Blizzard Lighting RGB ProBar User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ProBar™ RGB 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 ProBar™ RGB 5

Features 5 DMX Quick Reference 5

The ProBar

3. Setup 7

Fuse Replacement 7 Connecting A Bunch Of ProBar™ RGBs 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

Navigating The Control Panel 10 Control Panel Menu Structure 11 DMX Mode 12 Master/Slave Mode 12 Sound Active Mode 12 Standalone (Program) Mode 12 Manual (Color Preset) Mode 12 DMX Channel Values In-Depth 13 Troubleshooting 14

5. Appendix 15

A Quick DMX Lesson 15 Keeping Your ProBar™ RGB As Good As New 16 Returns (Gasp!) 16 Shipping Issues 16 Tech Specs 17

™ Pin-up Picture 6

Blizzard Lighting, LLC

www.blizzardlighting.com

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1. GETTING STARTED

What’s In The Box?

• 1 x ProBar™ RGB Professional LED Linear Wash Fixture

• A Handy Power Cord

• This Lovely User Manual

Getting It Out Of The Box

Congratulations on purchasing a truly exceptional linear wash ﬁ xture! Now that you’ve got your ProBar™ (or hopefully, ProBars!), 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 PO Box 1874, Brookﬁ eld, WI 53008 USA support@blizzardlighting.com www.blizzardlighting.com 414-979-5781

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 cord. 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 support@blizzardlighting.com.

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2. MEET THE ProBar™ RGB

CONTROL FEATURES

• RGB color mixing via 84 high power 3-Watt Red/Green/Blue LEDs

• Variable electronic strobe

• Variable electronic dimmer

• Built-in automated & sound active programs via master/slave

• RGB color mixing ability in standalone mode

• DMX or Fixture addressing for easy setup

• Control over entire ﬁ xture, or 4 independent segments in DMX

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

• Rugged and well-built (It hits the gym regularly)

• 25 degree beam angle

• Lux: 10,200 @ 1m, 5,900 @ 2m

• Light source: 84 x 3 watt Edison® Edixeon™ LEDs

• Internal Fan Cooling

• 4-button LED control panel

DMX Quick Reference

Channel What It Does

1 Dimmer/Strobe 2 Red Intensity (Global) 3 Green Intensity (Global) 4 Blue Intensity (Global) 5 Red Intensity (Segment 1) 6 Green Intensity (Segment 1) 7 Blue Intensity (Segment 1) 8 Red Intensity (Segment 2) 9 Green Intensity (Segment 2) 10 Blue Intensity (Segment 2) 11 Red Intensity (Segment 3) 12 Green Intensity (Segment 3) 13 Blue Intensity (Segment 3) 14 Red Intensity (Segment 4) 15 Green Intensity (Segment 4) 16 Blue Intensity (Segment 4)

Figure 1: The ProBar™ Pin-Up Picture

High Power LEDs

Integral Gel Frame

Figure 2: The Rear Connections

DMX In DMX Out

Mounting Yoke & Adjustment/Locking Knobs

Cast Aluminum Enclosure

Grounding Screw

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AC Power

LED Control Panel

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3. SETUP

Fuse Replacement

CAUTION! The ProPar™ LED utilizes a high-output switch-mode pow-

er supply with an internal fuse. Under normal operating conditions, the fuse should not require replacement. The fuse is ﬁ eld replaceable, however it is an advanced procedure suited to qualiﬁ ed individuals. Should your ProPar™ fuse require replacement, please contact Blizzard Lighting for instructions, or to return your unit for service.

Connecting A Bunch of ProPar™ LED Fixtures

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

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.

4. OPERATING ADJUSTMENTS

The Control Panel

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

<MENU>

Is used to navigate to the previous higher-level menu item.

<UP>

Scrolls through menu items and numbers in ascending order. <DOWN>

Scrolls through menu items and numbers in descending order.

<ENTER>

Is used to select and conﬁ rm/store the current selection.

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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The Control Panel LED 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 options. Press the <ENTER> button to select 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 <MENU> button.

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Control Panel Menu Structure

DMX Mode

Allows the unit to be controlled by any universal DMX controller. If you are unfamiliar with DMX, please read the DMX Primer on page #15.

1.) The default mode for the ﬁ xture is DMX, which appears as Readout.

2.) The ﬁ xture can also be set in “Fixture Address Mode,” where each ﬁ xture uti- lizes 16 DMX channels. Use the <UP> and <DOWN> buttons to get to

then hit <ENTER>.

3.) Select the ﬁ xture number between Ch#001, F002 = DMX Ch #017, etc.), then hit <ENTER> to conﬁ rm.

F001 and F255. (Hint: F001 = DMX

A001 on the LED

F---,

Master/Slave Mode (Auto or Sound Active):

Allows you to link up to 32 units together without a controller.

1.) Use standard DMX cables to daisy chain your units together via the DMX connector on the rear of the units. It may be necessary to use a terminator at the last ﬁ xture. For more information about terminators, see page 8.

2.) Choose a unit to function as the Master. Select the mode you want to use, between . The master unit must be the ﬁ rst unit. Finally, chain the units to- gether using DMX cable.

Master

3.) Select slave function by using the <UP>/<DOWN> keys to reach SLAV in the Master/Auto menu on the slave units, and they will react in the same as the Master.

Slave Select either then

NASt then YES to conﬁ rm.

SLA then YES to conﬁ rm. Auto or SUNd (Sound Active mode)

YES to conﬁ rm.

Stand-Alone Mode (Progam Mode):

Allows a single or Master/Slaved units to run to one of four factory installed programs at user selectable speeds.

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1.) To set the ﬁ xture in Program mode, select PrOG.

To conﬁ rm, press the <ENTER> button while the display reads

2.) Now, select programs C1-C4 by using the <UP> and <DOWN> buttons, then press the <ENTER> button to conﬁ rm while the display reads

3.) Finally, select the program speed by using the <UP> and <DOWN> buttons, to adjust the speed from

P255 (slowest) to P001 (fastest).

YES.

Manual Mode (Color Preset Mode):

Allows a single unit to display any of 16,700,000 colors without a DMX controller.

1.) To set the ﬁ xture in manual mode, select NaN. To conﬁ rm, press the <ENTER> button while the display reads

2.) Now, choose the color you would like to adjust by using the <UP> and <DOWN> buttons to select

rEd, GrE or bLU.

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YES.

DMX Values In-Depth

Troubleshooting

Channel Channel Value Does...

2 000 <-> 255 Red Intensity (Global)

3 000 <-> 255 Green Intensity (Global)

4 000 <-> 255 Blue Intensity (Global)

5 000 <-> 255 Red Intensity (Segment #1)

6 000 <-> 255 Green Intensity (Segment #1)

7 000 <-> 255 Blue Intensity (Segment #1)

8 000 <-> 255 Red Intensity (Segment #2)

9 000 <-> 255 Green Intensity (Segment #2)

10 000 <-> 255 Blue Intensity (Segment #2)

11 000 <-> 255 Red Intensity (Segment #3)

12 000 <-> 255 Green Intensity (Segment #3)

13 000 <-> 255 Blue Intensity (Segment #3)

14 000 <-> 255 Red Intensity (Segment #4)

15 000 <-> 255 Green Intensity (Segment #4)

16 000 <-> 255 Blue Intensity (Segment #4)

000 <-> 127 128 <-> 249 250 <-> 255

Dimmer/Strobe

Dimmer (0 <-> 100%) Strobe (Slow <-> Fast) Light ON

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

Fixture Not Responding / Responding Erraticly

Intermittant Lamp

Remote Doesn’t Work

Fixture Moving On Its Own

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.

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?

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

please contact support: support@blizzardlighting.com.

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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.

Keeping Your ProBar™ 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 support@blizzardlighting.com, 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 39.25 inches (1000 mm) Width 2.75 inches (70 mm) Height 4.4 inches (113 mm) Weight 11.6 lbs (5.3 kg)

Power

Operating Voltage 90-240VAC, 50-60 Hertz Fuse 3A 250V Power Consumption 260W

Light Source

LED 84x 3W Edison® Edixeon™ LEDs (28x Each

Red, Green, Blue), 60,000 hours.

Optical

Beam Angle 25 degrees Luminous Intensity 10,200 Lux @ 1m

5,900 Lux @ 2m

Thermal

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

Control

Protocol USITT DMX-512 DMX Channels 16 Input 3-pin XLR Male Output 3-pin XLR Female

Standalone, Master/Slave, Sound Active,

Other Operating Modes

Color Preset

Coolness Factor

Leventy Billion Percent

2-year limited warranty, does not cover mal-

Warranty

function caused by damage to LED’s.

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Enjoy your product!

Our sincerest thanks for your purchase!

--The team @ Blizzard Lighting

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Blizzard Lighting RGB ProBar User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual