StormChaser Manual - Sound Productions
Contents
1. LIGHTING Blizzard Lighting LLC www blizzardlighting com Brookfield WI USA Copyright c 2011 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS StormChaser 1 1 Getting Started 3 What s In The Box 3 Getting It Out Of The Box 3 Powering Up 3 Getting A Hold Of Us 3 Safety Instructions Don t Stick Your Hand In The Toaster 4 2 Meet The StormChaser 5 Features 5 The StormChaser Pin up Picture 6 3 Setup 7 Fuse Replacement 7 Connecting A Bunch Of StormChasers 7 Data DMX Cables 7 Cable Connectors 8 3 Pin 5 Pin Huh 8 Take It To The Next Level Setting up DMX Control 8 Fixture Linking Master Slave Mode 9 Mounting Rigging 9 4 Operating Adjustments 10 DIP Switch Settings 10 DMX Mode 10 DMX Channel Values In Depth 11 Troubleshooting 12 5 Appendix 13 A Quick DMX Lesson 13 Keeping Your StormChaser As Good As New 14 Returns Gasp 14 Shipping Issues 14 Tech Specs 15 Page 2 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC 1 GETTING STARTED What s In The Box e 1 x StormChaser e 2 x Mounting brackets w bolts e This Lovely User Manual Getting It Out Of The Box Congratulations on purchasing one way cool way flexible way original LED strip light Now that you ve got your StormChaser or hopefully StormChasers you should carefully unpack the box and check the contents to ensure that all parts are present and in good condition If anything looks as if it has been damaged in transit2. notify the ship per immediately and keep the packing material for inspection Again please save the carton and all packing materials If a fixture must be returned to the factory it is important that the fixture be returned in the original factory box and packing Powering Up All fixtures must be powered directly off a switched circuit and cannot be run off a rheostat variable resistor or dimmer circuit even if the rheostat or dimmer channel is used solely for a 0 to 100 switch AC Voltage Switch Not all fixtures have a voltage select switch so please verify that the fixture you receive is suitable for your local pow er supply See the label on the fixture or refer to the fixture s specifi cations chart for more information A fixture s listed current rating is its average current draw under normal conditions Check the fixture or device carefully to make sure that if a voltage selection switch exists that it is set to the correct line voltage you will use Warning Verify that the voltage select switch on your unit matches the line voltage applied Damage to your fixture may result if the line voltage applied does not match the voltage indicated on the voltage selector switch All fixtures must be connected to circuits with a suitable Ground Earthing Getting A Hold Of Us If something is wrong just give us a call or send an email We ll be happy to help honest Blizzard Lighting PO Box 1874 Brookfield WI 53008
3. ft The maximum recommended number of fixtures on a serial data link is 32 fixtures Data DMX Cabling To link fixtures together you ll need data cables You should use data grade cables that can carry a high quality signal and are less prone to electromagnetic interference For instance Belden 9841 meets the specifications for EIA RS 485 applications Standard microphone cables will probably be OK but note that they cannot transmit DMX data as reliably over long distanc es In any event the cable should have the following characteristics 2 conductor twisted pair plus a shield Maximum capacitance between conductors 30 pF ft Maximum capacitance between conductor amp shield 55 pF ft Maximum resistance of 20 ohms 1000 ft Nominal impedance 100 140 ohms Page 7 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Cable Connectors Cables must have a male XLR connector on one end and a female XLR connector on the other end Duh A Word on Termination DMX is a resilient communication protocol however errors still occasionally occur Termination reduces signal errors and therefore best practices include use of a terminator in all circumstances If you are experiencing problems with erratic fixture behavior especially over long signal cable runs a terminator may help improve performance To build your own DMX Terminator Obtain a 120 ohm 1 4 watt resistor and wire it between p
4. structural sta bility Do not mount to surfaces with unknown strength and ensure properly rated rigging is used when mounting fixutres overhead Adjust the angle of the fixture by loosening both knobs and tilting the fixture After finding the desired position retighten both knobs e When selecting installation location take into consideration lamp replacement access if applicable and routine maintenance e Safety cables MUST ALWAYS be used e Never mount in places where the fixture will be exposed to rain high humidity extreme temperature changes or restricted ventilation Page 9 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC 4 OPERATING ADJUSTMENTS DIP Switch Settings All of the various functions of the StormChaser are set up using the 10 position DIP switch located on the rear of the unit Using this set of switches you can select several different standalone master slave and DMX operating modes The chart below describes the various operating modes and their respective DIP switch settings 2345 6 7 8 9 10 rain ours owen ows CI CI ors om ores on fares om ferme faces pon O O rsu om fee E ff I pom VE HH H O HH or HH H EEE x ea EE G EE om or om om oF DEP 10 Fon a dd LL oN F Master Slave Master orr orr orr ore orr orr ore ore 6 OFF owns 1 Pe fe e 6 2 o we ae oF P
5. t behaving like a good little fixture should you ll need to obtain a Return Authori zation RA Don t worry this is easy Just send an email to support blizzardlighting com and we ll issue you an RA Then you ll need to send the unit to us using a trackable pre paid freight method We suggest using USPS Priority or UPS Make sure you carefully pack the fixture for transit and whenever possible use the original box amp packing for shipping When returning your fixture for service be sure to include the following 1 Your contact information Name Address Phone Number Email address 2 The RA issued to you 3 A brief description of the problem symptoms We will at our discretion repair or replace the fixture Please remember that any shipping damage which occurs in transit to us is the customer s responsibil ity so pack it well Shipping Issues Damage incurred in shipping is the responsibility of the shipper and must be reported to the carrier immediately upon receipt of the items Claims must be made within seven 7 days of receipt Page 14 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Tech Specs Weight amp Dimensions Operating Voltage 90 130VAC 50 60 Hertz 2A 250V LED 252x10mm 5W 63x Each Red Green Blue White 100 000 hours Beam Angle 30 degrees Luminous Intensity 3 250 Lux im Max Operating Temp 104 degrees F 40 degrees C ambient Coolness F
6. actor Leventy Billion Percent 2 year limited warranty does not cover mal Warranty function caused by damage to LED S Page 15 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Enjoy your product Our sincerest thanks for your purchase The team Blizzard Lighting
7. age 10 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC DMX Channel Values 2 Channel Mode Mode 000 lt gt 010 No Function 011 lt gt 042 7 Channel Mode 043 lt gt 084 31 Channel Mode 085 lt gt 127 10 Channel Mode 128 lt gt 191 2 Channel Mode 128 lt gt 131 Effect Chase 1 132 lt gt 135 Effect Chase 2 136 lt gt 139 Effect Chase 3 140 lt gt 143 Effect Chase 4 144 lt gt 147 Effect Chase 5 148 lt gt 151 Effect Chase 6 152 lt gt 155 Effect Chase 7 156 lt gt 159 Effect Chase 8 160 lt gt 163 Effect Chase 9 164 lt gt 167 Effect Chase 10 168 lt gt 171 Effect Chase 11 172 lt gt 175 Effect Chase 12 176 lt gt 179 Effect Chase 13 180 lt gt 183 Effect Chase 14 184 lt gt 187 Effect Chase 15 188 lt gt 191 Effect Chase 16 All Chases Cycle 192 lt gt 255 Sound Active Mode e A DMX Channel Values 7 10 31 Channel Mode channel Channel Value 7 Channel 10 Channel 31 Channel Mode No Function 7 Channel Mode 31 Channel Mode 10 Channel Mode 2 Channel Mode Sound Active Mode a coos se Dimmer 0 lt gt 100 000 No Function 001 lt gt 255 Strobe Slow lt gt Fast CR ees CC CTC i fe CE i fe CE fe CE i fer fi Tree prati _ CN COSE CI TT Le fe fess pi Tetra pre _ G EEE CI CI LEO ee ae ol e E C fes CC LT C fess I CI CE lo SISI diri Page 11 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright
8. c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Troubleshooting Fixture Auto Check the fan in the fixture If it is stopped or moving Shut Off slower than normal the unit may have shut itself off due to high heat This is to protect the fixture from overheating Clear the fan of obstructions or return the unit for service Beam is Dim Check optical system and clean excess dust grime Also ensure that the 220V 110V switch is in the correct position if applicable No Light Output Check to ensure fixture is operating under correct mode IE sound active auto DMX Etc if applicable Contact service for more information Chase Speed Check to ensure proper setup of speed adjustment Too Fast Slow Check fuse AC cord and circuit for malfunction Blown Fuse Check AC cord and circuit for damage verify that moving parts are not restricted and that unit s ventilation is not obstructed Slow Movement Verify that 220V 110V switch is in the correct position if applicable Also check that speed channels are set appropri ately o Response to Verify that the fixture is in Sound Active mode Audio Adjust Audio Sensitivity If Applicable Fixture Not Make sure all connectors are seated properly and securely Responding Use Only DMX Cables Responding Er Install a Terminator raticly Check all cables for defects Reset fixture s Intermittant Check lamp for properly installation Lamp Relamp lamp may have reached end of life R
9. ed people can lead to damage or malfunction Please contact the nearest authorized tech nical assistance center Always use the same type spare parts e NEVER connect the device to a dimmer pack e Make sure the power cord is never crimped or damaged e Never disconnect the power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord e Avoid direct eye exposure to the light source while it is on Caution There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit Do not open the housing or attempt any repairs yourself In the unlikely event your unit may require service please contact Blizzard Lighting at sup port blizzardlighting com Page 4 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC 2 MEET THE StormChaser CONTROL FEATURES e RGBW color mixing via 252 high power 10mm Red Green Blue White LEDs e Variable electronic strobe e 4 DMX modes for ultimate control flexibility e Super flexible design allows for use as an effect chase light or as a 7 pixel RGBW display device e Built in color amp chase macros via DMX e Built in auto amp sound activated programs via master slave amp DMX ADDITIONAL FEATURES e Compact and lightweight it kept its new year s resolution e Lux 3 250 im e Light source 252x 10mm 5 watt LEDs 63 each Red Green Blue and White Use the space below to draw a masterpiece which you can then sell to a big time art collector for 1 000 000 then buy more StormChasers with that
10. emote Doesn t Verify remote control cable is installed properly and securely Work Verify remote is correct type CA 9 or other as applicable Fixture Moving Verify proper mode of operation Is the fixture in Auto On Its Own mode If your problem isn t listed or if problems persist please contact support support blizzardlighting com Page 12 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC 5 APPENDIX A Quick Lesson On DMX DMX aka DMX 512 was created in 1986 by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology USITT as a standardized method for connecting lighting consoles to lighting dimmer modules It was revised in 1990 and again in 2000 to allow more flexibility The Entertainment Services and Technology Association ESTA has since assumed control over the DMX512 standard It has also been approved and recognized for ANSI standard clas sification DMX covers and is an abbreviation for Digital Multiplexed signals It is the most common communications standard used by lighting and related stage equipment DMX provides up to 512 control channels per data link Each of these channels was origi nally intended to control lamp dimmer levels You can think of it as 512 faders on a lighting console connected to 512 light bulbs Each slider s position is sent over the data link as an 8 bit number having a value between 0 and 255 The value 0 corresponds to the light bulb being compl
11. etely off while 255 corresponds to the light bulb being fully on DMX data is transmitted at 250 000 bits per second using the RS 485 transmission stan dard over two wires As with microphone cables a grounded cable shield is used to prevent interference with other signals There are five pins on a DMX connector a wire for ground cable shield two wires for Primary communication which goes from a DMX source to a DMX receiver and two wires for a Secondary communication which goes from a DMX receiver back to a DMX source Generally the Secondary channel is not used so data flows only from sources to receiv ers Hence most of us are most familiar with DMX 512 as being employer over typical 3 pin mic cables although this does not conform to the defined standard DMX is connected using a daisy chain configuration where the source connects to the input of the first device the output of the first device connects to the input of the next device and so on The standard allows for up to 32 devices on a single DMX link Each receiving device typically has a means for setting the starting channel number that it will respond to For example if two 6 channel fixtures are used the first fixture might be set to start at channel 1 so it would respond to DMX channels 1 through 6 and the next fixture would be set to start at channel 7 so it would respond to channels 7 through 12 The greatest strength of the DMX communicati
12. ins 2 amp 3 of the O 120 ohm 1 4 watt resistor last fixture They are also readily G N available from specialty retailers CAUTION Do not allow contact between the common and the fix ture s chassis ground Grounding the common can cause a ground loop and your fixture may perform erratically Test cables with an ohm meter to verify correct polarity and to make sure the pins are not grounded or shorted to the shield or each other 3 Pin 5 Pin Huh If you use a controller with a 5 pin DMX output connector you will need to use a 5 pin to 3 pin adapter They are widely available over the internet and from specialty retailers If you d like to build your own the chart below details a proper cable conversion 3 Pin Female 5 Pin Male Output Input Ground Shield DMX Data 3 Tn Take It To The Next Level Setting Up DMX Control Step 1 Connect the male connector of the DMX cable to the female connector output on the controller Step 2 Connect the female connector of the DMX cable to the first fixture s male connec tor input Note It doesn t matter which fixture address is the first one connected We recommend connecting the fixtures in terms of their proximity to the controller rather than connecting the lowest fixture number first and so on Next Fixture in Chain Step 3 Connect other fixtures in the chain from output to input as above Place a DMX terminator on the output of the final fix
13. money Page 5 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Figure 1 The StormChaser Pin Up Picture High Power Mounting Bracket LED s amp Adjustment Screw Anodized Aluminum Enclosure Figure 2 The Rear Connections AC Power DMX In DMX Out ON OO Fuse Cover Mode DMX Address DIP Switches Page 6 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC 3 SETUP Before replacing a fuse disconnect power cord ALWAYS replace with the same type and rating of fuse Fuse Replacement With a philips head screwdriver unscrew the fuse holder from its hous ing Remove the damaged fuse from its holder and replace with exact same type fuse Insert the fuse holder back in its place and reconnect power Connecting A Bunch of StormChaser Fixtures You will need a serial data link to run light shows using a DMX 512 controller or to run shows on two or more fixtures set to sync in mas ter slave operating mode The combined number of channels required by all the fixtures on a serial data link determines the number of fix tures the data link can support Fixtures on a serial data link must be daisy chained in one single line Also connecting more than 32 fixtures on one serial data link without the use of a DMX optically isolated splitter may result in deterioration of the digital DMX signal The maximum recommended cable run distance is 500 meters 1640
14. ons protocol is that it is very simple and robust It involves transmitting a reset condition indicating the start of a new packet a start code and up to 512 bytes of data Data packets are transmitted continuously As soon as one packet is finished another can begin with no delay if desired usually another follows within 1 ms If nothing is changing i e no lamp levels change the same data will be sent out over and over again This is a great feature of DMX if for some reason the data is not interpreted the first time around it will be re sent shortly Not all 512 channels need to be output per packet and in fact it is very uncommon to find all 512 used The fewer channels are used the higher the refresh rate It is possible to get DMX refreshes at around 1000 times per second if only 24 channels are being trans mitted If all 512 channels are being transmitted the refresh rate is around 44 times per second In summary since its design and evolution in the 1980 s DMX has become the standard for lighting control It is flexible robust and scalable and its ability to control everything from dimmer packs to moving lights to foggers to lasers makes it an indispensible tool for any lighting designer or lighting performer Page 13 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Keeping Your StormChaser As Good As New The fixture you ve received is a rugged tough piece of pro lighting eq
15. support blizzardlighting com www blizzardlighting com Page 3 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Please read these instructions carefully They include important information about the installation usage and maintenance of this product e Please keep this User Guide for future use If you sell the unit to someone else be sure that they also receive this User Guide e ALWAYS make sure that you are connecting to the proper voltage and that the line voltage you are connecting to is not higher than that stated on the de cal or rear panel of the fixture e This product is intended for indoor use only e To prevent risk of fire or shock do not expose fixture to rain or moisture e Make sure there are no flammable materials close to the unit while operating e The unit must be installed in a location with adequate ventilation at least 20in 50cm from adjacent surfaces Be sure that no ventilation slots are blocked e ALWAYS disconnect from the power source before servicing or replacing fuse and be sure to replace with same fuse size and type e ALWAYS secure fixture using a safety chain NEVER carry the fixture by its cord Use its carrying handles e DO NOT operate at ambient temperatures higher than 104 F 40 C e In the event of a serious operating problem stop using the unit immediately NEVER try to repair the unit by yourself Repairs carried out by unskill
16. ture to ensure best communication DMX IN DMX OUT To Next Fixture Page 8 StormChaser Manual Rev B Copyright c 2011 2012 Blizzard Lighting LLC Fixture Linking Master Slave Mode 1 Connect the male 3 pin connector side of the DMX cable to the output female 3 pin connector of the first fixture 2 Connect the end of the cable coming from the first fixture which will have a female 3 pin connec tor to the input connector of the next fixture con sisting of a male 3 pin connector Then proceed to connect from the output as stated above to the input of the following fixture and so on A quick note Often the setup for Master Slave and Standalone operation requires that the first fixture in the chain be initialized for this purpose via either settings in the control panel or DIP switches Secondarily the fixtures that follow may also re quire a slave setting First Fixture in Chain DMX IN Next Fixture in Chain To Next Fixture DMX IN DMX OUT Check the Operating Adjustments section in this manual for com plete instructions for this type of setup and configuration Mounting amp Rigging This fixture may be mounted in any SAFE position provided there is enough room for ventilation It is important never to obstruct the fan or vents pathway Mount the fixture using a suitable C or O type clamp The clamp should be rated to hold at least 10x the fixture s weight to ensure
17. uip ment and as long as you take care of it it will take care of you That said like anything you ll need to take care of it if you want it to operate as designed You should absolutely keep the fixture clean especially if you are using it in an environment with a lot of dust fog haze wild animals wild teenagers or spilled drinks Cleaning the optics routinely with a suitable glass cleaner will greatly improve the quality of light output Keeping the fans free of dust and debris will keep the fixture running cool and prevent damage from overheating In transit keep the fixtures in cases You wouldn t throw a prized guitar drumset or other piece of expensive gear into a gear trailer without a case and similarly you shouldn t even think about doing it with your shiny new light fixtures Common sense and taking care of your fixtures will be the single biggest thing you can do to keep them running at peak performance and let you worry about designing a great light show putting on a great concert or maximizing your cli ent s satistfaction and wow factor That s what it s all about after all Returns Gasp We ve taken a lot of precautions to make sure you never even have to worry about sending a defective unit back or sending a unit in for service But like any complex piece of equipment designed and built by humans once in a while something doesn t go as planned If you find yourself with a fixture that isn
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