Blizzard Lighting NorthStar Quantum Pro User Manual

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Blizzard Lighting, LLC

www.blizzardlighting.com

Wisconsin, USA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NorthStar Quantum™ Pro LED Moving Head Wash 1

1. Getting Started 3

What’s In The Box? 3 Getting It Out Of The Box 3 Powering Up! 3 Getting A Hold Of Us 3 Safety Instructions (Don’t Stick Your Hand In The Toaster!) 4

2. Meet The NorthStar Quantum™ Pro 5

Features 5 DMX Quick Reference 5 The NorthStar Quantum Pro Pin-up Picture 6

3. Setup 7

Fuse Replacement 7 Connecting A Bunch Of NorthStar Quantum™ Pros 7 Data/DMX Cables 7 Cable Connectors 8 3-Pin??? 5-Pin??? Huh? 8 Take It To The Next Level: Setting up DMX Control 8 Fixture Linking (Master/Slave Mode) 9 Mounting/Rigging 9

4. Operating Adjustments 10

The Control Panel 10 Control Panel Menu Structure & Adjustments 11 Setting the pan/tilt to inverting or non-inverting 11 Setting the pan angle 11 Setting the DMX channel conﬁ guration 11 Resetting the ﬁ xture 11 Restoring Factory Defaults 11 Master/Slave (“Auto” or “Sound Active”) 11 DMX Mode 11 Custom Programming with Manual Mode 12 DMX Channel Values In-Depth 14 Troubleshooting 15

5. Appendix 16

A Quick DMX Lesson 16 Keeping Your NorthStar Quantum™ Pro As Good As New 17 Returns (Gasp!) 17 Shipping Issues 17 Tech Specs 18 Photometrics 19

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1. GETTING STARTED

What’s In The Box?

• 1 x NorthStar Quantum™ Pro • A groovy PowerCon Cord

• A Sweet Safety Cable & Mounting Bracket

• One really classy DMX cable

• This Lovely User Manual

Getting It Out Of The Box

Congratulations on purchasing the NorthStar Quantum™ Pro, the next generation of LED moving head washes! Now that you’ve got your NorthStar™ you should carefully unpack the box and check the contents to ensure that all parts are present and in good condition. If anything looks as if it has been damaged in transit, notify the shipper immediately and keep the packing material for inspection. Again, please save the carton and all packing materials. If a ﬁ xture must be returned to the factory, it is important that the ﬁ xture be returned in

the original factory box and packing.

Powering Up!

All ﬁ xtures must be powered directly off a switched circuit and cannot be run off a rheostat (variable resistor) or dimmer circuit, even if the rheostat or dimmer channel is used solely for a 0% to 100% switch.

AC Voltage Switch - Not all ﬁ xtures have a voltage select switch, so please verify that the ﬁ xture you receive is suitable for your local pow- er supply. See the label on the ﬁ xture or refer to the ﬁ xture’ s speciﬁ - cations chart for more information. A ﬁ xture’s listed current rating is its average current draw under normal conditions. Check the ﬁ xture or device carefully to make sure that if a voltage selection switch exists that it is set to the correct line voltage you will use.

Warning! Verify that the voltage select switch on your unit matches the line voltage applied. Damage to your ﬁ xture may result if the line voltage applied does not match the voltage indicated on the voltage selector switch. All ﬁ xtures must be

connected to circuits with a suitable Ground (Earthing).

Getting A Hold Of Us

If something is wrong, just give us a call or send an email. We’ll be happy to help, honest.

Blizzard Lighting W220 N1531 Jericho Ct. Suite E, Waukesha, WI 53186 USA [email protected] | Phone: 866-493-6025 www.blizzardlighting.com

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SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• Please keep this User Guide for future use. If you sell the unit to someone else, be sure that they also receive this User Guide.

• ALWAYS make sure that you are connecting to the proper voltage, and that the line voltage you are connecting to is not higher than that stated on the decal or rear panel of the ﬁ xture.

• This product is intended for indoor use only.

• To prevent risk of ﬁ re or shock, do not expose ﬁ xture to rain or moisture.

• Make sure there are no ﬂ ammable materials close to the unit while operating.

• The unit must be installed in a location with adequate ventilation, at least 20in (50cm) from adjacent surfaces. Be sure that no ventilation slots are blocked.

• ALWAYS disconnect from the power source before servicing or replacing fuse and be sure to replace with same fuse size and type.

• ALWAYS secure ﬁ xture using a safety chain. NEVER carry the ﬁ xture by its head. Use its carrying handles.

• DO NOT operate at ambient temperatures higher than 104°F (40°C).

• In the event of a serious operating problem, stop using the unit immediately. NEVER try to repair the unit by yourself. Repairs carried out by unskilled people can lead to damage or malfunction. Please contact the nearest authorized technical assistance center. Always use the same type spare parts.

• NEVER connect the device to a dimmer pack.

• Make sure the power cord is never crimped or damaged.

• Never disconnect the power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord.

• Avoid direct eye exposure to the light source while it is on.

Caution! There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the housing or attempt any repairs yourself. In the unlikely event your unit may require service, please contact Blizzard Lighting at sup[email protected].

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2. MEET THE NORTHSTAR QUANTUM™ PRO

CONTROL FEATURES

15 or 39-channel DMX LED moving yoke• Pan: 540º/630º Tilt: 270º• Full RGBW Color Mixing or• Stunning 6-segment RGBW color mixing with chase/graphics capabilities• Pan/Tilt Invert• Variable 0-18FPS electronic strobe• Variable electronic dimmer (0 – 100%)• Remote ﬁ xture reset• Multiple built-in color macros• Multiple built-in automated programs• User-programmable manual mode•

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Lux: 56,500 @ 1m, 10,000 @ 5m• Beam Angle: 25º• Light source: 36x 10-Watt (4*2.5w) CREE® RGBW “Quad-Color” LEDs, • >50,000 hour life expectancy Industry-Standard Neutrik® POWERCON® Power Connection• Quarter-Turn “OMEGA” clamp bracket• Compact and lightweight•

DMX Quick Reference

Channel What It Does

1Pan 2 Pan Fine (16-Bit) 3 Tilt 4 Tilt Fine (16-Bit) 5 Dimmer 6 Strobe 7 Red (Entire Fixture) 8 Green (Entire Fixture) 9 Blue (Entire Fixture) 10 White (Entire Fixture) 11 Pan/Tilt Speed 12 Color Macros 13 Segment Control Mode 14 Built-In Programs 15 Reset 16-39 Individual Segment Control

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Figure 1: The NorthStar Quantum Pro Pin-Up Picture

4-in-1 LEDs

Carry Handle

Control Panel

Figure 2: The Rear Connections

DMX InDMX Out

Head/Arms

LCD Readout

Fuse Cover

Power Switch

PowerCon In

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3. SETUP

Fuse Replacement

With a ﬂ at head screwdriver, wedge the fuse holder out of its housing. Remove the damaged fuse from its holder and replace with exact same type fuse. Insert the fuse holder back in its place and reconnect power.

Connecting A Bunch of NorthStar Quantum™ Pros

You will need a serial data link to run light shows using a DMX-512 controller or to run shows on two or more ﬁ xtures set to sync in mas- ter/slave operating mode. The combined number of channels required by all the ﬁ xtures on a serial data link determines the number of ﬁ x- tures the data link can support.

Fixtures on a serial data link must be daisy chained in one single line. Also, connecting more than 32 ﬁ xtures on one serial data link without the use of a DMX optically-isolated splitter may result in deterioration of the digital DMX signal. The maximum recommended cable-run distance is 500 meters (1640 ft). The maximum recommended number of ﬁ xtures on a serial data link is 32 ﬁ xtures.

Data/DMX Cabling

To link ﬁ xtures together you’ll need data cables. You should use data- grade cables that can carry a high quality signal and are less prone to electromagnetic interference.

For instance, Belden© 9841 meets the speciﬁ cations for EIA RS-485 applications. Standard microphone cables will “probably” be OK, but note that they cannot transmit DMX data as reliably over long distances. In any event, the cable should have the following characteristics:

2-conductor twisted pair plus a shield

Maximum capacitance between conductors – 30 pF/ft. Maximum capacitance between conductor & shield – 55 pF/ft. Maximum resistance of 20 ohms / 1000 ft. Nominal impedance 100 – 140 ohms

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Cable Connectors

Cables must have a male XLR connector on one end and a female XLR connector on the other end. (Duh!)

CAUTION: Do not allow contact between the common and the ﬁ x- ture’s chassis ground. Grounding the common can cause a ground loop, and your ﬁ xture may perform erratically. Test cables with an ohm meter to verify correct polarity and to make sure the pins are not grounded or shorted to the shield or each other.

3-Pin??? 5-Pin??? Huh?!?

If you use a controller with a 5 pin DMX output connector, you will need to use a 5 pin to 3 pin adapter. They are widely available over the internet and from specialty retailers If you’d like to build your own, the chart below details a proper cable conversion:

Conductor 3-Pin Female

(Output)

5-Pin Male (Input)

Ground/Shield Pin 1 Pin 1 DMX Data (-) Pin 2 Pin 2 DMX Data (+) Pin 3 Pin 3 Not Used. No Connection. No Connection. Not Used. No Connection. No Connection.

Take It To The Next Level: Setting Up DMX Control

Step 1: Connect the male connector of the

DMX cable to the female connector (output) on the controller.

Step 2: Connect the female connector of the DMX cable to the ﬁ rst ﬁ xture’s male connec- tor (input). Note: It doesn’t matter which ﬁ xture address is the ﬁ rst one connected. We recommend connecting the ﬁ xtures in terms of their proximity to the controller, rather than connecting the lowest ﬁ xture number ﬁ rst, and so on.

Step 3: Connect other ﬁ xtures in the chain from output to input as above. Place a DMX terminator on the output of the ﬁ nal ﬁ xture to ensure best communication.

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Fixture Linking (Master/Slave Mode)

1. Connect the (male) 3 pin connector side of the DMX cable to the output (female) 3 pin connector of the ﬁ rst ﬁ xture.

2. Connect the end of the cable coming from the ﬁ rst ﬁ xture which will have a (female) 3 pin connec- tor to the input connector of the next ﬁ xture con- sisting of a (male) 3 pin connector. Then, proceed to connect from the output as stated above to the input of the following ﬁ xture and so on.

A quick note: Often, the setup for MasterSlave and Standalone operation requires that the ﬁ rst ﬁ xture in the chain be initialized for this purpose via either settings in the control panel or DIP-switches. Secondarily, the ﬁ xtures that follow may also require a slave setting.

Check the “Operating Adjustments” section in this manual for complete instructions for this type of setup and conﬁ guration.

Mounting & Rigging

This ﬁ xture may be mounted in any SAFE position provided there is enough room for ventilation.

It is important never to obstruct the fan or vents pathway. Mount the ﬁ xture using a suitable “C” or “O” type clamp. The clamp should be rated to hold at least 10x the ﬁ xture’s weight to ensure structural sta- bility. Do not mount to surfaces with unknown strength, and ensure properly “rated” rigging is used when mounting ﬁ xutres overhead.

Adjust the angle of the ﬁ xture by loosening both knobs and tilting the ﬁ xture. After ﬁ nding the desired position, retighten both knobs.

• When selecting installation location, take into consideration lamp replacement access (if applicable) and routine maintenance.

• Safety cables MUST ALWAYS be used.

• Never mount in places where the ﬁ xture will be exposed to rain, high humidity, extreme temperature changes or restricted ventilation.

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4. OPERATING ADJUSTMENTS

The Control Panel

All the goodies and different modes possible with the NorthStar Quantum™ Pro are accessed by using the control panel on the front of the ﬁ xture. There are 4 control buttons below the LCD display which allow you to navigate through the various control panel menus.

Access control panel functions using the four panel buttons located directly underneath the LCD Display.

The Control Panel LCD Display shows the menu items you select from the menu map on page #11. When a menu function is selected, the display will show immediately the ﬁ rst available option for the selected menu function. To select a menu item, press <ENTER>.

Use the <UP> and <DOWN> buttons to navigate the menu map and menu options. Press the <ENTER> button to access the menu function currently displayed or to enable a menu option. To return to the previous option or menu without changing the value, press the <MODE> button.

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Control Panel Menu Structure

Main Function Sub Function Selection What It Does...

DMX Address 1

Pan Invert 2

Tilt Invert 3

Mode 4

Manual 5

Restore 6

N/A =000 <-> 255 Sets the DMX address

N/A = YES / = NO Reverses the ﬁ xture’s Pan movement

N/A = YES / = NO Reverses the ﬁ xture’s Tilt movement

N/A = DMX Sets the ﬁ xture to DMX Mode

= Slave Sets the ﬁ xture to Slave Mode = Sound Sets the ﬁ xture to Sound Active Mode, Master = Auto Sets the ﬁ xture to Auto Mode, Master

CH: xx = Data (XXX) Allows the ﬁ xture to be conﬁ gured for manual

N/A = Motor Performs “power-up” reset and homes all step-

= Factory Resets the ﬁ xture to factory conﬁ guration

custom operation.

per motors

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Custom Programming In Manual Mode (To Be Added)

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DMX Channel Values

Channel Channel Value Does...

1 000 <-> 255 Pan

2 000 <-> 255 Pan Fine (16-Bit Pan)

3 000 <-> 255 Tilt

4 000 <-> 255 Tilt Fine (16-Bit Tilt)

13 000 <-> 004

15 000 <-> 240

000 <-> 255

000 <-> 005 006 <-> 250 251 <-> 255

000 <-> 255

000 <-> 002 003 <-> 003 004 <-> 007 008 <-> 011 012 <-> 015 016 <-> 019 020 <-> 023 024 <-> 027 028 <-> 031 032 <-> 035 036 <-> 039 040 <-> 043 044 <-> 047 048 <-> 051 052 <-> 055 056 <-> 059 060 <-> 064 065 <-> 127 128 <-> 255

005 <-> 255

000 <-> 099 100 <-> 119 120 <-> 139 140 <-> 159 160 <-> 179 180 <-> 199 200 <-> 219 220 <-> 239 240 <-> 255

241 <-> 255

000 <-> 255

Dimmer

0 <-> 100%

Strobe

Closed Strobe (Slow <-> Fast) Open

Red Dimmer (Entire Fixture)

0 <-> 100%

Green Dimmer (Entire Fixture)

0 <-> 100%

Blue Dimmer (Entire Fixture)

0 <-> 100%

White Dimmer (Entire Fixture)

0 <-> 100%

Pan/Tilt Speed

Fast <-> Slow

Color Macros

Off (Fixture controlled by Channels 7-11 and/or 16-39) Red Green Yellow Blue Magenta Cyan RGB White White (Only) Light Red (R + W) Light Green (G + W) Light Yellow (R + G + W) Light Blue (B + W) Light Magenta (R + B + W) Light Cyan (G + B + W) White (RGBW Full) No Function Snap Chase Fade Chase

Segment Control Mode (For Channel 12 Macros)

Full Fixture Segments chase (Slow <--> Fast)

Built-In Programs

No Function Internal program 1 Internal program 2 Internal program 3 Internal program 4 Internal program 5 Internal program 6 Internal program 7 Internal program 8

Reset (Hold for 5 Seconds)

No Function Reset

Red Section 1

0 <-> 100%

Green Section 1

0 <-> 100%

Blue Section 1

0 <-> 100%

White Section 1

0 <-> 100%

Red Section 2

0 <-> 100%

Green Section 2

0 <-> 100%

Blue Section 2

0 <-> 100%

White Section 2

0 <-> 100%

Red Section 3

0 <-> 100%

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DMX Channel Values (Continued)

000 <-> 255

White Section 3

0 <-> 100%

Red Section 4

0 <-> 100%

Green Section 4

0 <-> 100%

Blue Section 4

0 <-> 100%

White Section 4

0 <-> 100%

Red Section 5

0 <-> 100%

Green Section 5

0 <-> 100%

Blue Section 5

0 <-> 100%

White Section 5

0 <-> 100%

Red Section 6

0 <-> 100%

Green Section 6

0 <-> 100%

Blue Section 6

0 <-> 100%

White Section 6

0 <-> 100%

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Troubleshooting

Symptom Solution

Fixture AutoShut Off

Beam is Dim Check optical system and clean excess dust/grime. Also

No Light Output Check to ensure ﬁ xture is operating under correct mode, IE

Chase Speed Too Fast/Slow

No Power Check fuse, AC cord and circuit for malfunction. Blown Fuse Check AC cord and circuit for damage, verify that moving

Slow Movement Verify that 220V/110V switch is in the correct position, if

No Response to Audio

Check the fan in the ﬁ xture. If it is stopped or moving slower than normal, the unit may have shut itself off due to high heat. This is to protect the ﬁ xture from overheating. Clear the fan of obstructions, or return the unit for service.

ensure that the 220V/110V switch is in the correct position, if applicable.

sound active/auto/DMX/Etc., if applicable. Contact service for more information.

Check to ensure proper setup of speed adjustment.

parts are not restricted and that unit’s ventilation is not obstructed

applicable. Also check that speed channels are set appropriately.

Verify that the ﬁ xture is in “Sound Active” mode. Adjust Audio Sensitivity, If Applicable.

Fixture Not Responding / Responding Erraticly

Intermittant Lamp

Remote Doesn’t Work

Fixture Moving On Its Own

Make sure all connectors are seated properly and securely. Use Only DMX Cables. Install a Terminator. Check all cables for defects. Reset ﬁ xture(s).

Check lamp for properly installation. Relamp, lamp may have reached end of life.

Verify remote control cable is installed properly and securely. Verify remote is correct type (CA-9 or other as applicable.)

Verify proper mode of operation. Is the ﬁ xture in “Auto” mode?

If your problem isn’t listed, or if problems persist,

please contact support: [email protected].

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5. APPENDIX

A Quick Lesson On DMX

DMX (aka DMX-512) was created in 1986 by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) as a standardized method for connecting lighting consoles to lighting dimmer modules. It was revised in 1990 and again in 2000 to allow more ﬂ exibility. The Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) has since assumed control over the DMX512 standard. It has also been approved and recognized for ANSI standard classiﬁ cation.

DMX covers (and is an abbreviation for) Digital MultipleXed signals. It is the most common communications standard used by lighting and related stage equipment.

DMX provides up to 512 control “channels” per data link. Each of these channels was originally intended to control lamp dimmer levels. You can think of it as 512 faders on a lighting console, connected to 512 light bulbs. Each slider’s position is sent over the data link as an 8-bit number having a value between 0 and 255. The value 0 corresponds to the light bulb being completely off while 255 corresponds to the light bulb being fully on.

DMX data is transmitted at 250,000 bits per second using the RS-485 transmission standard over two wires. As with microphone cables, a grounded cable shield is used to prevent interference with other signals.

There are ﬁ ve pins on a DMX connector: a wire for ground (cable shield), two wires for “Primary” communication which goes from a DMX source to a DMX receiver, and two wires for a “Secondary” communication which goes from a DMX receiver back to a DMX source. Generally, the “Secondary” channel is not used so data ﬂ ows only from sources to receiv- ers. Hence, most of us are most familiar with DMX-512 as being employer over typical 3-pin “mic cables,” although this does not conform to the deﬁ ned standard.

DMX is connected using a daisy-chain conﬁ guration where the source connects to the input of the ﬁ rst device, the output of the ﬁ rst device connects to the input of the next device, and so on. The standard allows for up to 32 devices on a single DMX link.

Each receiving device typically has a means for setting the “starting channel number” that it will respond to. For example, if two 6-channel ﬁ xtures are used, the ﬁ rst ﬁ xture might be set to start at channel 1 so it would respond to DMX channels 1 through 6, and the next ﬁ xture would be set to start at channel 7 so it would respond to channels 7 through 12.

The greatest strength of the DMX communications protocol is that it is very simple and robust. It involves transmitting a reset condition (indicating the start of a new “packet”), a start code, and up to 512 bytes of data. Data packets are transmitted continuously. As soon as one packet is ﬁ nished, another can begin with no delay if desired (usually another follows within 1 ms). If nothing is changing (i.e. no lamp levels change) the same data will be sent out over and over again. This is a great feature of DMX -- if for some reason the data is not interpreted the ﬁ rst time around, it will be re-sent shortly.

Not all 512 channels need to be output per packet, and in fact, it is very uncommon to ﬁ nd all 512 used. The fewer channels are used, the higher the “refresh” rate. It is possible to get DMX refreshes at around 1000 times per second if only 24 channels are being transmitted. If all 512 channels are being transmitted, the refresh rate is around 44 times per second.

In summary, since its design and evolution in the 1980’s DMX has become the standard for lighting control. It is ﬂ exible, robust, and scalable, and its ability to control everything from dimmer packs to moving lights to foggers to lasers makes it an indispensible tool for any lighting designer or lighting performer.

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Keeping Your NorthStar Quantum Pro As Good As New

The ﬁ xture you’ve received is a rugged, tough piece of pro lighting equip- ment, and as long as you take care of it, it will take care of you. That said, like anything, you’ll need to take care of it if you want it to operate as designed. You should absolutely keep the ﬁ xture clean, especially if you are using it in an environment with a lot of dust, fog, haze, wild animals, wild teenagers or spilled drinks.

Cleaning the optics routinely with a suitable glass cleaner will greatly improve the quality of light output. Keeping the fans free of dust and debris will keep the ﬁ xture running cool and prevent damage from overheating.

In transit, keep the ﬁ xtures in cases. You wouldn’t throw a prized guitar, drumset, or other piece of expensive gear into a gear trailer without a case, and similarly, you shouldn’t even think about doing it with your shiny new light ﬁ xtures.

Common sense and taking care of your ﬁ xtures will be the single biggest thing you can do to keep them running at peak performance and let you worry about designing a great light show, putting on a great concert, or maximizing your client’s satistfaction and “wow factor.” That’s what it’s all about, after all!

Returns (Gasp!)

We’ve taken a lot of precautions to make sure you never even have to worry about sending a defective unit back, or sending a unit in for service. But, like any complex piece of equipment designed and built by humans, once in a while, something doesn’t go as planned. If you ﬁ nd yourself with a ﬁ xture that isn’t behaving like a good little ﬁ xture should, you’ll need to obtain a Return Authori- zation (RA).

Don’t worry, this is easy. Just send an email to [email protected], and we’ll issue you an RA. Then, you’ll need to send the unit to us using a trackable, pre-paid freight method. We suggest using USPS Priority or UPS. Make sure you carefully pack the ﬁ xture for transit, and whenever possible, use the original box & packing for shipping.

When returning your ﬁ xture for service, be sure to include the following:

1.) Your contact information (Name, Address, Phone Number, Email address).

2.) The RA# issued to you

3.) A brief description of the problem/symptoms.

We will, at our discretion, repair or replace the ﬁ xture. Please remember that any shipping damage which occurs in transit to us is the customer’s responsibility, so pack it well!

Shipping Issues

Damage incurred in shipping is the responsibility of the shipper, and must be reported to the carrier immediately upon receipt of the items. Claims must be made within seven (7) days of receipt.

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Tech Specs!

Weight & Dimensions

Length 11 inches (278 mm) Width 8 inches (202 mm) Height 15 inches (380 mm) Weight 20.65 lbs (9.4 kg)

Power

Operating Voltage 100-240VAC, 50-60 Hertz (autoranging) Fuse 3.15A 250V (fast-blow) Power Consumption 420W

Light Source

LED 36x 10-Watt RGBW CREE Brand, > 50,000

hours

Optical

Beam Angle 25 degrees Luminous Intensity 56,500 (full white) lux/1m

Movement Range

Pan 540/630 degrees Tilt 270 degrees

Thermal

Max. Operating Temp. 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) ambient

Control

Protocol USITT DMX-512 DMX Channels 15 / 39 Input 3-pin XLR Male Output 3-pin XLR Female

Favorite Bond

Connery.

2-year limited warranty, does not cover mal-

Warranty

function caused by damage to LED’s.

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Photometrics

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Enjoy your product!

Our sincerest thanks for your purchase!

--The team @ Blizzard Lighting