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    rtooker
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Non Dim

I've recently learned that patching a channel as a generic non-dim doesn't actually give the function one would expect. In other consoles I've used with non-dim as a type, and in ETC products like Sensor racks, non-dim is full at x%. On Eos/Ion, it's a hot patch, always on. To get the non-dim function I'd expect you patch a dimmer, then assign the full at 1% curve, like you would with an Expression.

Further, when you look at the tombstone view, a "non-dim" channel shows as if it were a multi-parameter fixture, with the squiggly line under it, when it's not anything you can control at all.

Is there a reason for this behavior? It seems counter intuitive, particularly given that other ETC products that use the name have different functions, and given that I've never seen any one use non-dim and hot patch as synonyms. Are there other consoles that function this way?

Thanks

Rob Tooker

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  • Rob, we are changing the word "non dim" in the "generic" profile to read hot patch, as that is what it is.  We are adding a non-dim at 50% in the generic profiles.    The display will also be changed to show as a standard dimmer channel.

    thanks,

    a

     

  • in reply to Anne Valentino

    Dear Anne,

    I'm working with Ion V1.7 (just updated to 1.8) with fluorescents on normal dimmers and some HPI-t's on switchpacks. I'm using them as non-dim at 50%, but I'm puzzled by it's behavior.

    I was expecting a fixture with only on or off intensity. Instead the Ion shows me intensities like it is a normal dimmer with percentages. Also the Ion shows grey value's I didn't give (like 25%). When pressing Sneak-enter this value goes back to zero (in red) and returns to 25% again when it's at zero. 

    Also when go-to-cue-out my fluorescents are 'faded' out. 

    So how is this supposed to function. In my vision i think a non-dim should either be 'on' or 'off' instead of having a value. What's ETC vision and how should I work with it.

    Regards,

    Remko

     

  • in reply to rwely

    Remko.  It should indeed.  Will take a look at the profile.  In the meantime, you could  build a curve and apply the curve in patch.  This one is simple and fastest built from the command line.  Once your new curve is specified and opened for editing, 1 thru 49 at 0.  50 thru 100 at full.   I checked this and the DMX output is behaving as expected.  The channel output will continue to fade in a linear fashion, but if you look in About/Background, you can see the DMX output is either at 0 or 255.

    Sorry, we will get that non-dim profile fixed.  

    a

     

  • in reply to Anne Valentino

    I've tied to do the same thing. ended up using curve 905? (full @ 1%.) I'm running V 1.4. I'm wondering if the issue is in the dimmer it's-self. Could the dimmer not have an on/off switch; so, it would just fade up/down as fast as it could? I have Sensor+ Dimmer Racks.

    Jake.

  • in reply to jhamil

    Yes, this is correct, writing the curve is not going to turn this in to a switched mode.  There are a couple of different options available.  Tech support can provide more commentary.

  • in reply to jhamil

    In Sensor+ Racks, you have a couple of choices on how to make a dimmer go from 0% to Full with out dimming in between. Both of these options are set in the rack and control the firing mode of the dimmer.

    The first option is Switched mode. Switched mode is voltage unregulated (meaning that the incoming power is not changed before output) and has a default threshold (percentage at which it will turn on) of 50%. Essentially full at 50%.

    The second option is Non-Dim. Non-Dim is voltage regulated (meaning that the dimmer will regulate the voltage to maintain a specific voltage when on) with a default threshold of 1%. Essentially full at 1%. The major difference here is that the default voltage that the module will try to maintain is 115V. If you desire a different voltage, you can set it using the minimum and maximum scale voltage settings for the dimmer. Keep in mind that you can set the voltage higher than what the rack may be powered with, if that happens, the module will allow all of the input voltage through.

    In your case, I would recommend using switched mode instead of non-dim mode. You can change the threshold to turn on at any percentage you like. Then on the console, when you send a level above that percentage, your light would be on, and when you drop below that level it will turn off.

    For more information about the firing modes available as well as how to configure them, please check out the CEM+ Configuration Manual: http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Sensor__CEM__v3.0__User-Config_Manual_revA.pdf 

    As always, if you need additional assistance or would like to talk this solution through with a technician, please feel free to call us at 800-688-4116.

     

Reply
  • in reply to jhamil

    In Sensor+ Racks, you have a couple of choices on how to make a dimmer go from 0% to Full with out dimming in between. Both of these options are set in the rack and control the firing mode of the dimmer.

    The first option is Switched mode. Switched mode is voltage unregulated (meaning that the incoming power is not changed before output) and has a default threshold (percentage at which it will turn on) of 50%. Essentially full at 50%.

    The second option is Non-Dim. Non-Dim is voltage regulated (meaning that the dimmer will regulate the voltage to maintain a specific voltage when on) with a default threshold of 1%. Essentially full at 1%. The major difference here is that the default voltage that the module will try to maintain is 115V. If you desire a different voltage, you can set it using the minimum and maximum scale voltage settings for the dimmer. Keep in mind that you can set the voltage higher than what the rack may be powered with, if that happens, the module will allow all of the input voltage through.

    In your case, I would recommend using switched mode instead of non-dim mode. You can change the threshold to turn on at any percentage you like. Then on the console, when you send a level above that percentage, your light would be on, and when you drop below that level it will turn off.

    For more information about the firing modes available as well as how to configure them, please check out the CEM+ Configuration Manual: http://www.etcconnect.com/docs/docs_downloads/manuals/Sensor__CEM__v3.0__User-Config_Manual_revA.pdf 

    As always, if you need additional assistance or would like to talk this solution through with a technician, please feel free to call us at 800-688-4116.

     

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