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    LightGuy145
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Sensor CEM3 D20 Coupled Dimmers and Swapped Circuits

I have a standard 96 dimmer rack of all D20 modules with a new (within the past year) CEM3 controller running 1.6.1. This is a fixed dimmer-per-circuit rack in a auditorium.

Note: For both these problems I have tried swapping dimmer modules around and powering down the separate architectural control system. I've also reset the CEM. No change whatsoever. The problems exist no matter what controller is sending DMX to the rack (architectural controller, Express 48/96, PC controller, etc). This leads me to believe it must be an issue with the dimmer rack itself.

Problem 1 - Coupled Dimmers

Two sequential dimmers 75 and 76 (in the same module) will not turn on unless they are both on together. They aren't configured for dimmer doubling. In fact, I don't see any difference between their dimmer settings and any of the other properly functioning dimmers. Does anyone have any idea what might cause this behavior? I thought maybe the module was going bad but it happens even after I swap it out with another properly functioning module.

Problem 2 - Swapped Circuits

DMX address 58 turns on circuit 70 and DMX address 70 turns on circuit 58. I've double checked that both the circuit assignment and the patching are as they should be... DMX address 58 is assigned to circuit 58 and circuit 58 is assigned to the correct lug. Same goes for circuit 70. How could the swapped behavior therefore be possible unless the circuit wires going into the modules were at some point swapped? It seems unlikely this would have happened as part of the installation of the CEM3. It seems even less likely that anyone has been inside the raceway for any reason. I know I can "solve" this problem by reassigning DMX address 58 to circuit 70 and vice versa, but that doesn't offer any explanation as to why this problem began after the CEM3 was installed. I need answers! I need the universe to make sense!

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  • Hi LightGuy,

    Hm - those are some interesting ones. The first thing I would say is that if the CEM3 is new within the year, obviously your system is covered by warranty so feel free to contact ETC to get a tech out after some troubleshooting!

    Problem 1 : Are you just noticing this on the outputs, or if you go to the rack and turn on one of those via the set levels menu, does it still not work until they're both on? Does the behavior of the signal LEDs on the front of the module match that - so that neither signal LED comes on until they're both on? That might point to a hardware fault, although an unusual one. I'd also check that the CEM3 is receiving levels as expected - go to [About] -> [Source Info] and check that levels show up as you would expect for those dimmers.

    Problem 2 : I'd also check this by looking at the [About] -> [Source Info] screen, and see what happens when you bring up DMX58 - does the source info screen show it as 58, or 70? It'd be pretty strange for a hardware fault to swap entirely random dimmers, so I definitely suspect configuration for that one.

    Incidentally if you have a PC or ETC console on the network and you install Net3 Concert, you can configure your racks from the PC/Console, which will make this easier to see than from the small screen on the front of the CEM3 - you get a table view of the dimmers in your rack including DMX addressing which may help figure out what's going on.

    Good luck and hope the [DMX] universe makes sense soon.
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  • Hi LightGuy,

    Hm - those are some interesting ones. The first thing I would say is that if the CEM3 is new within the year, obviously your system is covered by warranty so feel free to contact ETC to get a tech out after some troubleshooting!

    Problem 1 : Are you just noticing this on the outputs, or if you go to the rack and turn on one of those via the set levels menu, does it still not work until they're both on? Does the behavior of the signal LEDs on the front of the module match that - so that neither signal LED comes on until they're both on? That might point to a hardware fault, although an unusual one. I'd also check that the CEM3 is receiving levels as expected - go to [About] -> [Source Info] and check that levels show up as you would expect for those dimmers.

    Problem 2 : I'd also check this by looking at the [About] -> [Source Info] screen, and see what happens when you bring up DMX58 - does the source info screen show it as 58, or 70? It'd be pretty strange for a hardware fault to swap entirely random dimmers, so I definitely suspect configuration for that one.

    Incidentally if you have a PC or ETC console on the network and you install Net3 Concert, you can configure your racks from the PC/Console, which will make this easier to see than from the small screen on the front of the CEM3 - you get a table view of the dimmers in your rack including DMX addressing which may help figure out what's going on.

    Good luck and hope the [DMX] universe makes sense soon.
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