Non Dimmer

Switching motors on and off with a dimmer isn't the best idea, but in many cases it can work well enough.  Technically motors should be turned on and off with a relay (electronically controlled switch).  In a Sensor system, this would mean having an R20 module instead of a D20 module for that circuit.  This is the most straightforward method, but it also is somewhat pricey if you don't already have the module.  Otherwise, you can configure the dimmer module to be in Switched mode through the menus on the CEM/CEM+ in the rack.

Is your system original Sensor (with a CEM) or Sensor+ (with a CEM+)?  The exact instructions for setting it to switched mode are different.

Finally, it may be easier for you to just give a call to tech support.  Those folks are extremely helpful and stepping through simple configuration items like this over the phone :-).

If you are trying to control a *very small* motor such as a mirror ball rotator from a dimming module, you'll often need a 'ghost load' in parallel to prevent it spinning continuously.

This is because the size of the load provided is just too small - most mirror ball rotators are under 5W. A 60 or 100W desklamp is more than enough - you don't need a 1kW parcan!

Again, there is a big difference between the console curve "On at 1%" and the Sensor/Sensor+ "Switched" mode.

In dimmer mode, the output is usually regulated - so 100% isn't necessarily 'Full' if your incoming supply is above 115V. This regulation is to make the output really 115VAC (or whatever it was set to) instead of the higher supply voltage, thus extending the life of your lamps.

A side effect of this is that motors may not be very happy when run on this kind of circuit.

"Switched" mode turns off the regulation, and forces the circuit to be either totally on or totally off - this is much kinder to motors, although still not quite as good as a relay module.

Yup we figured it out... but then 

is it ok for a gobo rotator to be on the "non dim" ? or will this hurt the motor?

Thanks

All standard CYA comments apply such as "Don't blame me when the motor goes up in smoke" etc...  but I run fans and rotators with no issues and see this all the time.

SB

All standard CYA comments apply such as "Don't blame me when the motor goes up in smoke" etc...  but I run fans and rotators with no issues and see this all the time.

SB