Using sub-masters as relays for power to intelligent light fixtures

Question

Hoping that someone can help me work this out. I am newer to production lighting without and real formal training. 
 I am currently using two sub-masters to control the power to my intelligent fixtures. 
 I understand this is not the best option but this is how our system is setup. 
 I am wanting to know how to setup these sub-masters as relays instead of intensity sub-masters. 
 I need them to go from 0% -> 100% and not anywhere in-between to prevent damage to them. 
 I am on a ION board and any and all help would be greatly appreciated! 
 Thank you!

PatrickBoozer · Accepted Answer

What you want to do is adjust the Curve of the Channels that control the moving light power - the sub master is really not important. 
 Go into Patch - choose the appropriate channels, choose the attributes tile. Select "Curve" and choose curve 905 - Full at 1% 
 Now those channels will be at full for any value over 1% and off at 0%. 
 From there - whether you control them as a submaster or Park them on is kind of just personal preference.

Richard · Answer

You should never use a console "full-at-1%" curve as your 'switched' mode. 
 There are very significant differences between setting a "full-at-1%" curve on your console and setting the dimmer itself to switched! 
 The most obvious is that Sensor dimmers have a voltage regulation feature, so when the supply voltage is higher than 'nominal' they dim the output to bring the output down to 'nominal'. (Thus extending your lamp life) If you set your console to full-at-1%, the dimmer still does this because you haven't told it not to! 
 The way to disable this and get the closest an SCR dimmer can get to true relay is to set the dimmer circuit to the "Switched" mode, as that way the dimmer knows that you never want to dim the load and can make the appropriate internal adjustments to firing the circuit. 
 As Marcus said, before doing this, you should always check with the manufacturer of the device as to whether it can be powered through a dimmer in Switched mode. While many can be powered this way, in some cases this can damage the device and/or the dimmer.