I know that it is not ideal to have a motor on a switched dimmer but I do not have non-dim relays available. I have a turntable plugged in because the director wants to control it with the light board. I can program it into cues and that works fine. However, when I set it on a sub master and try to use the bump button, nothing happens. For rehearsals, I need to be able to just push a button to have it. Ove. Can someone guide me please?
Motor control from lighting console is just a bad idea. Unless you have an extensive safety system in place you are personally responsible for anything that happens if you accidentally turn the motor on or off when it should not be moving. Beyond ideal you should not be doing this. If the director needs remote control of the motor then he needs to have the money to do it right. This is just my personal opinion but I would never agree to run what amounts to an automation system from a lighting console.
The sub master issue you are having highlights your knowledge or lack of.
"because the director want to control it with the light board." I think this is perfect example for when the director does NOT get what he/she wants. So what if if that is what they want? that doesn't make it the right call.
Do you have spare dimmers when this one burns out from the load? do you have the budget to fix the burned dimmers after the show? Does the director???
that said, does the submaster fader handle control the channel?
The bump button does not control the channel?
is there a time setting on the submaster? time up/dwell/down??
I agree with what the others have said about automation and light boards, but just to make sure we are all on the same page... When you say turntable, are you speaking about a large turntable on the set (moving scenery), or a record player?
Please note, the DMX512 standard specifically states that DMX is not suitable for hazardous applications. It was designed for lighting control where the worst that could happen was a light might flicker.
If an accident occurred then you'll probably end up having to justify the decision in court.
The judge will read paragraphs 1.3 through 1.5 of the DMX512 specification and say "Why did you decide to do this?"
When considering the use of DMX (or similar) to control anything that's not a 'normal' luminiare, you need to know how you'd answer that question.
For something small or out of the way like a normal-sized record player, mirrorball etc, then justifying DMX control is probably easy. - All you have to do is make sure that nobody could get hurt if it were to spin out of control at the wrong moment.
If it's something larger, then consider what might happen if it moves when it shouldn't?
Anyway:
Subs are configurable. Hit [Sub][Sub] to open the list of subs and check/alter their configuration.
Assuming the channel is patched as a dimmer, the defaults for a new Sub set the button to be an instant Flash button and the fader to be a simple proportional one: - Additive, Proportional, HTP, Up:0, Hold:Man, Down:0 Remember that the bump button is the bottom one.
Note that if the channel is Parked, Inhibited etc then those will override/limit the sub.
I appreciate everyone's concern and I do agree with you. However, in this situation it is out of my control. My director is also my boss. I have brought up the concerns to them and they are not concerned. Luckily, there will be numerous sets of eyes on the turntable the entire time to ensure safety. Because of all of your comments and my own concerns, I believe that I will also install a "Kill Switch" where the stage manager or backstage crew can kill the power in case of an emergency.
Does this sound like a good alternative for the safety concerns? The director is in charge of the theater budget and would pay for a dimmer if it were ruined.
A more appropriate solution would be a "dead man" switch where the turntable cannot operate unless the stage manager or backstage crew is pushing the button. They would then have to be cued to press the button whenever the turntable needs to move.
