What’s In The Box? 3
Getting It Out Of the Box 3
Powering Up! 3
Getting A Hold Of Us 3
Safety Instructions 4
2. Meet SPOTMAN™ 5
Main Features 5
DMX Quick Reference (9/11-Channel Modes) 5
SPOTMAN™ Pin-Up Picture 6
The Rear Connections 6
3. Setup 7
Fuse Replacement 7
Connecting A Bunch of SPOTMAN's 7
Data/DMX Cabling 7
Cable Connectors 8
3-Pin??? 5-Pin??? Huh?!? 8
Take It To The Next Level: Setting Up DMX Control 8
Fixture Linking (M/S Mode) 9
Mounting & Rigging 9
4. Operating Adjustments 10
The Control Panel 10
Control Panel Menu Structure 11
Colors and Gobos 11
DMX Mode 12
Starting DMX Address 12
DMX Channel Mode 12
M/S Mode 12
Auto, Sound Active, & Manual Adjustments 12
Auto Mode 12
Sound Active Mode 12
Reverse Pan/Tilt 12
Display Settings 12
5. Appendix 14
Keeping Your SPOTMAN™ As Good As New 14
Returns (Gasp!) 14
Shipping Issues 14
Tech Specs! 15
Dimensional Drawings 15
Congratulations on purchasing SPOTMAN™, a most excellent choice! Now that
you’ve got your SPOTMAN™, 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 xture must be returned to the factory, it is important
that the xture be returned in the original factory box and packing.
Powering Up!
All xtures must be powered directly o a switched circuit and cannot be run
o a rheostat (variable resistor) or dimmer circuit, even if the rheostat
or dimmer channel is used solely for a 0% to 100% switch.
Warning! All xtures must be connected to circuits with a suitable
Ground (Earthing).
Getting A Hold Of Us
If something goes wrong, please visit www.blizzardpro.com/support
and open a support ticket. We’ll be happy to help, honest.
Disclaimer: The information and specications contained in this document are
subject to change without notice. Blizzard Lighting™ assumes no responsibility
or liability for any errors or omissions that may appear in this user manual.
Blizzard Lighting™ reserves the right to update the existing document or to
create a new document to correct any errors or omissions at any time. You can
download the latest version of this document from www.blizzardpro.com.
Please read these instructions carefully. They include
important information about the installation, usage and
maintenance of this product.
• 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 de-
cal or rear panel of the xture.
• This product is intended for indoor use only.
• To prevent risk of re or shock, do not expose xture to rain or moisture.
• Make sure there are no 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 xture using a safety chain. NEVER carry the 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 open a support ticket at www.blizzardpro.com/support.
Before replacing a fuse, disconnect the power cord.
ALWAYS replace with the same type and rating of fuse.
Fuse Replacement
With a 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.
Connecting A Bunch of SPOTMAN's
You will need a serial data link to run light shows
using a DMX-512 controller or to run shows on
two or more xtures set to sync in master/slave operating mode. The combined
number of channels required by all the xtures on a serial data link determines
the number of xtures the data link can support.
Fixtures on a serial data link must be daisy chained in one single line. Also,
connecting more than 32 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 xtures on a serial data link is 32
xtures.
Data/DMX Cabling
To link 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.
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
Cables must have a male XLR connector on one end and a female XLR connector on the other end. (Duh!)
INPUTOUTPUT
DMX -
12
Common
3
DMX +
To build your own DMX Terminator:
Obtain a 120-ohm, 1/4-watt resistor, and wire it between pins 2 & 3 of the last xture. They are also
readily available from specialty retailers.
3
A Word on Termination:
DMX is a resilient communication protocol, however
errors still occasionally occur. Termination reduces signal
errors, and therefore best practices include use of a
terminator in all circumstances. If you are experiencing
problems with erratic xture behavior, especially over
long signal cable runs, a terminator may help improve
performance.
CAUTION: Do not allow contact between the common and the xture’s chassis
ground. Grounding the common can cause a ground loop, and your 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. If
you’d like to build your own, the chart below details a proper cable conversion:
Conductor3-Pin Female (Output)5-Pin Male (Input)
Ground/ShieldPin 1Pin 1
Data 1- (Primary Data Link)Pin 2Pin 2
Data 1+ (Primary Data Link)Pin 3Pin 3
Data 2- (Optional Secondary Data Link)--Pin 4 - Do Not Use
Data 2+ (Optional Secondary Data Link)--Pin 5 - Do Not Use
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 rst xture’s male connector
(input).
Note: It doesn’t matter which xture address is the rst one
connected. We recommend connecting the xtures in terms
of their proximity to the controller, rather than connecting the
1. Connect the male connector side of the DMX cable to the output female
connector of the rst xture.
First
Fixture
in Chain
2. Connect the end of the cable coming from
the rst xture which will have a female
connector to the input connector of the next
xture consisting of a male connector. Then,
proceed to connect from the output as stated
above to the input of the following xture
and so on.
A quick note: Often, the setup for Master-Slave and
Standalone operation requires that the rst xture in the
chain be initialized for this purpose via either settings in the
control panel or DIP-switches. Secondarily, the xtures that
follow may also require a slave setting.
Next
Fixture
in Chain
DMX OUTDMX IN
DMX OUTDMX IN
Check the “Operating Adjustments” section in this manual for complete
instructions for this type of setup and conguration.
Mounting & Rigging
This xture may be mounted in any SAFE position provided there is enough
room for ventilation. The fan or vent pathway must never be obstructed.
IMPORTANT: Regardless of the rigging option you choose for your xtures,
always be sure to secure your xture with a safety cable.
Mount the xture using a suitable "C" or "O"
type clamp. The clamp should be rated to hold at
least 10x the xture’s weight to ensure structural
stability.
Do not mount to surfaces of unknown strength,
and ensure properly rated rigging is used when
mounting xtures overhead.
Overhead mounting requires extensive experience,
which includes calculating working load limits,
knowledge of the installation material being used,
and periodic safety inspections.
If you lack these qualications, do not attempt
the installation yourself. Improper installation can
result in bodily injury.
All the features and dierent modes possible with SPOTMAN™ are accessed by
using the control panel on the rear of the xture. There are 4 control buttons
under to 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 conrm/store the current selection.
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 im-
mediately the 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.
Allows the unit to be controlled by any universal DMX controller.
Starting DMX Address
1.) Navigate the main menu until you reach Addr, and press the
<ENTER> button. Then use the <UP/DOWN> buttons to select a starting DMX address ranging from 1-512, and press <ENTER>.
DMX Channel Mode
1.) Navigate the main menu to CHnd, and press the <ENTER> button.
Then use the <UP/DOWN> buttons to select 9Ch or 11Ch, and press
the <ENTER> button to conrm.
M/S Mode
1.) Daisy chain the DMX input/output connections of the xtures.
2.) On the 1st xture, navigate to SLNd > NAST and press <ENTER>.
3.) On the secondary xtures, navigate to SLNd, press <ENTER>, then
hightlight SL 1 (for same movements at the master xture) or SL 2
(mirrored movements of the master xture), and press <ENTER>.
4.) Your secondary xtures will now follow the rst xture.
Auto, Sound Active, & Manual Adjustments
Allows a single or daisy chained units to run factory installed programs.
Auto Mode
1.) Navigate the menu until you reach Shnd, and press <ENTER>.
2.) Use the <UP/DOWN> buttons to highlight Sh 0 - Sh 3, and press
<ENTER> button to conrm your choice.
Sound Active Mode
1.) Navigate the menu until you reach Soud, and press <ENTER>.
2.) Use the <UP/DOWN> buttons to highlight On or O, and press
<ENTER> button to conrm your choice.
3.) To adjust the mic sensitivity, navigate the menu to SEnS, and press
<ENTER>. Then use the <UP/DOWN> buttons to select 001 - 100
(decrease <--> increase), and press <ENTER>.
Reverse Pan/Tilt
1.) Navigate to rPan (reverse pan), or rTiL (reverse tilt), No or Yes, and
then press the <ENTER> button to conrm your choice.
Display Settings
1.) Navigate the menu to LEd, press <ENTER>, and select On (always
on) or O (turns o after 5s of inactivity), then press <ENTER>.
2.) Navigate the menu to dISP, press <ENTER>, and select Yes
(normal) or No (rotate the display 180°). Press <ENTER> to conrm.
The xture you’ve received is a rugged, tough piece of pro lighting equipment,
and as long as you take care of it, it will take care of you. That said, you’ll need
to take care of it if you want it to operate as designed. You should keep the
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 xture running cool and prevent damage from overheating.
In transit, keep the 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
xtures.
Common sense and taking care of your 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 satisfaction 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 nd yourself with a xture that
isn’t behaving like a good little xture should, you’ll need to obtain a Return
Authorization (RA).
Don’t worry, this is easy. Just visit www.blizzardpro.com/support and open a
support ticket, 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 xture for transit, and whenever
possible, use the original box & packing for shipping.
When returning your 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 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.