Since you want to put your strobes on an electric, this probably means you'll have to swag an extension cord off the batten and to a wall outlet. You're going to have a DMX cable also, so might as well plan the path for both. If you have Sensor dimmers, you can eliminate the need to run an extension cord by replacing a dimmer module with an R20, CC20, or ThruPower module to provide non-dimmed power. Other dimmer manufacturers may offer a similar non-dim solution.
elliot47, on the back of your Express are two DMX512 outputs, female 5pin XLRs, labeled "1-512" and "513-1024". The first port probably goes to your dimmer rack (s). You'll need a cable long enough to run from the second port to the first DMX device (strobe, moving light, scroller, DMX iris, etc.) and then daisy chain to subsequent devices. The ports don't HAVE to be assigned those numbers--under "System Settings" they're identified as Port 1 and Port 2 and may be set to any valid DMX range.
32. (You may have chosen 24 as an arbitrary "comfortable" number.) Technically, 32 is not correct either*, but it's the number most commonly bandied about. An opto-splitter extends this limit, as well as likely makes the cable runs more convenient.3. You should always have less than 24 fixtures on a DMX run.
Adapter 5-3 and adapter, 3-5 may be used anywhere in the chain as necessary.6. You may need some 3/5 pin adapters.
...A splitter will cut down on your cable runs. You should also take a look at the number of DMX devices you put on a single DMX run. The ANSI version of DMX says 32 unit loads. While that may not necessarily be 32 physical devices it's good practice to not put more than that on a run. You also need to make sure you have a DMX termination for the end device of each run of DMX cable. As along as all your DMX cables are up to spec. that should eliminate any random flickering of your lights. ...
Essentially, yes, via a long 5pin XLR cable. This provides data (DMX) to the fixture. It also requires power:Ok so I plug the device directly into the back of the board?
The power plug (probably a male Edison) that you plug into the wall receptacle, again via a long extension cord.... What powers the device?
You set the address on the device, either by dipswitch or LED menu. Then you go into the console's Patch screen and patch the "dimmers" for the device into control channels. Alternatively, you can write or acquire a fixture personality profile for the strobe for the Express.
Output. You daisy chain the fixtures, up to a maximum of 32 devices on one data line. Virtually all DMX devices/fixtures have a Data (DMX) Input and a Data Output (may be labeled as "Data Thru")....And lastly what do I do if I decide I need leds and strobes? I don't have a 3rd DMX input on my board.
They have, since the introduction of the VL5 in 1992. Some versions of the VL500 and VL1100 current models also permit this, those that don't have an integral dimmer. As well as the Martin TW1. But movers with incandescent sources are the exception, rather than the rule; and as Pie4Weebl said, they still need a non-dimmed source for the electronics and motors.Doesn't Vari-Lite now make ...
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