Eos controlling Selecon PL3

Does anyone have any advice (or better, still can ETC implement something in a future version) on how to control the remote focus (pan/tilt/zoom) module for the Selecon PL3 LED Fixtures?

More information is available in the documentation at http://www.strandlighting.com/clientuploads/directory/downloads/02-9693-0005_A_PL3MKIT%2520Install.pdf but unlike most moving fixtures they use some completely odd method of control for remote focussing discussed below.

Any advice anyone can give would be much appreciated

[the following is extracted from the manual]

Under DMX Control, the PAN and TILT are interlocked, you cannot move both at the same time. In order to move PAN, TILT and BEAM the level for each axis of movement must be set to 50% (DMX 127) to start. To initiate movement, from the starting point of 50% (DMX 127) the user must set values above or below this level. Increas- ing the value above 50% starts movement in one direction and entering a value below 50% moves the luminaire or the focus in the opposite direction. The greater the change in value the faster the luminaire will move (see table). To stop movement return the control to the 50%.


The very ends of the DMX ranges 0-15 and 239-255, represent the end of travel stop ranges; if that range is entered you must return to 50% (DMX 127) before it will move again. This was done so that if a DMX control device uses sliders, 0 is stopped and moving back towards 50% (DMX 127) will not cause the fixture to move.

 

17 (16-bit mode)

11 (8-bit mode)

Pan

(See "Pan & Tilt DMX Operation Notes" on page 12 for more information).

0 - 255

0 - 100%

DMX 127 (50%, Motor Stop)

Controls Pan motor in 3 speeds, forward and backwards as follows . . .
Motor Stop = DMX 0 - 15
Motor <<< Fast = DMX 16 - 49

Motor << Medium = DMX 50 - 84 Motor < Slow = DMX 85 - 119 Motor Stop = DMX 120 - 135
Motor > Slow = DMX 136 - 170 Motor >> Medium = DMX 171 - 204 Motor >>> Fast = DMX 205 - 238 Motor Stop = DMX 239 - 255

18 (16-bit mode)

12 (8-bit mode)

Tilt

(See "Pan & Tilt DMX Operation Notes" on page 12 for more information).

0 - 255

0 - 100%

DMX 127 (50%, Motor Stop)

Controls Tilt motor in 3 speeds, forward and backwards as follows . . .
Motor Stop = DMX 0 - 15
Motor <<< Fast = DMX 16 - 49

Motor << Medium = DMX 50 - 84 Motor < Slow = DMX 85 - 119 Motor Stop = DMX 120 - 135
Motor > Slow = DMX 136 - 170 Motor >> Medium = DMX 171 - 204 Motor >>> Fast = DMX 205 - 238 Motor Stop = DMX 239 - 255

Parents
  • I thought the PL3 was a fresnel style fixture that did not have pan or tilt capabilities. If I recall correctly it only had a spot flood feature that you could remotely control but the modes of operation were slow or fast flood/spot and not indexable. Fine feature if you are looking to spot or flood during a focus but not really reproducible in a live situation. The pan and tilt parameters are probably referencing this feature.



    [edited by: andrewt at 9:19 PM (GMT -6) on Wed, Mar 28 2012]
Reply
  • I thought the PL3 was a fresnel style fixture that did not have pan or tilt capabilities. If I recall correctly it only had a spot flood feature that you could remotely control but the modes of operation were slow or fast flood/spot and not indexable. Fine feature if you are looking to spot or flood during a focus but not really reproducible in a live situation. The pan and tilt parameters are probably referencing this feature.



    [edited by: andrewt at 9:19 PM (GMT -6) on Wed, Mar 28 2012]
Children
  •  

    andrewt said:

    I thought the PL3 was a fresnel style fixture that did not have pan or tilt capabilities. If I recall correctly it only had a spot flood feature that you could remotely control but the modes of operation were slow or fast flood/spot and not indexable. Fine feature if you are looking to spot or flood during a focus but not really reproducible in a live situation. The pan and tilt parameters are probably referencing this feature.

    Pan / Tilt is made available by an optional kit as per the documentation linked to - it works in the same way as the spot/flood feature and is intended for remote focus only,  its a profile to control it during remote focussing that I'm looking for, it certainly cannot be used in the same way as a mover.

  • I had a brief chance to work with the pl3 although it did not have the pan/tilt mechanism the zoom function is crippled in their hardware/firmware. there was no way to tell it to go to a specific zoom all you could do is to tell it which direction and what speed to zoom at. This is a problem with the fixture and without the manufacturer changing this I consider the fixture useless. The VLX3 uses some of the same components but has much more control over the pan/tilt and the zoom. These 2 products are built under the same parent company. They just need to figure it out and fix it. just my opinion.
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