. These were selector
switch settable. I have both and I have conveted the 5
XLR to 4 pin and removed all of the selector switches so some unknowing tech doesn't use the wrong protocall.
I also built my own PSUs and
scroller cables. I used Elation
DMX distributors and 24volt DC switching
power supplies combined the two and switched to 4 pin connectors. The
power supplies are 12 amp. All of my scrollers draw 0.6 amps at peak and 0.2 at idle. I also have built several other
power suppies with a RS485 boost amp and 8 amp suppy and a 2.2 amp 24 volt supply and just the appropriate connectors. My cables are a digital audio cable 120
ohm for the
DMX and
zip cord running side by side for
power, with small pieces of
heat shrink every 10 inches. I am currently using 6 each
Apollo Q6s. 7 each Rainbow two 16s. 2 each
Strand ColorCall and 5 each Croma Q originals. All purchased off of ebay, with a lot of cleaning and repairing.
I would suggest that you always use a
PSU with electro optical isolation from the board and be careful to always check that your connectors are wired correctly, and other than that don't be afraid to use most any
scroller that has seperate
DMX addressing and takes 24 volts. Unless you have all the money in the world avoid the
Wybron colorRam. If buying new,
Apollo colorsmart. Good price, good service and Keith is a friend of the CB and Lightnetwork forums. I get my switching regulator supplies from mpja.com. They have a 2.2 amp supply for less than $10, It will drive three of my scrollers, but remember to drive the
DMX with a
opto isolated distrbutor. That way if you do blow the
driver chip it won't be in the
console, and 75176 chips are around a buck each on mouser.com. If you don't understand what I have written, then leave it to someone who does.