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
© 2000 – 2006 Electronic Theatre Controls GmbH
All rights reserved.
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
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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
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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
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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
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.
1
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:
1
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.
1
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
1
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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