Channel level 100% or FL

As I understand it the channels listing 100 are actually just under full.  If you hold down the "data" key you should see the absolute value of the intensity which is usually like 99.6.  

I hope this helps.

"Y2K"-type issue perhaps?  Originally consoles only allowed two digits to display channel levels. Thus FL for 100%, or some used FF which conveniently is hex 255.

100 equaling 99.6 and Full equaling something higher sounds just a little off to me.

The console rounds numbers for the intensity display unless you hold down the "data" key.  You can have a channel at 49.8% and it will show as 50%

hey there. since dmx works with a scale of 256 (0 through 255) and percents obviously with 100 steps, they needed to find a solution for values, that can't be represented in full percentages. while you move up an intensity one point, the dmx-value has increased by an average of 2.56 . and although we see a value in percent, the dimmer gets an information 2.56 times more precise. it's completely consistent, that in reality, the percentage values are hardly ever the values shown on an intensity list that shows values from 0 to FL. and holding down the data button brings you exactly that: values that are (closer to) the truth but harder to read.

so FL equals DMX value 255, while 100% could be 253 and 254 (not quite sure and can't test at the moment. depends on the rounding algorithm).

cheers from switzerland

felix

hey there. since dmx works with a scale of 256 (0 through 255) and percents obviously with 100 steps, they needed to find a solution for values, that can't be represented in full percentages. while you move up an intensity one point, the dmx-value has increased by an average of 2.56 . and although we see a value in percent, the dimmer gets an information 2.56 times more precise. it's completely consistent, that in reality, the percentage values are hardly ever the values shown on an intensity list that shows values from 0 to FL. and holding down the data button brings you exactly that: values that are (closer to) the truth but harder to read.

so FL equals DMX value 255, while 100% could be 253 and 254 (not quite sure and can't test at the moment. depends on the rounding algorithm).

cheers from switzerland

felix

On a related bit of curiosity-  What is going on with the Intensity Wheel?  Does it operate on DMX value or percentage?  Can you roll a channel up to 75 1/2% or does it just skip to 76?

I believe the intensity wheel does operate on one tick = one DMX value. Hence why you will see a value of '100', normally when someone has wheeled up the intensity, rather than hit the 'Full' key.

Hold down the data key as you slowly move the wheel, you'll see what's happening. Release the Data Key at 99.6 and you get a rounded up 100.