Dove Systems DM-624 User Manual

DIMMERMASTER 624

DIGITAL DIMMER

OWNER'S MANUAL

DM624

Dove Lighting Systems, Inc.

3563 Sueldo Street Unit E

San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401

[phone] fax [phone]

[e-mail] / www.dovesystems.com

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 SETUP AND CONNECTION
A Mechanical Installation
B Rack Mounting
C Electrical Installation
D Grounding
E Load Connections
F Control Connections, Overtemp Sensing
G Channel Selection and Testing
H Indicators
2 TROUBLESHOOTING CHART
3 WARRANTY INFORMATION

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SETUP AND CONNECTION

Remove all packing material from the unit. Make certain that all holes are free of obstruction on all sides

For portable use, set the Dimmermaster on a smooth, cool surface. Up to 2 packs may be stacked

vertically. Do not remove the feet when stacking. Do not block any vent holes. Make certain that the

vent holes all have at least 6 inches of free air around them. It is essential that this unit have adequate

cooling for safe, reliable performance. Maximum air temperature must not exceed 40 Centigrade (105

The Dimmermaster may be rack mounted in a standard EIA 19-inch equipment rack. The rubber feet

may be removed. Do not remove the top and bottom panels. The Dimmermaster occupies 5.25 inches

of space in the rack, or three rack units. For best cooling, an additional 1.75 inches, or one rack unit,

between packs is recommended. The rack should be ventilated from the top at a minimum of 120 CFM.

The dimmer must be supplied with an amount of current equal to the combined total current of the

lamps it controls. To calculate this current, use the formula amps = watts ÷ volts. For example, if six

2400-watt, 120 volt lighting units are connected to the dimmer, it would require 14,400 ÷ 120, or 120

amps total power. This is available from a three phase 4 wire 40 amp or a single phase 3 wire 60 amp

service. Usually this much power is not required and a 30 - 50 amp service may be used with lower

The Dimmermaster accepts either three phase or single phase power input and is factory configured

for three phase. Line to neutral voltage is always 120 volts. Line 1 to Line 2 voltage is 208 volts in three

phase service and 240 volts in single phase service. It is very important that the input voltages be

checked with a meter to insure that they are correct. A mistake can place 208 to 240 volts across a 120

volt lamp. The breakers will protect the unit but may not save the lamps. A double check of voltages

The power input connector is a terminal block. Each leg of the power feed connects to one terminal on

the dimmer pack. These are marked "L1", "L2", and "L3". The neutral connection is made on the neutral

bar, just to the left of the power block. The ground connection is made on the ground terminal, just to

the right of the power block. The pack has circuit breakers to protect each dimmer channel, but the

When single phase service is used switch S2, located near the center of the board, must be moved

from the "3 phase" position to the "1 phase" position. The power input terminal marked "L3" is not used.

The two blue wires wrapped with red tape must be moved to the terminal marked "L1" and the two

wrapped with black tape to "L2". The tiny blue wire stays in terminal "L3". Please refer to the diagrams

A Mechanical Installation

of the unit. Replace all packing material in the carton and store it for reuse.

Fahrenheit).

B Rack Mounting

C Electrical Installation

power loads plugged in.

before applying power can guard against such disaster.

primary circuit protection and disconnect is to be provided by the user.

at the rear of this manual.

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D Grounding

The term GROUNDING refers to a separate wire with green insulation which is connected from the

equipment case to earth ground (often through a properly grounded conduit system). This is not the

same as the neutral or common and must not be confused with them. The neutral is a separate,

When the Dimmermaster is connected to its power source by a flexible rubber cable, the ground

connection is made through a wire in the cable. For maximum safety and to comply with electrical

codes, this connection must be made. Cables supplied by Dove Systems are pre-wired for this

connection and include the necessary green wire. Be sure this is firmly bonded to a ground connection

When the Dimmermaster is connected to its power source by conduit, the ground connection can be

made via the conduit itself. If flexible conduit is used, a separate bonding conductor will usually be

The dimmer pack consists of six dimming channels. The Dimmermaster will dim any load from 1 watt

through 2400 watts at 120 volts. The load may be incandescent, inductive, or resistive. This includes

conventional incandescent, quartz incandescent, rain-lights, pin beams, and similar lamp loads. This

does not include fluorescent or neon lamps. Dove Systems offers a solid state transformer to dim other

The output connectors can be U-ground receptacles, stage pin receptacles, twist-lock receptacles

(L5-20R), or a terminal block. If your unit has receptacles installed, merely plug the load into the outlet

which corresponds to the circuit you desire to use. For terminal-block-only units, there is one lug for

each output and a neutral bar for all neutrals. Lugs are numbered according to their circuits. There

The Dimmermaster 624 can take either of two control protocols: USITT DMX-512 or 0 to +10VDC

analog. DMX control input connections are made through the five pin male XLR on the front of the unit.

Analog 0 to +10VDC control input connections are made through the DB15 male on the front of the

load-carrying circuit conductor. The ground conductor should not normally carry current.

box, a cold water pipe, or a known earth ground.

required. Always check your local codes for hook-up before operating this equipment. It is recom­mended that power connections to the Dimmermaster be made by a qualified electrician.

E Load Connections

types of loads, such as 12 volt MR16 lamps.

should be a separate neutral returning from each load circuit.

F Control Connections, Overtemp Sensing

unit.
XLR DB15

DMX ANALOG
PIN 1 Common PIN 1 Channel 1 PIN 9
PIN 2 Data PIN 2 Channel 2 PIN 10
PIN 3 Data PIN 3 Channel 3 PIN 11
PIN 4 Return data PIN 4 Channel 4 PIN 12
PIN 5 Return data PIN 5 Channel 5 PIN 13 +15V unregulated
PIN 6 Channel 6 PIN 14 -15V unregulated
PIN 7 PIN 15 Common
PIN 8

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Pin 5 of the XLR is the overtemp line. When the temperature of the heatsink exceeds 70 Celsius, pin

5 is pulled to signal common. Some controllers, including Dove Systems memory controllers, read this

and display an overtemp warning message.

the starting dimmer. Valid starting dimmer numbers range from 1 to 507. The starting dimmer number

dimmer ouput selected by the last digit (1 through 6) is set to full. If the last digit is set to 0 (switch set

When the temperature of the heatsink exceeds 75 Celsius, the control is cut off. This prevents over­heating. When the heatsink cools, the loads begin to work again. If this happens, the air circulation
around the dimmer should be improved. Check that the internal fan has not failed.

G Channel Selection and Testing

The thumbwheel switch on the front of the unit is the channel selection switch. The number shown is
determines the setting for the entire pack of six dimmers. If, for example, the starting dimmer number

is 37, the pack reads control signals for channels 37 through 42.
When the first two digits of the thumbwheel switch are set to "60", the pack is in load test mode. The
to 600), all outputs are active at about 20%. The load test mode can be used to determine which

channel a load is connected to or if a lamp has failed.

H Indicators

The status inThe status LED indicates the presence of power and
DMX control. When power is present, the LED is red if no DMX control is
present, and green if DMX control is present.

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART

SYMPTOM: Channel breaker keeps tripping.

Possible cause: Action to take:

*Shorted cord or fixture Clear fault and reset breaker.
*Channel overload Reduce wattage connected and reset breaker.

SYMPTOM: One or more channels are up full and won't dim.

Possible cause: Action to take:

*SCR failure Replace SCR module.
*Control console incorrectly set up Reread the operating instructions
(Unplug control line to verify) of console
*Test switch in load test mode Select proper starting channel

SYMPTOM: Some channels flicker

Possible cause: Action to take:

*Intermittent connection in Recheck all connections.
control or load lines
*SCR or control circuit failure Replace SCR module or card
*Slide controls are broken Have slide control replaced. Treat temporarily
or dirty with WD-40 or Tri-flow.

SYMPTOM: Some channels ghost

Possible cause: Action to take:

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*Trim out of adjustment Adjust trimmers R16, R15, or R27

The manufacturer agrees that the Dimmermaster 624 shall be free from defects in material or

workmanship from date of shipment over a period of one year. Said warranty will not apply if

equipment is used under conditions of service for which it is not specifically intended. The

manufacturer is not responsible for damage to its apparatus through improper installation,

turer, and after receipt of shipping advice, buyer may return it directly to Dove Systems, San

Luis Obispo, CA, shipping prepaid. Such equipment will be replaced or put in proper operating

condition, free of all charges except transportation. The correction of any defects by repair or

replacement by the manufacturer shall constitute fulfillment of all obligations to the purchaser.

Manufacturer does not assume responsibility for unauthorized repairs to its apparatus, even

Manufacturer shall not be liable for any consequential damage in case of any failure to meet the

conditions of any warranty of shipping schedule, nor will claims for labor, loss of profits,

To change an SCR module or SSR:

1. Disconnect power from dimmer.

2. Remove five screws binding top panel to side panels and back.

3. Remove connections from the suspect SCR Module. There are six modules with two
channels in each. The module closest to the fan is channels 1 and 2.

4. Remove screws binding module to heat sink and replace module.

5. Reassemble in reverse order of disassembly.
To change the circuit card:

1. Disconnect power from dimmer.

2. Unscrew four captive screws holding circuit board panel to front panel.

3. Slide card out. Set jumpers and switches on replacement card to match.

4. Slide replacement card in until it seats into edge connector and screw down.
Users with further technical questions may call the factory at [phone]. NOTE: DOVE SYS-

TEMS DIMMER PACKS USE TRADE SECRET AND PROPRIETARY CIRCUITY. FOR THIS REA­SON, SCHEMATICS CANNOT BE RELEASED FOR THIS PRODUCT. To obtain service, pack the
unit with the original packing materials or crushed newspaper and return it, freight prepaid, to:
Dove Systems (The repair process is expedited when you include: a note
3563 Sueldo Street Unit E describing the problem; your daytime phone number; and your
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 return UPS shipping address.)

WARRANTY INFORMATION

physical damage, or poor operating practice.
If any device is found unsatisfactory under the warranty, the buyer should notify the manufac-

though defective.

repairs, or other expenses incidental to replacement be allowed.
No other representations, guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, are made by the

manufacturer in connection with the manufacture and sale of its equipment. This warranty is
non-transferable and applies to the original buyer only.

Copyright Dove Systems 1994

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