Venue thinpar 64 - Appendix; DMX Primer; General Troubleshooting

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8. APPENDIx
DMX PRIMER
Thereare512channelsinaDMXconnection.Channelsmaybeassignedinanymanner.Axturecapableofreceiving
DMX will require one or a number of sequential channels. The user must assign a starting address on the fixture that
indicatestherstchannelreservedinthecontroller.TherearemanydifferenttypesofDMXcontrollablexturesand
theyallmayvaryinthetotalnumberofchannelsrequired.Choosingastartaddressshouldbeplannedinadvance.
Channelsshouldneveroverlap.Iftheydo,thiswillresultinerraticoperationofthextureswhosestartingaddressisset
incorrectly.Youcanhowever,controlmultiplexturesofthesametypeusingthesamestartingaddressaslongasthe
intended result is that of unison movement or operation. In other words, the fixtures will be slaved together and will all
respondexactlythesame.ConsulttheOwner’sManualtoyourDMXcontrollerformoreinformation.
DMXxturesaredesignedtoreceivedatathroughaserialDaisyChain.ADaisyChainconnectioniswheretheDATA
OUT of one fixture connects to the DATA IN of the next fixture. The order in which the fixtures are connected is not
important and has no effect on how a controller communicates to each fixture. Use an order that provides for the easiest
and most direct cabling. Connect fixtures using shielded two-conductor twisted pair cable with three pin XLR male to
female connectors. The shield connection is pin 1, while pin 2 is Data Negative (S-), and pin 3 is Data Positive (S+).
GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
SYMPTOM POSSIBLE CAUSE(S) POSSIBLE ACTION(S)
Breaker/Fuse keeps blowing
•Excessivecircuitload
•Shortcircuitalongthepowerwires
•Checktotalloadplacedontheelectricalcircuit.
•Checkforashortintheelectricalwiring(internaland/
or external).
Device does not power up
•Nopower
•Loosepowercord
•CheckforpoweronMains.
•Checkpowercord
Fixture is not responding to DMX
•WrongDMXaddressing
•DamagedDMXcables
•Wrongpolaritysettingsonthecontroller
•LooseDMXcables
•FaultyDMXinterface
•FaultyMainPCB
•CheckControlDisplayandunitaddressing
•CheckDMXcables
•Checkpolarityswitchsettingsonthecontroller
•Checkcableconnections
•ReplaceDMXinput
•ReplaceMainPCB
Loss of signal
•NonDMXcables
•Bouncingsignals
•Longcable/Lowlevelsignal
•Toomanyxtures
•InterferencefromACwires
•UseonlyDMXcompatiblecables
•Installterminatorassuggested
•Installamplierrightafterxturewithstrongsignal
•InstallanopticallycoupledDMXsplitterafterunit#32
•KeepDMXcablesseparatedfrompowercablesor
black light