Channels automatically go to full power?

You can download a manual from this link: http://www.etcconnect.com/product.downloads.aspx?ID=20012

To get full @ 1% you need to assign a profile to your dimmer. You'll need profile #6. The default profiles are listed below.

Pre-defined profiles
0 - Linear (not editable)
1 - IES square
2 - Slow bottom
3 - Fast bottom
4 - Slow top
5 - Fast top
6 - Full at 1%
7 - Preheat at 5%
8 - Preheat at 10%
9 - Hot patch

Here is the excerpt from the manual (pg41) about assigning profiles:

"Assigning a profile to a dimmer

You may assign one of the 32 alternative profiles to a dimmer. If you
assign none, the console sets the dimmer to default profile 0, the
uneditable linear profile. Following is the procedure for assigning a profile
to a dimmer.

Keystrokes:
1. Press [Patch].  (Press [Dim] if the dimmer LED is not lit.)

Prompt reads:
Select dimmer numbers, then press
[Enter] to assign to a channel, or
press [At] to assign a proportion, or
press Profile to assign a profile

2. Enter the number of the
dimmer to assign on the
keypad.

3. Press [S7], More
Softkeys, [S6], Profile.

Prompt reads:
Select dimmer profile number

4. Enter the number of the desired profile.

5. Press [Enter]."

Assigning a "Non-dim" type of profile to a dimmer will make it behave like this ALL THE TIME, in all cues, groups, and subs. If you want some lights to pop on whilst others are fading only in certain cues, use a multi-part cue.  Have the fading channels live in one part of the cue, and the instant channels on another, then set the desired fade times and wait times for each part.