VX Dimmer User`s Manual
Contents
1. The green LED labeled signal is lighted whenever a DMX signal is being received This indicates that the controller cable and DMX input to the VX dimmer system are functional The three thumbwheel switches labeled Start Address are used to select the board channels that the VX dimmer will respond to For instance a switch setting of 001 will assign VX dimmer channel 1 to the board control channel 1 Setting the switches to 13 will cause the first VX dimmer channel to follow board control channel 13 This would be the case when a second 12 channel VX is used as part of a larger system The control electronics is programmed to ignore changes to the address thumbwheels until the switches have stopped changing For this reason it will require a moment for the VX dimmer to accept a new address after the switches have been changed This feature is useful when scenes are stored in the dimmer using a DMX source For information about storing scenes see section 5 The LED labeled Match will flash each time a DMX channel equal to the switch setting is received For example if the Start Address switches on the Control drawer are set to 500 and the console is only outputting 256 DMX channels the Match LED will not flash and no dimmer channels can be turned on 4 2 Analog control input The VX control electronics also accepts analog control signals The DC level needed for full output is factory set at 10 volts but can be readjusted in the ra2. The Leprecon VX dimmer systems are primarily designed for three phase four wire with ground power systems Because of the variation in service from location to location and the possibility of improper connection it is strongly suggested that the service is checked for proper voltage with a meter before the dimmers are connected The VX 2400 consists of twelve circuits of twenty amps each Nominal line voltage is 115 VAC at 60 Hz Special order models are available for 50 Hz and 230 volt operation 3 2 VX 1200 Power The VX 1200 with the standard Terminal Power inlet requires 40 amps per leg of 3 phase power Because of the neutral currents that can occur with phase control dimmers the neutral must be capable of carrying 150 of the current of a single leg or 60 amps It is recommended that the safety ground be equal to the capacity of the hot legs or 40 amps The VX 1200 consists of twelve circuits of ten amps each Nominal line voltage is 115 VAC at 60 Hz Special order models are available for 50 Hz and 230 volt operation 3 3 VX 3000 Power The VX 3000 with the standard Terminal Power inlet requires 108 amps per leg of 3 phase power Because of the neutral currents that can occur with phase control dimmers the neutral must be capable of carrying 150 of the current of a single leg or 162 amps Two screw terminals are provided for double neutral wires to meet this requirement It is recommended that the safety ground be equal to the c
3. dimmer can be shipped with user installed hardware for the intended application If your order included either Rack mount or Stand alone kits the hardware is included in the package for the VX dimmer 2 1 Rack Mount Kit The Rack mount kit CAE 90 04 0012 for the VX dimmer includes the following items 1 Rack mount ears 2 pcs 20 2710 2 Rear support bracket 2 pcs 20 2725 3 Screw 6 32 x 1 2 4 pcs 16 2112 4 Screw 8 32 x 3 8 6 pcs 16 3105 To install rack ears simply screw the brackets to the left and right side of the dimmer Use the larger 8 screws provided and tighten securely The Rear support brackets attach to the back of the dimmer using the screws that fasten the backpanel to the sides Locate and remove these 6 screws two on each side Discard the original screws and attach the rear support bracket with the new longer screws supplied Warning Do not use screws longer than those provided for attaching hardware Longer screws may contact live parts inside the dimmer and present a shock hazard 2 2 Stand Alone Kit For applications when the VX dimmer is not rack mounted accessory handles and feet may be installed The VX Standalone Kit CAE 90 04 0011 contains these parts 1 Handles 2 pcs 18 1034 2 Screw 8 32 x 3 8 6 pcs 16 3012 3 Lockwasher 8 split ring 10 pcs 16 3802 3 Rubber Foot 4 pcs 18 3012 4 Screw 8 32 x 1 2 4 pcs 16 3014 To attach the handles locate the three holes in each side prov
4. the air inlet filters periodically 10 7 2 Replacing modules VX dimmers are exceptionally easy to service If a problem is suspected in a power module the part can be replaced in a few minutes To change a power module follow these steps Warning Removing the dimmer front panel will expose dangerous high voltage components Do not attempt to service dimmer with power applied 1 Disconnect power to the dimmer pack Potentially lethal voltages are present inside the dimmer 2 Remove the front panel This is done by turning the four quarter turn fasteners to the left counterclockwise Pull the front panel straight out 3 Disconnect the six pin control connector from the suspect module 4 Pull the module straight out It will require a tug to unseat the power connector located at the back of the module 5 Position the replacement module on the plastic guide 6 Connect the six pin control connector 7 Gently slide the module into place It may be necessary to wiggle the module into alignment with the power connector The click of the contacts mating means that the connector is completely seated 8 Replace front panel Gently push in the quarter turn fasteners while turning until they drop into place Push the fasteners completely in against the spring and turn to the right clockwise to lock 11 8 Appendix A DMX 512 Standards The following information is a summary of the USITT 1990 standard for dimmers and cont
5. 699 Press Enter to erase all scene memory 6 2 Scene Playback The scenes stored in the VX dimmer can be recalled for emergency backup or for use without a control board The scenes are recalled with the DMX switches set to addresses beginning with 700 1 Set the first DMX digit to 7 2 Set the second two digits to a number between 1 and 10 3 Press the enter button to start a one second fade to the memorized scene If a scene is already being output from memory pressing the Enter button will start a one second crossfade from scene to scene Memorized scenes will pile on with current DMX or analog scenes from controller 4 To resume normal operation set the DMX switches to a valid address 0 512 5 Scene 700 is a pre recorded blackout and can be used to fade out any of the recorded scenes 7 Service and Maintenance The VX dimmer racks are designed to make troubleshooting and repair of the system fast and easy LED indicators are used to pinpoint problems to a defective module The suspected module can be removed without tools and the system repaired in minutes by installing replacement parts 7 1 Recommended Service VX dimmers like other dense pack dimmers needs an unrestricted supply of fresh cool air The pack has been designed to operate at ambient temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius or about 100 degrees Fahrenheit When the dimmers are used in very dusty conditions it may be necessary to remove and clean
6. apacity of the hot legs or 108 amps The VX 3000 consists of twelve circuits of twenty seven amps each Nominal line voltage is 115 VAC at 60 Hz Special order models are available for 50 Hz and 230 volt operation 3 4 Over voltage Protection and Power Indicator The VX dimmer system uses a modular control card for each 12 channel dimmer This control card incorporates over voltage detection and shutdown to protect the dimmer electronics and lamp loads from destruction The VX control card features three green LED s for power indication These indicators show that each phase is connected and within normal limits If all three LED s are not lighted power is not applied is out of range or a fault is present in the VX system The internal protection takes effect at 140 volts AC Voltages of this level or above will light the red Over voltage LED on the power supply drawer front panel and disable all dimmer control Input from a controller or from the channel Test switches will be ignored and no voltage will be output from any dimmer channels As soon as the applied voltage is reduced to a safe level the Over voltage LED will be quenched and the dimmer will begin to operate normally 3 5 Temp LED and Fan Control Each channel of the VX rack system has its own temperature sensor If a problem occurs that causes a channel to overheat the entire dimmer shuts down until a normal temperature is reached This overtemp shutdown is indicated by li
7. bstantial difference in system cost With the adoption of DMX 512 by the industry compatibility is assured between products offered by different manufacturers All Leprecon VX dimmers are compatible with DMX 512 To connect the VX dimmer to a DMX controller simply use a standard DMX cable and plug the two devices together A parallel wired female connector is supplied to allow output to additional dimmers or other devices 4 1 1 DMX Load VX dimmers along with other digital dimmers manufactured by Leprecon includes optical isolation at the DMX input This design greatly reduces the chances of failure in the dimmer causing incidental damage to the control console or other dimmers in the system The load presented to the DMX line is greater than non isolated dimmers The DMX standard allows for up to 32 receivers per DMX line The optical input stage of the VX dimmer limits the DMX line to ten dimmer packs If additional packs are to be driven from a single DMX line buffers manufactured by Leprecon or other suppliers can be used to amplify and distribute the DMX signal For more detailed information about DMX 512 see the appendix at the end of this manual 4 1 2 DMX Indicators and controls The VX Control card located at the top of the pack contains all electronics needed to decode the digital DMX signal and translate that information into signals to control 12 dimmer channels On the front panel are the indicators and controls for DMX inputs
8. d or two pair with shield may be used Examples of such cable are Single pair Belden 9841 Alpha 5271 Two pairs Belden 9842 Alpha 5272 The Pin Designations for DMX 512 are as follows Pin 1 Signal common cable shield Pin2 Data 1 Pin3 Data 1 Pin 4 Spare optional Data 2 Pin5 Spare optional Data 2 12
9. ghting the red Temp LED VX racks are cooled by temperature controlled fans mounted in each 12 channel section The same temperature sensor that is used for thermal shutoff also determines the fan speed This arrangement allows for the lowest possible noise level from the cooling fans while still providing proper cooling for the hottest module Noticeable airflow and fan noise will only occur when the dimmer is loaded and channels are turned on long enough for the internal temperature to start to rise 3 6 Connection to Terminal Power Inlet The most common power input connector for the Leprecon VX 2400 dimmer is the Terminal Power inlet This option provides an insulated terminal strip with 7 screw connections for 3 phase power The block is labeled to identify the three power phases X Y Z neutral connections and a safety ground Because of the large neutral current that can exist in phase control systems two screw terminals are supplied for neutral connection It remains the responsibility of the user to determine the correct cable type to properly connect VX dimmer racks and the need for overcurrent protection in the power supplied to the dimmer system For more information see the appendix of this manual 4 Control Input 4 1 DMX 512 One of the best features of modern lighting equipment is the use of digital communication between control boards and dimmers The low cost of the cable and connectors in a digital system makes a su
10. ided for the handles Use the six shorter 8 screws with the lockwashers to attach the handles Tighten the screws securely The rubber feet attach to the bottom side of the dimmer with the longer 8 screws Tighten the screws securely Warning Do not use screws longer than those provided for attaching hardware Longer screws may contact live parts inside the dimmer and present a shock hazard 2 2 1 Power Input The VX dimmer is designed as a component for use in large high power stage lighting systems It is the responsibility of the user to understand and properly follow guidelines and regulations for the use of equipment of this type It is beyond the scope of this manual to fully explain all requirements and implications of connecting and operating dimming systems in general and Leprecon VX systems specifically If you have any doubts of your ability to specify safely connect and use high voltage high powered equipment please employ a qualified electrician 3 VX_Power Requirements 3 1 VX 2400 Power The VX 2400 with the standard Terminal Power inlet requires 80 amps per leg of 3 phase power Because of the neutral currents that can occur with phase control dimmers the neutral must be capable of carrying 150 of the current of a single leg or 120 amps Two screw terminals are provided for double neutral wires to meet this requirement It is recommended that the safety ground be equal to the capacity of the hot legs or 80 amps
11. immer channel and load wiring Channel breakers can also be used to turn off a single circuit Pushing the breaker toggle handle to the OFF position will disconnect power to the dimmer circuit and load 5 2 Test Switch The proper connection and operation of the dimmer circuits can be tested without a control console by using the Test switch Pushing in the Test switch will turn on the dimmer channel to allow lamps and load patching to be verified Push the Test switch again to return it to the out position and turn the channel off again The Test switch is a hard wired function at the output stage of the dimmer For this reason the Test switches will continue to operate even if the control electronics are disabled This fail safe feature can be very important if the control console or dimmer electronics are disabled 5 3 Output LED This green LED is connected to the output of the dimmer circuit When lighted it indicates that voltage is present at the load Any condition that turns on the load will light the LED Test switch on control signal present or dimmer malfunction In conjunction with the other indicator the Output LED can be used to troubleshoot system problems quickly 5 4 Error LED Each channel of the VX dimmer includes an Error LED that when lighted indicates one of several improper conditions These conditions are easy to understand the dimmer has no output when it should or the dimmer has output when it sho
12. leprecon VX Dimmer User s Manual Manual part number 21 2119E Software Version 1 1 10 March 1994 Leprecon CAE Inc P O Box 430 Hamburg MI 48139 USA 810 231 9373 FAX 810 231 1631 WWW leprecon com Table of Contents General Descriptlonwcini sieves naire e dd ia cei yadda 3 dh Standard Features ecos iria 3 Installing Opuons lt uds ita 4 2 les RACK MOUE ates td doused 4 Die SLAMCAIOMG a cic Fe ahah 23 A TN 4 22d Power INPUT iaar A EE E T 5 VX 2400 Power Requirements ccccceesecceceeeeeceeeeeeneeeeeseneeeeeneneeeeeneneeeeeneeaeeesneeeeeeenenaeeees 5 Bilis VA ZAO PO Wei ii 5 37228 MA 200 POWER ocio 5 3d VX 3000 PIE tl da es 5 3 4 Over voltage and Protection and Power Indicator oococnnnnccnninncccnnonoconnnnnnnnnno nooo 6 3 5 Temp LED and Fan Control 0 ccccccccceceseeceeeeeceeeeeeaeeeeaeeseeeeesaeeesaaeeseeeeseeeessaeenes 6 3 6 Connection to Terminal Power Inlet 0cccccccceeeeseeesseseeeseeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeseeees 6 Gontrollnputlat tocaba lirio cs 7 O AAN 7 Aida DMX koad ii td aida 7 4 1 2 DMX Indicators and controls ooononnccnnccccccoonnconnnnoncnonnnonnnononcncnnonnnnnnos 7 4 2 Analog Control IMpPUtim tute titan det 8 Dimmer Circuit Controls and INdicatorS ooonnncnnnnnnininininicnnnnanacacananananana nana na nana nn nn nana na nr nana 8 Das CIRCUIT BEAK CM aii A NA TOAS catsces 8 Des esto WC Ii IIA taa dao 9 Bios HOUTOUE LED dea e decai eo ne
13. nge of 5 to 24 volts DC The analog control connectors are 8 pin male Jones type The pin connections are shown below Function Channel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Channel 4 Channel 5 Channel 6 Not Used Control Common Connector 1 5 ZA ld do do do do Channel 7 Channel 8 Channel 9 Channel 10 Channel 11 Channel 12 Not Used Control Common NNNNNNDND ANOaRWND 5 Dimmer Circuit Controls and Indicators Each dimmer chassis contains twelve independent dimmer circuits each with the following controls 5 1 Circuit Breaker The channel breaker is the first line of defense against shorted lamps or load circuits A special type of magnetic breaker has been chosen for the VX system This breaker allows only a fraction of the energy to pass through the system in the case of a short in the load or load wiring as compared to conventional magnetic breakers The performance of this breaker contributes to the reliability of the VX system In the VX 2400 current in excess of 20 amps in any single output will cause the channel breaker to trip In the VX 1200 the maximum is 10 amps and the VX 3000 is 27 amps The breaker toggle will flip to the left indicated on the front of the breaker as OFF If a breaker trips it is an indication of a problem on that load circuit Reset the breaker only after finding and fixing the fault that created the overload Resetting the breaker repeatedly with a shorted output stresses the breaker the d
14. o Les 9 la ErORLED screech do e e e e e do do ll eel ed 9 SCONE Storage iii ep ia 9 6 1 Recording IN 9 6 2 Scene Playback dt 10 Service and Maintenance cooonncccccncncnncnononcnnnncnnnnnnnancncnnnnononannnnnnnnnn nono a annnnn nono nana a aa aai 10 7 1 Recommended Service ocooonncccccccccononocnncnncononononancnncn nono non cnn cnn nono conan nana ncn nn ninia 11 7 2 Replacing modules er er aa a aR A REET SA AE TEEN ERRE TE Eaa E AR 11 Appendix A DMX 512 Standards ccccecsceceeeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaeeeeeaesesaaeseneeeseaeeesaeeeeaeeeeeeees 12 1 General Description The Leprecon VX Dimmer is designed to meet the demanding requirements of the lighting industry Emphasis was placed on designing a system that is flexible reliable and serviceable The latest digital technology combined with a modular design bring a new level of performance and ease of use to portable and permanent dimming systems Because of the many custom features available on VX systems the features described in this manual may not cover all available options of the dimmer 1 1 Standard Features Modular Dimming amp Control Electronics Dimmer and control electronics can be serviced from the front panel without removing the dimmer from the rack or enclosure DMX Control Input Digital control electronics using a patented circuit allows simultaneous DMX 512 and analog control input with a highest takes precedence logic Parallel in
15. put and output for DMX 512 allows daisy chaining racks together in one system DMX start address switches allow the dimmers to be assigned to start receiving data at any of the 512 addresses True digital control electronics provides accurate dimmer output tracking from channel to channel eliminating any variance in output levels when multiple dimmer channels are patched together Analog Control Input Two 8 pin Jones type male plugs are provided for 0 10 DC analog control Control cable and pin connections are compatible with other Leprecon dimmers Channel Breakers The circuit breakers used in the VX dimmers are fast response magnetic breakers The quality of the breaker contributes to the reliable operation of the dimmer pack even when shorted lamps or cables are plugged into the dimmer The front panel toggle also allows the breaker to be used as a switch for the dimmer channel Fan Cooling Two fans are used in the VX dimmer to keep the electronics at a safe operating temperature The fans are controlled by a thermostat to keep fan noise to a minimum When the pack is lightly loaded the fans turn at a slower rate and are accelerated to full speed when the temperature inside the pack increases Ten Scene Memory Non volatile memory in the VX control card retains 10 scenes for backup or use without controller Scenes program via front panel controls and may be set individually at any time 2 Installing Options The VX
16. rollers A complete copy may be obtained from USITT 10 W 19th ST Suite 5A New York NY 10011 4206 The DMX 512 standard is designed as a simple reliable system for connecting digital dimmers and controllers The protocol allows up to 512 dimmers to be connected to a single control console With 512 dimmers in a system DMX 512 allows each dimmer level to be updated as fast as 44 times each second As far as the users of DMX equipment are concerned three things matter more than the electrical specifications contained in the DMX description The most important items are connectors cable and how to wire the two ends together DMX 512 currently uses 3 pins of a 5 pin connector The two unused pins are reserved for future use some manufacturers are using these pins for communications back from the dimmer to the control console or as a redundant data line At this time DMX cables are being used that only contain 3 wires If you wish to include the capability to use the extra pins it is suggested that you buy or make cables with all 5 pins connected The connectors to be used for DMX 512 are as follows Console end transmitter Female 5 pin XLR Dimmer end receiver Male 5 pin XLR The 5 pin XLR is very similar to the 3 pin connectors used for microphone cable Some manufacturers of XLR connectors are Switchcraft ITT Cannon and Neutrik Cable type Shielded twisted pair approved for ElA 422 ElA 485 use Either one pair with shiel
17. uld not The causes are listed below a Breaker open no power applied to the channel b No Load lamp disconnected or burned out c Test Channel is at 100 because the Test switch is on d Shorted SCR Bad power device Note No load indication is accurate only with the control signal below 90 and the Test switch in the Off position 6 Scene Storage With microprocessor based control circuitry the VX dimmer is capable of advanced functions such as scene storage Using the front panel thumbwheel and push switches up to ten scenes sent to the dimmer can be saved in non volatile memory for later playback Any DMX or analog controller can be used to set scenes in the VX dimmer 6 1 Recording Scenes Scenes are programmed into the VX dimmer by sending a scene to the dimmer specifying the scene number to be stored and pressing the Enter switch DMX addresses starting with 600 are used to program scenes 1 Set the levels of the dimmer channels with any analog or DMX controller 2 Select the scene to store with the DMX switches Set the first DMX digit to 6 to indicate scene storage Set the next two digit to a number between 1 and 10 For example setting an address of 605 would prepare the dimmer to store scene 5 3 Press the Enter button to memorize the scene Return the DMX switches to the previous start code to resume normal operation 4 To clear all ten recorded scenes set the thumbwheels to address
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