Lamping on/off fixtures

The Mac 2000 manual says that a lamp off instruction is sent by setting the Strobe channel (channel 1) to the range of 97-100% (248-255 DMX) and holding for 5 seconds. So it is entirely possible to inadvertently lamp off your fixture using the strobe encoder.

I understand that but i looked at the fixture profiles "ranges" and the user max on the strobe channel finishes at hexi decimal 247 which is the last no function range before the lamp off section of a mac 2000 I then looked at the ranges of the strobe mode channel which is capable of going to hexi 255 but has no actual output channel assigned which makes me think its a virtual channel like the HSB in colour options any way the final range for it is hexi 235-255 which overlaps the lamp on no function and lamp off ranges specified by the manual So i guess my question should really be is it possible to lamp off the fixture by manipulating the strobe encoder into the output range of the lamp control for a martin fixture with no on screen indication at the encoder or can virtual channels actually change information on output levels? Thanks Will

I've used Mac 2000s a lot in the past. It's not possible to lamp off using the strobe encoder wheel. The fixture already in the desk maxes the strobe control at 247 as you say, and the lamp controls take over that same DMX output for the range required to douse the unit. This sort of functionality exists on many if not all moving lights, the fixtures in Eos have ranges precisely so a single DMX address can be controlled by numerous different encoders or controls.

Sadly, most of my experience is with the Martin Roboscan 918 which lamps off based on the settings of 2 colour wheels to particular colours. There's no protection in the desk against doing so inadvertently, nor can there be without a lot of meticulous exception handling.

The older Martin gear has a tendency to loose the lamp if the voltage drops. Some fixtures can be more prone to that than others. It's worth looking at anyways. The Sharpy's have a few personalities - look for the "LC" lamp controls in the name. The lamp on should be in the About window as normal. You can build a simple "Lamp On" macro but learning it from the button in the about screen. Doing it that way would lamp on any instrument that the desk has a built in Lamp instruction.

Thanks Daniel that is how I understand it as well just wanted to make sure

Hi Patrick your point on voltage is good advice I'm new to this venue so I asked around if theres been any power fluctuations in the past and surprise surprise there is a history As for your advice on sharpy macro I do have it patched as the LC profile and have "learnt" the macro from live keying chan 8 about lamp controls lamp on enter enter still no joy??? When I learn this macro live the fixture does lamp on but when i go back again the next day it doesn't do anything my lamp on macro for the other fixture types work fine will keep trying though