ColorRanger Scrollers Help

domiii

Member
Just bought six used ColorRanger scrollers with a power supply for $278 including shipping on ebay. I think I got a good buy. They just arrived and to my surprise they threw in one scroller for parts. The gel strings look in good condition.
I searched the forum, found one thread that discussed these scrollers. I have looked on the Morpheus site and downloaded the ColorFader manual.
We are a small community theatre in New Jersey, 110 seats in a converted two room school house. We have an Expression 48/96 with an ETC/LMI 24 circuit 1.2 KW touring rack and 4 Sunn PS 1200. Shortly we will be upgrading to a ETC Sensor 48 rack.
Ok now the questions.
Where is the best place to get the four pin cables I need to connect the scrollers to the power supply?
Or should I make them myself?
If so what kind of cable do I need and where is the best place to buy the cable and connectors?
I have never used scrollers before. I will be using these scrollers with my inventory of old Fresnels and Lekos that we have had donated to us over the years.
Any tips, hints, and advice would be appreciated.
Dominick Abbatiello,
Somerset Valley Players
 
You're close enough to NYC...there are any number of places you could purchase it including PRG, Barbizon, and 4 Wall. I'm sure with a little research you could find some smaller supply houses as well. I personly wouldn't make them myself because its a lot of soddering especially if you have no cable to start with. The best place to buy the bare cable and connectors would probably be the same as above with buying a pre-built cable.
 
Any of your local theatre supply houses should carry scroller cable. You can also call places like BMI Supply or Production Advantage, they always can get you what you need.

As for tips, hits and advice, I think you need to be a little more specific about what kind of help you want.
 
Just remember that the pinout for the ColorRangers is DIFFERENT from most regular scrollers. It expects the data on pins 1 and 2, ground on 3, and power on 4, so the shielded or twisted pair needs to be on 1 and 2, not 2 and 3 like most scrollers. The data is RS485 so it needs 120 ohm cable.
 
They were used.

Came out of a Casino that was demolished. He had about 10 sets and sold them in a Dutch auction on EBay, you bid on a quantity and with an amount. The lowest bid is what everyone gets the item for.

Was this a one time deal or is this something the vendor regularly sells?
 
As for tips, hits and advice, I think you need to be a little more specific about what kind of help you want.

Having never worked with scrollers, I am looking for general information as to how to use them, programing tips for my board, anything I should watch out for when using them and any specific information about these particular units.

I know that they are obsolete so any information from somebody that has used these in the past would be greatly appreciated.


Dom III
 
There was some discussion a while back about using Ethernet cable for DMX lines and just soldering a DMX plug on the end. It would be a heck of a lot cheaper. What I don't know is if you can do that with the power in there or if it only works in DMX only lines.

Anybody?
 
I don't think that cat5 is the correct gauge for running the power that the scrollers need.
 
Just wanted to say that I sent a note to Morpheus today and they sent me a PDF of the manual for the ColorRangers.

They also have cables available.

Kudos to Morpheus tech service!!!!
 
domiii,

<I don't think that cat5 is the correct gauge for running the power that the scrollers need.>

Bear in mind that most (Wybron Forerunner, Apollo SmartColor, Chroma Q) color scrollers use 24V DC, with pin out configs such as:

Pin 1 Neg Ground
Pin 2 Neg Data
Pin 3 Positive Data
Pin 4 Positive 24V DC

The power supply required must match the voltage required by the scrollers as well as the proper pin config. Be cautious when applying power to the scrollers/PSU if you aren't 100% sure of compatibility.
 
The package included the matching power supply, so I don't have to worry about that. The power supply supports six scrollers, which is the quantity that I bought.

The funny thing is that each scroller is wired to the power supply, they are not daisy chained.
 
OK, next question.
I made up one cable and tested the scrollers. All seven work one is missing a fan and one has a sticky scroller motor. It works when I scroll to the colors at full speed, but if I change the scroll speed it stops. If you push the drive belt a little it works. So I truly have six good scrollers and one for parts. I cleaned up the insides using compressed air. They were really dusty an gunky.
OK finally the question: The gel strips are dirty too. They came from an old casino so I am sure there was smoking in the room they were. Is there a safe way to clean the gel strips. Other some slime the gel strips are in good shape, no burns.
Any advice would be appreciated.
 
There are two important thing about cleaning color scrolls.

1. Use a cleaner that leaves no residue.
2. Let them dry FULLY before rolling them back up.

Isopropyll alcohol is a fine thing to use. Don't use Windex, or other "Glass Cleaners". Most glass cleaners have a silicon compound in them that helps make it "streak -free" this is not good to leave on the scrolls.

Isopropyll alcohol does have water in it so you need to let the scroll dry completely prior to rolling the scroll back up.

FYI it's possible that the one sticky scroller has a bad spot in the stepper motor, but it's also possible it's got a loose connection and not quiet enough juice is getting to the motor. The other thing being that is it's just a gunk build up. Thbis could be alleiviated by obtaining a Good Quality, electronics cleaner, here you want something that DOES leave a residue. Most electronics cleaners, like "contact Cleaners", will completely remove all lubrication, which can be bad in a motor.
Hope that helps.
 
Isopropyll alcohol does have water in it so you need to let the scroll dry completely prior to rolling the scroll back up.
Well took your advice and use alcohol to clean the scroll on the parts scroller. When I dabbed it on the leader it started to 'melt' the leader. Wiped it off quick without doing too much damage, just a few white spots.


After this happened I carefully tested the alcohol on each gel section before using it on the whole gel. All took the alcohol well except two gel sections, they were marked as Lee filters. These the color on these two sections started to wipe off, so I didn't clean those sections.


Any suggestions for a gentler cleaner for the leaders and two sensitive gel sections?
 
WOW ! How old are those scrolls? I have NEVER heard of Isopropyl alcohol "Melting" a polyesther gel. < most "Gels" are dyed polyesther sheets.>
You might try diluting the Isopropyll a bit more, or just try straight water.

I sincerely hope no damage was done to your scroll, but I do swear I've never heard of damage being inflicted on a scroll by standard isopropyll.
I would gladly welcome any input on this from others.
 
WOW ! How old are those scrolls? I have NEVER heard of Isopropyl alcohol "Melting" a polyesther gel. < most "Gels" are dyed polyesther sheets.>
You might try diluting the Isopropyll a bit more, or just try straight water.
I sincerely hope no damage was done to your scroll, but I do swear I've never heard of damage being inflicted on a scroll by standard isopropyll.
I would gladly welcome any input on this from others.

Me neither. I use Lee exclusively and never had a problem.
 

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