OWNER'S MANUAL
SCENEMASTER SIX
PORTABLE DIMMING SYSTEM
SM6 Rev. 4 - 2/12/92
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SETUP AND CONNECTION
A) Mechanical Installation
B) Electrical Installation
C) Grounding
D) Load Connections
2. OPERATION
3.IN CASE OF TROUBLE
A) Troubleshooting
B) Obtaining Service
MECHANICAL INSTALLATION
Remove all packing material from the carton and from the unit. Make certain that all vent holes are
free from obstruction on all sides of the unit: the front; the bottom; and the top.
Set the SM6 on a smooth, cool surface, preferably in an area which remains cool. Maximum air
temperature must not exceed 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit). Make certain that the
vents have at least 6 inches of free air around them. Do not block any vent holes. It is essential that
this unit have adequate cooling for safe, reliable performance.
The SM6 may be operated in any position, but the area near the unit should be clean, dry, and
protected from falling objects which could damage the slide controls. It is recommended that drinks
or food not be allowed near the console as they can easily be spilled and could cause a malfunction
in the equipment.
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
The SM6 consists of 6 1000-watt dimming channels. It requires 2 sources of 120 volts AC at 20
Amperes for full-power operation. This is usually available from a standard parallel blade ("U-Ground")
wall outlet. It is recommended that no other equipment be connected to the circuits which are used for
the SM6, including that on other outlets on same fuse or circuit breaker.
The actual amount of power consumed is determined by the total wattage of the connected loads
used. The dimmer itself consumes negligible power. If six 1000- watt lamps are connected the total
current may exceed 20 amps on each line depending on line losses and lamp efficiencies. If the
building circuit breaker trips, it may be necessary to reduce two of the loads. Each line input powers
three channels, 1,2,3 and 4,5,6.
Power input to the SM6 is via flush-mount male connectors on the back panel. Any standard
heavy-gauge extension cord will work for this purpose. Always use 3-wire, grounded cables.
12AWG cable is recommended.
Note that although only the upper motor base inlet need be connected to operate channels 1 through
3, BOTH inlets must be connected in order to operate channels 4 through 6.
GROUNDING
The term "grounding" refers to a separate wire, usually with green insulation, which is connected
from the equipment case to earth ground. This is not the same as the neutral, or "common" and must
not be confused with it. The neutral is a separate, load-carrying conductor.
When the SM6 is connected to its power source by a flexible cable, this ground connection is made
through a third wire in the cable, and the ground prong on the plug. For maximum safety, and to
comply with electrical codes, this connection must be made. If you use an adapter, be sure the
ground wire is connected to a good ground such as a conduit or cold water pipe. The faceplate
screw of an electrical outlet MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE.
LOAD CONNECTIONS
The SM6 will dim any load from 1 watt through 1000 watts per channel. The load may be
incandescent, inductive or resistive. This includes conventional incandescent, quartz incandescent,
"rain lights", pin-beams, and similar "low-voltage" lighting loads containing transformers. Fluorescent
and neon loads can be controlled by the SM6 with no damage to the dimmer, but the nature of these
loads requires specialized circuitry to get full range dimming. Consult the factory if you need to dim
such loads.
To use, merely plug the load or an extension cord to the load into the outlet which corresponds to the
circuit you wish to use. Always use grounded cords. Loads may be single fixtures or combinations
of lights not exceeding 1000 watts per channel.
OPERATION
This controller has a pair of calibrated linear slide controls for each channel. these slide controls
make up the two scenes X and Y. When the X-Y crossfader is moved up to the X position, the X
scene is active and the scene X controls affect the lights.
The master control affects all channels in either scene. It is a true proportional grand master and
must be up to allow any channel full output. The bump buttons located between the faders will flash
each channel to full output regardless of the setting of the crossfader or the master. The red blackout
switch will black out all channels when activated (down) and will override all other controls.
The SM6 has a timer to allow a linear timed crossfade up to 2 minutes 40 seconds. When the timer
is set to zero (counter-clockwise) the crossfade follows the X-Y crossfader. If the timer is set fully
clock-wise and the XY crossfader is pushed quickly from scene X to scene Y, then a straight, smooth
linear crossfade will be completed in 2 minutes and 40 seconds. The crossfade can be stopped or
reversed at any time by moving the XY crossfader. The timed crossfade can be speeded up or
slowed down at any time by readjusting the timer control. The master is not affected by the timer in
the Y scene but is affected in the X scene. Therefore, a timed master fade-up or down is possible in
the X scene. The green LED light is the power indicator. The LED indicators next to the X-Y
crossfader track the crossfade. When the top LED is bright and the bottom LED is off, the X scene is
active. During a crossfade, one LED will become dimmer while the other becomes brighter. The
master control will fade both LED's just as it does the channels.
The SM6 has a footswitch option which plugs into the accessory jack in the back and allows remote
crossfades and remote blackouts. The crossfade timer is fully functional with this accessory. Note:
The crossfader must be in the upper, or "X" position for the footswitch to work properly.
The SM6 controllers can be slaved together in a daisy-chain to control 12 or more channels. Two or
more controllers are connected together at the accessory jacks. The first controller becomes the
master with its master and X-Y crossfader controlling all the slaves in the chain. The slave units'
masters and X-Y crossfaders are inactive and must be down to work properly. The timers are all
independently functional. Note: Units with serial numbers 63049 or earlier must be factory modified
before they can be slaved; 63050 or later will do this automatically.
The BLACKOUT switch is located near the Master. Operating this switch downward causes an
immediate cut-off of the output of all dimmers on the console. Turning the switch back on without
changing the dimmer settings will cause all channels to "switch on" to the settings indicated.
The INDICATOR LEDS indicate that the console is on and is receiving power. BUMP BUTTONS
cause the output of the respective channels to go to "full" when depressed by the operator. The
BUMP, or "flash", BUTTONS override all controls, including BLACKOUT.
The channel fuses on the back panel protect the dimmers against overloads and some short circuits.
Should that happen, and the fuse blows, the channel will be dead, and the fuse should be replaced
with exactly the same type and Ampere rating (ABC-10).
Dead shorts and high overloads will blow the fuse, but may also cause Triac failure. Clear the fault
and replace the fuse. If the channel remains dead, or is ON with no control over its intensity, the
Triac has been blown and must be replaced. Contact the factory for repairs (See "OBTAINING
SERVICE").
The filter chokes associated with each dimmer are provided to reduce the electrical and mechanical
lamp noise which is a by-product of phase control dimming with Triacs. To achieve this noise
reduction, the choke itself generates some audible buzz. Because of this, it is recommended that the
dimmer pack be located out of the playing space if the noise is objectionable.
TROUBLESHOOTING
The SM6 is a ruggedly designed unit. It can withstand occasional mistreatment, but, like any precision
instrument, it should be treated with care and respect.
Often what appears to be a problem with the dimmer is something else. A review of the following
paragraphs and the troubleshooting chart may save you a long distance phone call, a trip to the
Service Center, or the cost of shipping and/or repair. Even if something is still wrong, this process
will help you explain the malfunction to the service technician.
Note that although only the upper motor base inlet need be connected to operate channels 1 through
3, BOTH inlets must be connected in order to operate channels 4 through 6.
Read the operating instructions carefully. BE SURE you know how to operate the equipment. Do
not expect this equipment to operate exactly like others. Many apparent failures result from not
being familiar with the operating characteristics of the unit.
There are also some basic checks that you can do the help isolate the problem. There are two forms
of malfunctions common to solid state dimmers: "failed off", in which the lights do not come on, and
"failed on", in which the lights cannot be turned off. If your system has "failed off", check that a lamp
load is connected and that the lamp is not burned out. Verify that the primary power (supply outlet)
is live and that the dimmer is powered ON (indicator lights glowing). Check all fuses on the dimmer.
The ceramic body channel fuses will need to be checked for continuity with a tester. All switches
and faders should be set "on" or up full.
Make sure that the loads are plugged in and that all extension cords are continuous and that they go
to the loads you think they go to. Check load circuits by plugging them into a known live "non-dim"
circuit not on the dimmer pack. "Failed on" dimmers will stay on until the fuse is removed. Pull all
faders to zero, turn off the BLACKOUT switch and kill the Master. If the channel remains ON, the
fault is in the Triac or control circuitry and requires a technician to repair.
The most common malfunction in solid state dimmers is a failed thyristor (triac or SCR). They can
either "fail on", in which the light cannot be turned off, of "fail off", in which the light cannot be turned
on. A "failed off" condition also may cause a resistor on the circuit board to burn. This failure is
almost always caused by a short in the load it controls. The short can be in the cable, in the
connectors, in the light fixture, or in the bulb itself. Although the dimmer circuit breaker or fuse will
open, it may not be fast enough to save the thyristor and the thyristor will need to be replaced.
Please check the load: plug it into a known good wall outlet before plugging it into other dimming
channels. Caution, a short in the load may trip a building breaker.
OTHER PROBLEMS: Channels which flicker or cut in and out are victims of an intermittent connection
somewhere. Check all cables and connectors for loose connections or breaks. Broken slide controls
will also cause a channel to cut in or out. This can also occur if dirt, coffee, or some other liquid is
spilled into the slide control slot. Curing this problem usually requires the replacement of the control.
Cleaning with WD 40 or TRI-FLOW may fix it temporarily.
For Service Send To:
Dove Systems
3563 Sueldo Street, Suite E
San Luis Obispo, California 93401
Phone: (805)541-8292
Please include a note describing the problem, your address, telephone number, and, if needed, the
date upon which your unit should be returned.
LIMITED WARRANTY
The manufacturer agrees that its products shall be free from defects in material or workmanship over
a period of one year from date of shipment from the factory. 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, physical damage, or poor
operating practice.
If any device is found unsatisfactory under the warranty, the buyer should notify the manufacturer,
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 though defective.
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, repairs, or
other expenses incidental to replacement be allowed.
No other representation, guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, are made by the
manufacturer in connections with the manufacture and sale of its equipment. This warranty is
non-transferable and applies to the original buyer only.
Copyright Dove Systems 1986
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