ETC Alex M, Alex MX User Manual

Integrated digital thyristor dimmer

Operating Manual

Alex M / Alex MX

Manual version 030430-150C

Manual ID no. 7280M1201

ETC – Electronic Theatre Controls

Operating Manual

Alex M / Alex Mx

Integrated digital thyristor dimmer

No part of this manual may be reproduced

or copied in any form without the written

approval of Electronic Theatre Controls GmbH.

Technical data subject to change.

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Alex M Contents

Contents

Meet Alex M.................................................................................................7

First impressions .....................................................................................7

Operation.................................................................................................8

Special features.......................................................................................9

Safety.........................................................................................................10

Symbols.................................................................................................10

Important rules.......................................................................................11

Alex M is very robust, but... ...................................................................12

Lighting in no time with Alex M............................................................... 13

Working with Alex M.................................................................................14

Wiring.....................................................................................................14

Switching the device on.........................................................................15

Controls .................................................................................................15

Keys..................................................................................................15

Rotating knob ...................................................................................16

Preventing improper use of Alex ...........................................................17

Basic settings.........................................................................................18

Language selection ..........................................................................18

Setting the display contrast ..............................................................19

Resetting the dimmer processor ......................................................19

Selecting the source for the dimmer control signals ........................20

Setting the DMX start address .........................................................21

Further basic settings.......................................................................23

Provid i n g s t at i on a ry lightin g (m a n ua l i nt e ns i ty adjustm en t ).................24

Setting the intensity of a channel...........................................................24

Setting the same intensity for all channels............................................25

Saving current output levels as presets ................................................26

Preheating .............................................................................................27

Setting preheating individually for each dimmer channel.................27

Setting the same preheat intensity for all dimmer channels ............28

Intensity limit..........................................................................................29

Setting an intensity limit....................................................................29

Setting the same intensity limit for all dimmer channels ..................30

Dimmer curves.......................................................................................31

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Contents Alex M

Assigning a dimmer curve individually for each dimmer

channel .............................................................................................32

Assigning the same dimmer curve to all channels...........................33

Setting the switching threshold for a non-dim curve.........................33

Providing light automatically...................................................................35

Fading in stored presets ........................................................................35

Displaying the contents of stored presets ........................................36

Creating a chase with the chaser function.............................................37

Setting the fade time.........................................................................37

Setting the wait time for presets .......................................................37

Setting a sequence of presets..........................................................38

Running a chase...............................................................................39

Holding/terminating a chase.............................................................40

The menu pages........................................................................................41

Status line.........................................................................................41

Menu page 1: Intensities........................................................................42

Output level display ..........................................................................42

Input/display fields............................................................................43

Menu page 2: Parameters .....................................................................44

Input fields for each individual channel.............................................44

Input fields for each channel individually..........................................45

Input fields for all channels together.................................................45

Menu page 3: Memory/Chaser..............................................................46

Output diagrams...............................................................................46

Input/display fields............................................................................47

Menu page 4: Basic settings..................................................................49

Input/display fields............................................................................49

Software version...............................................................................52

Identifying whether a base load is fitted ...........................................52

Software updates......................................................................................53

Appendix....................................................................................................55

Technical data........................................................................................55

List of factory settings............................................................................58

Pin assignments.....................................................................................59

Pin assignment of the load outputs (HTS plug-in connector)...........59

Pin assignment for the EXT socket ..................................................61

Version status........................................................................................63

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Meet Alex M First impressions

Meet Alex M

First impressions

Beschreibun

Functions

Features

Alex M allows you to:

• Convert DMX control commands received from the lighting control system into voltage values for electrical loads like spotlights

• Save a maximum of twelve presets and make them available for use.

• Run several presets at the same time with selectable weightings.

The chaser function allows you to:

• Run entire lighting programs – from chases to complex sequences of stored presets.

• All common loads controllable

• Selection of three signal sources:

DMX, analog, internally stored presets

• Selection of dimmer characteristics: Different curves can be defined for each dimmer channel, including a genuine non-dim function

• Preheat: Preheating of spotlights of up to 30% independently for each channel

• Output level limitation: Between 30% and 100% independently for each channel

• Precaution in case the input signal fails: Output of the last preset, one of the twelve stored presets or synchronizing-dark connection

• Automatic switching to 50 Hz or 60 Hz line frequency

• Alex MX: Electronic base load allows convenient dimming of fluorescent lamps.

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Operation Meet Alex M

Operation

Bedienun

Display

Menu-driven interface

Status information

Update

An extremely high-contrast CFL (cathode fluorescent lamp) backlit display with a visible area of 13 x 7 centimeters and over 30,000 pixels, making it easy to read even from a considerable distance whatever the ambient lighting conditions.

You operate Alex M using four keys, a rotating knob (encoder) and the menus that appear on the display.

Graphical output level displays for each of the six or twelve channels and plain-text messages or instructions constantly keep you informed of the current operating status.

The dimmer processor software is constantly being further developed. Your dimmer processor can be updated to match the latest developments at any time.

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Meet Alex M Special features

Special features

Thyristors

Fan

Emergency shutdown

The thyristors, which use phase angle control for the output voltage, each contain a separate ignition circuit for the positive and negative half-waves. This means that the output voltages of each of the dimmer units have no DC components and makes them suitable for controlling low-voltage transformers.

A temperature controller ensures that the fan only ever runs just as fast as is absolutely necessary.

If the temperature level on the dimmer unit gets too high (e.g. because of a blockage in the air intake), the device is shut down automatically to prevent damage due to overheating. Once the temperature returns to permissible values, the dimmer unit automatically resumes operation. The loads connected undergo a soft restart.

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Sicherhei

Symbols Safety

Safety

Symbols

This manual uses the symbols depicted below for Danger, Caution and Note. The meanings of these symbols are as follows:

Danger This symbol indicates situations where failure to follow the instructions carefully can result in death, injury or accidents.

Caution This symbol indicates situations where failure to follow the instructions carefully can cause damage to your equipment.

Note This symbol is used to draw your attention to a particularly important passage of text.

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Safety Important rules

Important rules

It is not dangerous to work with Alex M. Protective insulation and a whole series of other protective measures ensure that you cannot come into contact with any harmful electric currents. However, as with all electrical equipment, you will need to observe a few simple rules:

• Never switch on equipment that is obviously damaged. Send the equipment to an authorized dealer or back to the factory for repairs.

• If there is any reason to suspect a fault, unplug the equipment from the mains supply immediately. Make sure that it cannot be started up again and send it to an authorized dealer or back to the factory for repairs.

• Always unplug equipment from the power supply before opening it.

• Components inside the equipment can be very hot if they have only just been switched off.

Repairs are only ever to be made by an authorized dealer or by transtechnik.

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Alex M is very robust, but... Safety

Alex M is very robust, but...

Alex M is designed to cope with the rigors of mobile service, so it will put up with a lot. Nevertheless, you should still adhere to the following guidelines:

• Only use your equipment for the purpose for which it is intended.

• Never cover the front and back of your equipment in such a way that this would impede air circulation (e.g. with plastic sheeting).

• Ensure that there are always sufficient openings for heat to be expelled.

• Avoid direct contact with moisture.

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Lighting in no time with Alex M 6 or 12 output channels

Lighting in no time with Alex M

• Alex M lets you get down to business straight away. Over the

The screenshots used in this manual depict the menu pages for an Alex M dimmer unit with twelve output channels. If your Alex M unit has six output channels, the Intensities, Parameters and Memory/ Chaser menu pages will look rather different owing to the smaller number of output channels.

next few pages you will find an outline of the major functions for operating and adjusting the system.

• For detailed information on the menu pages and all the opportunities afforded by Alex M, please turn to page 41.

• You will find a list of the factory settings on page 58.

Alex M with six or twelve output channels

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Wiring Working with Alex M

Working with Alex M

Wiring

Not even Alex M lets you get away without setting up any cable connections:

• A connection to the power supply

• Connections to the required dimmer channels

This is all you need to go ahead and provide lighting with Alex M. If the dimmers are to be controlled by external signals as well, you also need to connect the signal source:

Control with DMX512/1990 signal

If the DMX OUT socket is left unoccupied, it must be terminated with a resistor. Set the switch on the backplane of the device to the position "DMX END". The DMX output socket is now terminated with 100 Ω.

Failure to apply a terminating resistor can lead to errors in DMX transmission or make such transmission impossible altogether.

When the "DMX END" switch on the backplane of the device is set to this position, the DMX output socket is terminated with 100 Ω.

Connect DMX cables to the DMX IN and DMX OUT sockets.

Control with

Connect the signal cable to the EXT socket.

0 – 10 V analog signals

For the pin assignment for the EXT socket, see page 61.

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Working with Alex M Switching the device on

Switching the device on

As soon as the power (at least one phase) has been switched on, the dimmer system starts up and the welcome screen appears on the display for five seconds. The first menu page, Intensities, then appears (see page 42).

Fig. 1: Welcome screen

Controls

All input is made using 4 keys and a rotating knob (the encoder). Menus and messages are displayed on a backlit LCD screen.

Keys

Scrolls from one menu page to the next. Prerequisite: Edit mode must be inactive.

Saves the changes you have made and terminates edit mode.

Activates edit mode so that entries and changes can be made.In edit mode you can change values (e.g. dimmer values).

Terminates edit mode without saving the changes you have made.

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Controls Working with Alex M

The LEDs in the [Edit] and [Save] keys and the status line at the bottom of the display provide information on the current input status:

Edit mode not active

Status line

Edit mode active, no values

Wheel selects Edit to change

Í LED on

changed yet

Status line

Edit mode active, at least one

Wheel Save confirms Esc quits

Í LED on

value changed

Status line

Wheel Save confirms Esc quits

Rotating knob

The rotating knob has two modes:

Edit mode inactive

All input fields are displayed one after the other. The current input field is highlighted.

Edit mode active

The relevant parameter (e.g. numeric value) in the current input field (highlighted) is changed.

To save space, the rotating knob is referred to simply as a



knob in the menus. The same applies to the rest of this manual.

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Working with Alex M Preventing improper use of Alex

Preventing improper use of Alex

You can secure the device against inadvertent improper use by activating LOCK mode.

Prerequisite for activating LOCK mode: EDIT mode must not be active.

Switch lock mode on or off by pressing and holding [Save] and then additionally pressing [Esc].

• In LOCK mode, menu page 1, Intensities, is displayed constantly.

• The text LOCKED_MODE appears highlighted (Fig. 2).

• Used on their own, none of the four keys have a function.

• If you turn the knob, this moves the underlining under the DMX address and the highlighting of the intensity value.

Fig. 2: Display with LOCK mode

activated

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Basic settings Working with Alex M

Basic settings

Before you start, you can rest assured: The device is ready for operation immediately even if you don’t make any basic settings.

Before you start working with Alex M, you should nevertheless have a look at selected basic settings (there are a total of 12). You can use them to customize Alex M to suit your exact requirements.

To make working with the device easier for you, you can set the menu language and display contrast, for example. Then select the signal source and the DMX start address. The reset function allows you, if you wish, to reset the device to the factory settings.

These five steps are described on the following pages.

Grundeinstellungen

Language selection

Currently, the menu texts can be displayed in five languages: English – German – Dutch – Italian – Spanish. The factory setting is English. To set another language, proceed as follows:

Press [Page] until menu page 4, Basic Settings, appears.

2 Turn the knob until the LANGUAGE

field is highlighted.

• The currently set language is highlighted.

3 Press [Edit]. 4 Use the knob to select a language.

5 Use [Save] to save the language you

have selected.

Fig. 3: Basic Settings menu

Active field: LANGUAGE

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Working with Alex M Basic settings

Setting the display contrast

1 Press [Page] until menu page 4, Basic

Settings, appears.

2 Turn the knob until the CONTRAST

field is highlighted.

3 Press [Edit]. 4 Use the knob to set the desired

contrast (factory setting: 75).

5 Press [Edit].

• The contrast setting is saved.

Fig. 4: Basic Settings menu

Active field: CONTRAST

Resetting the dimmer processor

The reset function resets all settings and parameters to the factory settings. In particular:

• All dimmer parameters are reset.

• All the stored presets are reset to zero.

• The language is set to English.

Press [Page] until menu page 4, Basic Settings, appears.

2 Turn the knob until the RESET DEVICE

field is highlighted.

• Yes is the highlighted default value.

3 Press [Edit].

4 Use the knob to select

– Yes for reset or – No for do not reset.

Fig. 5: Basic Settings menu

Active field: RESET DEVICE

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Basic settings Working with Alex M

Selecting the source for the dimmer control signals

Press [Page] until menu page 4, Basic Settings, appears.

2 Turn the knob until the INPUT field is

highlighted.

3 Press [Edit]. 4 Use the knob to select a signal source.

(Factory setting: Dmx + Mem/Chase)

Fig. 6: Basic Settings menu

Active field: INPUT

Dmx Analog Mem/Chase

Dmx + Mem/Chase Analog + Mem/Chase Ana+Dmx+Mem/Chase

External device via DMX signal External device via analog signal Alex M

(manual control, stored presets, chases) External device via DMX signal and Alex M External device via analog signal and Alex M External devices via analog signal, DMX signal and

Alex M

5 Press [Save] to save the setting for the selected signal source.

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