Return-Path: X-Processed-By: Virex 7 on prxy.net X-Real-To: stagecraftlist [at] theatrical.net Received: by prxy.net (CommuniGate Pro PIPE 4.2.4) with PIPE id 4691764; Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:00:57 -0700 X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 4.2.4 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: Message-ID: From: "Stagecraft" Sender: "Stagecraft" To: "Stagecraft" Precedence: list Subject: Stagecraft Digest #162 Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:00:41 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Disposition: inline X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.0-pre4 (2004-08-04) on prxy.net X-Spam-Status: No, score=-2.9 required=5.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,AWL,BAYES_00, MAILTO_TO_SPAM_ADDR autolearn=ham version=3.0.0-pre4 X-Spam-Level: X-prxy-Spam-Filter: Scanned X-TFF-CGPSA-Version: 1.4a3 For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see --------------------------------------------------- Stagecraft Digest, Issue #162 1. Re: Cell phone jamming by "Alf Sauve" 2. Re: Cell phone jamming by "Tony Deeming" 3. Re: Cell phone jamming by "Alf Sauve" 4. Amateur v. Professional theater by "Dougherty, Jim" 5. Re: Cell phone jamming by Greg Bierly 6. Re: Wireless batteries by Jerry Durand 7. Re: Cell phone jamming by Wood Chip-P26398 8. Re: Wireless batteries by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 9. Re: Wireless batteries by Jerry Durand 10. Re: Wireless batteries by Jerry Durand 11. Re: Wireless batteries by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com 12. Re: Wireless batteries by Jerry Durand 13. NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by "Daryl Redmon" 14. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by Stephen Litterst 15. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by Jerry Durand 16. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by "Daryl Redmon" 17. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by "Douglas McCracken" 18. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by "Douglas McCracken" 19. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by Dale Farmer 20. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by Greg Bierly 21. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by "Daryl Redmon" 22. Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer by "Daryl Redmon" 23. Re: HMI vs Daylight by CB 24. Re: An academic question by CB 25. Dragon for "The Hobbit" by Dave Reynolds *** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject *** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to *** one message subject in each reply. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <096701c4b110$d4f55ee0$0600a8c0 [at] alf> From: "Alf Sauve" References: Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 06:28:32 -0400 Out of curiosity, how do they know which calls are "emergency"? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Miller" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 14:41 PM Subject: Cell phone jamming > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > To revive a thread which has been going on intermittently for the past > couple of years take a look at > http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/article/0,2763,1325314,00.html > France has allowed the use of cell phone jammers in theatres and cinemas > with only emergency calls able to override them. Apparently this follows > recent legislation in Israel and Japan. If it is possible for France to > change the law then anyone can do it. > > Cheers > > Tony Miller. > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <00ea01c4b116$12de6c60$0a01a8c0 [at] Tony> From: "Tony Deeming" References: Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 12:16:19 +0100 I would assume that means calls going OUT of the theatre, which probably means there's a filter to allow things such as 911 (US) or 999 (UK) and whatever the French equivalent is. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alf Sauve" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 11:28 AM Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > Out of curiosity, how do they know which calls are "emergency"? > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tony Miller" > To: "Stagecraft" > Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 14:41 PM > Subject: Cell phone jamming > > > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > > > To revive a thread which has been going on intermittently for the past > > couple of years take a look at > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/article/0,2763,1325314,00.html > > France has allowed the use of cell phone jammers in theatres and cinemas > > with only emergency calls able to override them. Apparently this follows > > recent legislation in Israel and Japan. If it is possible for France to > > change the law then anyone can do it. > > > > Cheers > > > > Tony Miller. > > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <09e901c4b121$9c73d310$0600a8c0 [at] alf> From: "Alf Sauve" References: Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 08:19:55 -0400 To block all but outgoing 911/999 calls requires not "jamming", but intercepting, and interpreting all attempts to place calls. Far more expensive technology than simply "jamming". In the US we have allowed competition to set up 4 or 5 different competing cell phone technologies. The advantage is choice, competition and rapid deployment, the down side is that the technologies aren't compatible and to block "cell phones" requires that many different technologies be covered. In addition many of public service agencies utilize cell phones in addition to their public service radios. (Nextel, Southern Linc, to name a couple.) To "jam" those could inhibit inbound emergency calls to those people who are on standby in the theatre. Intercepting, interpreting and analyzing inbound calls would be even more complicated, since there would now need to be a database what calls to whom, from whom, under what condition qualifies as an "emergency". e.g., How do you know it's an emergency, such as a call from a police supervisor to off duty-on standby bomb disposal expert in your theatre? If even you knew the to/from number combination how do you know that "that" call is an emergency call and not one to meet for drinks after the show? As you can tell, I'm not terribly impressed with "jamming" and am especially leery of "priority" schemes, where only certain people are allowed access to the cell networks in emergencies. Alf ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Deeming" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 7:16 AM Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > I would assume that means calls going OUT of the theatre, which probably > means there's a filter to allow things such as 911 (US) or 999 (UK) and > whatever the French equivalent is. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Alf Sauve" > To: "Stagecraft" > Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 11:28 AM > Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming > > >> For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see >> --------------------------------------------------- >> >> Out of curiosity, how do they know which calls are "emergency"? >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Tony Miller" >> To: "Stagecraft" >> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 14:41 PM >> Subject: Cell phone jamming >> >> >> > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see >> > >> > --------------------------------------------------- >> > >> > To revive a thread which has been going on intermittently for the past >> > couple of years take a look at >> > http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/article/0,2763,1325314,00.html >> > France has allowed the use of cell phone jammers in theatres and >> > cinemas >> > with only emergency calls able to override them. Apparently this > follows >> > recent legislation in Israel and Japan. If it is possible for France to >> > change the law then anyone can do it. >> > >> > Cheers >> > >> > Tony Miller. >> > >> > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 09:21:39 -0400 Subject: Amateur v. Professional theater From: "Dougherty, Jim" Message-ID: Frank Wood wrote: Amateur companies tend to have fewer facilities, making up for this with more bodies sometimes. On the other hand, they tend to be more experimental and adventurous than pro houses. I would agree with the first part of this statement; as to the second, I think there are plenty of original pieces done professionally (at whatever level), perhaps more than in the average community/amateur theater. Many amateur theaters have to worry about selling their tickets, and doing shows that an audience, presumably their friends and family in the community, will recognize and enjoy seeing. Not a bad thing at all, mind you - it's a lot of fun. From my own personal bias working in an academic environment, I would argue that the most experimental/adventurous work is done in schools, where ticket sales aren't necessarily the main source of revenue, and the whole point is to learn from the experience and push the envelope. I mean this only in the context of artistic experimentation and adventure. Technically, we don't have the budgets in terms of time, money or skilled labor to work out too many new things. Heck, sometimes it's an adventure just to do something the old boring way. - Jim Dougherty ATD, Middlebury College Theatre Department ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: From: Greg Bierly Subject: Re: Cell phone jamming Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:16:44 -0500 > As you can tell, I'm not terribly impressed with "jamming" and am > especially leery of "priority" schemes, where only certain people are > allowed access to the cell networks in emergencies. How many decades did we live without cell phones? My solution would be all cell phones/pagers etc be mandated to be manufactured with a vibrate function and a belt clip. The device would automatically reset to vibrate every 12 hours and the only way to set back to audible tone would be a complex series of menus and button presses that would require a lot of effort every 12 hours. The average person would not go to the trouble every day. Of course there would be hacks available to people with way too much time on their hands and phones without vibrate would available for ADA issues(no additonal cost) and special applications (at a premium cost). For those that can't wear the phone to feel the vibration, a bluetooth enabled vibrating pin would be available at minimal cost to alert the wearer their phone is ringing in their purse/briefcase/etc. This of course still doesn't resolve the problem with the idiot that answers the phone in the theatre, restaurant, etc and carries on a conversation for all to hear. Now I am just dreaming. Greg Bierly Technical Director Hempfield HS ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.2.0.0.20041013080345.02937c80 [at] localhost> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 08:09:04 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Wireless batteries In-Reply-To: References: At 06:33 PM 10/12/2004, you wrote: >Professionally and personally I wouldn't trust RF mic battery monitors >with my life, let alone a mic on a show! One of the first pieces of >advice I was given with the new Sennheiser 3032 receivers, was to "pay no >attention to the battery level meters, they're useless!". With alkaline batteries (both rechargeable and non) the battery voltage is a good indication of the amount of charge. With NiCd and some others, the voltage drops between 100% charge and something like 95% charge, then remains flat until something like 5% charge left. So, you meter will show the battery as ok until just before it goes dead. A friend who does underwater photography will only use rechargeable alkaline batteries, he said he can deal with his lights getting dimmer, but it's a real pain to be down there and suddenly have your lights go dim then out over a minute or two when using NiCd. ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com pgp: 45A2 0A52 1D56 70C2 B865 9D5C 83F2 2112 04CE 2B54 ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: Wood Chip-P26398 Subject: RE: Cell phone jamming Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 10:19:56 -0700 We are working on a context aware cell phone that would sense that it is in a theatre, plane, hospital, etc and set the alert and operations appropriate for each. The defaults would be the legal or polite settings, but could be overwritten by the owner. -----Original Message----- From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf Of Greg Bierly all cell phones/pagers etc be mandated to be manufactured with a vibrate function and a belt clip. The device would automatically reset to vibrate every 12 hours and the only way to set back to audible tone would be a complex series of menus and button presses that would require a lot of effort every 12 hours. The average person would not go to the trouble every day. ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <13d.37e1aa5.2e9ec236 [at] aol.com> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 13:39:02 EDT Subject: Re: Wireless batteries In a message dated 13/10/04 16:09:46 GMT Daylight Time, jdurand [at] interstellar.com writes: > With alkaline batteries (both rechargeable and non) the battery voltage is > a good indication of the amount of charge. This isn't so. Non-rechargeable batteries will show, off load, their normal terminal voltage. Measuring their discharge current into a short circuit will tell you, since this tells you about their internal resistance. A single 1.5V D-size cell will send about 5A when new. At 3A, it's still reasonable, at 1A, it's junk. So for the smaller cells, in proportion. > > With NiCd and some others, the voltage drops between 100% charge and > something like 95% charge, then remains flat until something like 5% charge > left. So, you meter will show the battery as ok until just before it goes > dead. A friend who does underwater photography will only use rechargeable > alkaline batteries, he said he can deal with his lights getting dimmer, but > it's a real pain to be down there and suddenly have your lights go dim then > out over a minute or two when using NiCd. I just point out that NiCd batteries ARE alkaline. The characteristics of such cells depends a lot on their discharge rate. At high discharge rates, the terminal voltage falls quite fast, at low rates quite slowly, according to the manufacturers' data. It's hard to do measurements to tell the charge state of a secondary cell. The simplest is to make sure that they are fully discharged to 1V per cell, and then to administer a timed charge. The BBC once bought a clever, fast charging system, which was alleged to measure the charge state of a battery, and to adjust the charge current to a safe level. One night, it blew a 12V battery pack all over the battery room. The technology may well have improved, since then. But still, give me a battery pack in isolation, and, short of running it down to exhaustion, I know of no way to discover its charge state, other than by checking the specific gravity of the electrolyte. This is seldom possible. Frank Wood ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.2.0.0.20041013110455.02a0abd8 [at] localhost> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 11:13:10 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Wireless batteries In-Reply-To: References: At 10:39 AM 10/13/2004, you wrote: > > With alkaline batteries (both rechargeable and non) the battery voltage is > > a good indication of the amount of charge. > >This isn't so. Non-rechargeable batteries will show, off load, their normal >terminal voltage. I meant systems that monitor voltage WHILE in use. >Measuring their discharge current into a short circuit will >tell you, since this tells you about their internal resistance. A single 1.5V >D-size cell will send about 5A when new. At 3A, it's still reasonable, at 1A, >it's junk. So for the smaller cells, in proportion. All battery testers I've seen do not use a short, they use a resistor to generate a load far from a short. >I just point out that NiCd batteries ARE alkaline. The characteristics of >such cells depends a lot on their discharge rate. At high discharge rates, >the >terminal voltage falls quite fast, at low rates quite slowly, according to >the >manufacturers' data. NiCd are Nickle-Cadmium, alkaline are based on magnesium. Then there's lithium and NiMh which act like NiCd as far as voltage goes. >It's hard to do measurements to tell the charge state of a secondary cell. >The simplest is to make sure that they are fully discharged to 1V per >cell, and >then to administer a timed charge. 1V for NiCd, Lithium (ion and prismatic) requires a specialized charger chip (almost a processor). >The BBC once bought a clever, fast charging >system, which was alleged to measure the charge state of a battery, and to >adjust the charge current to a safe level. One night, it blew a 12V >battery pack >all over the battery room. The technology may well have improved, since then. >But still, give me a battery pack in isolation, and, short of running it down >to exhaustion, I know of no way to discover its charge state, other than by >checking the specific gravity of the electrolyte. This is seldom possible. Modern battery packs (I'm not talking 9V now) have small specialized processors built in that monitor all power into and out of the battery along with temperature and time. These account for battery age, past loads and charging, and give a pretty accurate idea of charge and even communicate to the charger what needs to be done to recharge the pack from its current state. ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com pgp: 45A2 0A52 1D56 70C2 B865 9D5C 83F2 2112 04CE 2B54 ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.2.0.0.20041013131218.00aaf6d8 [at] localhost> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 13:13:56 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Wireless batteries I have a Panasonic Technical manual (Acrobat format) covering pretty much all their batteries, if anyone is interested. It's BIG, but I could temporarily put it on our server if there's interest. ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com pgp: 45A2 0A52 1D56 70C2 B865 9D5C 83F2 2112 04CE 2B54 ------------------------------ From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com Message-ID: <1c4.1f594b97.2e9f0f46 [at] aol.com> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 19:07:50 EDT Subject: Re: Wireless batteries In a message dated 13/10/04 19:13:53 GMT Daylight Time, jdurand [at] interstellar.com writes: > NiCd are Nickle-Cadmium, alkaline are based on magnesium. Then there's > lithium and NiMh which act like NiCd as far as voltage goes. Nickel-Cadmium cells use an electrolyte of Potassium Hydroxide, which is just about as alkaline as you can get. I know of no cell using Magnesium as an electrode. > > 1V for NiCd, Lithium (ion and prismatic) requires a specialized charger > chip (almost a processor). This, I don't understand. Most manufacturers say that a terminal voltage of 1V, on a reasonable load, is the point at which the cell is fully discharged. Passing beyond this can damage the cell. Note that I am talking of devices to fully discharge a battery, followed by the standard C/10 charge for 14 hours. Such a device calls for two transistors, a few resistors and a couple of diodes, and a small relay. I designed one such some years ago, and it was generally adopted. > > Modern battery packs (I'm not talking 9V now) have small specialized > processors built in that monitor all power into and out of the battery > along with temperature and time. These account for battery age, past loads > and charging, and give a pretty accurate idea of charge and even > communicate to the charger what needs to be done to recharge the pack from > its current state. Fine. But they are all usage-specific. A type A pack will work only with a type A charger. So for types B,C, and so on. I'm talking about general purpose batteries. Brute force and bloody ignorance. A steel case with 10 1.2 V, 7A/H cells inside, and a suitable connector on one end. There were specialist cells around. Some had temperature sensors, some pressure. All needed specialised chargers, to detect overcharge problems Frank Wood ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.2.0.0.20041013161951.00af2860 [at] localhost> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:31:48 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: Wireless batteries In-Reply-To: References: At 04:07 PM 10/13/2004, you wrote: >Nickel-Cadmium cells use an electrolyte of Potassium Hydroxide, which is just >about as alkaline as you can get. I know of no cell using Magnesium as an >electrode. NiCd still aren't CALLED alkaline cells, at least on this side of the ocean. Manganese, sorry, my typo. Per Panasonic Battery Techinical Handbook: "Alkaline" Positive Electrode: MnO2 Negative Electrode: Zn Elecrotlyte: KOH "NiCd" Positive Electrode: Ni(OH)2 Negative Electrode: Cd Elecrtolyte: KOH and NaOH There's a lot of other types of batteries, too. > > > > 1V for NiCd, Lithium (ion and prismatic) requires a specialized charger > > chip (almost a processor). > >This, I don't understand. Most manufacturers say that a terminal voltage of >1V, on a reasonable load, is the point at which the cell is fully discharged. >Passing beyond this can damage the cell. Note that I am talking of devices to >fully discharge a battery, followed by the standard C/10 charge for 14 hours. That is fine for NiCD and Ni-MH, it is NOT fine for Lithium and other chemistries. >Such a device calls for two transistors, a few resistors and a couple of >diodes, and a small relay. I designed one such some years ago, and it was >generally >adopted. For NiCd I have often just used an LM317 regulator in constant current mode, one chip, one resistor. With current regulations banning things like NiCd batteries, I have to use the newer controllers like from BenchMarq (a TI company). >Fine. But they are all usage-specific. A type A pack will work only with a >type A charger. So for types B,C, and so on. > I'm talking about general purpose batteries. Brute force and bloody >ignorance. A steel case with 10 1.2 V, 7A/H cells inside, and a suitable >connector on >one end. Lead acid, NiCd, and NiMH can work this way. More power to you if you are allowed to use cells with lead, nickel, or cadmium in them. >There were specialist cells around. Some had temperature sensors, some >pressure. All needed specialised chargers, to detect overcharge problems The idea of the new "smart" packs is they DON'T need specialized charges, beyond being able to talk to smart battery packs. The pack knows everything about how to charge itself and tells the charger what to do. The biggest problem right now is getting a common connector. ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com pgp: 45A2 0A52 1D56 70C2 B865 9D5C 83F2 2112 04CE 2B54 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <001101c4b182$e3dd1c00$6500a8c0 [at] yourfsyly0jtwn> From: "Daryl Redmon" References: Subject: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 17:15:18 -0700 I want to query the wisdom of the list. I have already spoken to the fine fokes at NSI tech support and I feel that it is now time to see what others have experienced with this dimmer. The problem that I am having now with two differect NSI dimmers DDS9600 ( they replaced the first unit already) is that I am running with DMX control and the dimmer will shut off all my lights for approx. one second. This action is very random and it is driving me crazy! I have the dimmer load balanced on channel 2,4,6 of 2k each. I was running the dimmer at about 50% when this happens. It may happen at other power levels but as this dimmer controls the house lights at my church this is the power level it is most of the time. I monitored the first dimmer and noted that when the lights go out the the dimmer panel lights all flash in a random manner. Please contact me on or off list if you have experienced a similar problem and have a solution. Thanks in advance Daryl Redmon Resounding Light ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:03:43 -0400 (EDT) From: Stephen Litterst Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer In-reply-to: Message-id: <1287.172.163.73.25.1097715823.squirrel [at] 172.163.73.25> References: > --------------------------------------------------- > The problem that I am having now with two differect NSI dimmers DDS9600 ( > they replaced the first unit already) is that I am running with DMX > control > and the dimmer will shut off all my lights for approx. one second. This > action is very random and it is driving me crazy! I have the dimmer load > balanced on channel 2,4,6 of 2k each. I was running the dimmer at about > 50% > when this happens. It may happen at other power levels but as this dimmer > controls the house lights at my church this is the power level it is most > of > the time. I monitored the first dimmer and noted that when the lights go > out > the the dimmer panel lights all flash in a random manner. Please contact > me > on or off list if you have experienced a similar problem and have a > solution. My first instinct is that it's not a dimmer problem. I'd check your incoming power *or* your control signal to the dimmers. The dimmer panel lights going crazy could be the rack rebooting, which would cause the output to fail for a brief period. Are the panel lights truly flashing randomly, or could there be some pattern to it? Steve Litterst ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.1.2.0.0.20041013181318.00aeb310 [at] localhost> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:14:05 -0700 From: Jerry Durand Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer In-Reply-To: References: At 06:03 PM 10/13/2004, you wrote: >My first instinct is that it's not a dimmer problem. I'd check your >incoming power *or* your control signal to the dimmers. The dimmer panel >lights going crazy could be the rack rebooting, which would cause the >output to fail for a brief period. Are the panel lights truly flashing >randomly, or could there be some pattern to it? Could also be a ground loop. Just talked a customer through one of those. I hear the light patterns were "interesting", but not what he had in mind. ---------- Jerry Durand Durand Interstellar, Inc. 219 Oak Wood Way Los Gatos, California 95032-2523 USA tel: +1 408 356-3886 fax: +1 408 356-4659 web: www.interstellar.com pgp: 45A2 0A52 1D56 70C2 B865 9D5C 83F2 2112 04CE 2B54 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <009c01c4b18e$a7e3c0d0$6500a8c0 [at] yourfsyly0jtwn> From: "Daryl Redmon" References: Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 18:39:32 -0700 > > My first instinct is that it's not a dimmer problem. I'd check your > incoming power *or* your control signal to the dimmers. The dimmer panel > lights going crazy could be the rack rebooting, which would cause the > output to fail for a brief period. Are the panel lights truly flashing > randomly, or could there be some pattern to it? > > Steve Litterst > There could be a pattern to the panel but what part of the puzzle to me is that my rack contains (2) DS12-12's and the DSS9600. In my rack is a junction box where the power is brought out in parallel to all three units. the wiring is daisy chain going to the DS 12-12 and then the DSS9600. I have tried changing the dimmer address from 25 to 31 and still have the same problem. the dimmer rack is 250' from my controller ------------------------------ From: "Douglas McCracken" Subject: RE: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:11:24 -1000 Message-ID: In-reply-to: This sounds like a bad SSR cube. Aloha, Douglas > -----Original Message----- > From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft [at] theatrical.net] On Behalf > Of Daryl Redmon > Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 2:15 PM > To: Stagecraft > Subject: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer > > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > > --------------------------------------------------- > > I want to query the wisdom of the list. I have already spoken > to the fine fokes at NSI tech support and I feel that it is > now time to see what others have experienced with this dimmer. > > The problem that I am having now with two differect NSI > dimmers DDS9600 ( they replaced the first unit already) is > that I am running with DMX control and the dimmer will shut > off all my lights for approx. one second. This action is very > random and it is driving me crazy! I have the dimmer load > balanced on channel 2,4,6 of 2k each. I was running the > dimmer at about 50% when this happens. It may happen at other > power levels but as this dimmer controls the house lights at > my church this is the power level it is most of the time. I > monitored the first dimmer and noted that when the lights go > out the the dimmer panel lights all flash in a random manner. > Please contact me on or off list if you have experienced a > similar problem and have a solution. > > Thanks in advance > > Daryl Redmon > > Resounding Light > ------------------------------ From: "Douglas McCracken" Subject: RE: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 16:13:48 -1000 Message-ID: In-reply-to: Sorry. I didn't think. It would only be a bad cube if it was just one or a pair of dimmers. Aloha, Douglas ------------------------------ Message-ID: <416DF728.69DE961 [at] cybercom.net> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 23:48:57 -0400 From: Dale Farmer Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer References: Daryl Redmon wrote: > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > I want to query the wisdom of the list. I have already spoken to the fine > fokes at NSI tech support and I feel that it is now time to see what others > have experienced with this dimmer. > > The problem that I am having now with two differect NSI dimmers DDS9600 ( > they replaced the first unit already) is that I am running with DMX control > and the dimmer will shut off all my lights for approx. one second. This > action is very random and it is driving me crazy! I have the dimmer load > balanced on channel 2,4,6 of 2k each. I was running the dimmer at about 50% > when this happens. It may happen at other power levels but as this dimmer > controls the house lights at my church this is the power level it is most of > the time. I monitored the first dimmer and noted that when the lights go out > the the dimmer panel lights all flash in a random manner. Please contact me > on or off list if you have experienced a similar problem and have a > solution. > > Thanks in advance > > Daryl Redmon > > Resounding Light What does the dimmer do when it loses DMX signal? Is this consistent with the observed behavior? Troubleshoot DMX system. Check all the power supply connections for signs of overload and undervoltage. You may have a loose connection in the power wiring. If you are comfortable with board level troubleshooting, open up the unit and look for cold solder joints, fractured solder joints and loose connections. Especially between the DMX decoder and the actual dimmer circuitry. --Dale ------------------------------ In-Reply-To: References: Message-Id: <88EE2826-1D9E-11D9-ACA7-000D936BFA94 [at] dejazzd.com> From: Greg Bierly Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 00:04:32 -0500 I had problems like this when I was missing a neutral. Try running the console next to the dimmers through a verified dmx cable. I have had similar difficulties when using mic cable. Also make sure your last pack in line is terminated. Very Frustrating! (Been there, done that, got the t-shirt) Good luck. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003901c4b1aa$cee6b7c0$6500a8c0 [at] yourfsyly0jtwn> From: "Daryl Redmon" References: Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 22:01:04 -0700 > What does the dimmer do when it loses DMX signal? I have the dimmer configured so on loss of signal to stay in the last known state. I turn the house lights on full and unplug the console. This is very useful to us as at the end of service, the house lights are used as our work lights We pack up all the staging chairs, everything including all the lights and dimmers and put them in a container as we meet in a gym. As this is the second unit that does this and only under DMX control. I have run this second unit with a separate controller using MPX. I did not have this problem happen at all! Daryl Redmon Resounding Light ------------------------------ Message-ID: <003e01c4b1ab$793b2620$6500a8c0 [at] yourfsyly0jtwn> From: "Daryl Redmon" References: Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 22:05:49 -0700 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Bierly" To: "Stagecraft" Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 10:04 PM Subject: Re: NSI DDS9600 Dimmer > For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see > --------------------------------------------------- > > I had problems like this when I was missing a neutral. Try running the > console next to the dimmers through a verified dmx cable. I have had > similar difficulties when using mic cable. Also make sure your last pack > in line is terminated. I have already tested the phases to neutral. All tested good. I have been a bad boy and will now terminate my dmx signal. I had hoped that it would not be necessary as the signal left the rack and continued into 6 intell. lights. ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20041013220729.0195f118 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 22:07:29 From: CB Subject: Re: HMI vs Daylight >I'm a little worried to open this can of worms but... Frank exactly what criteria are you using as >the basis for this conclusion? Ever seen the 'daylight' they have over there? Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20041013222230.0195f118 [at] pop.west.cox.net> Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 22:22:30 From: CB Subject: RE: An academic question >How much time do I spend teaching the fundamentals? How much time >teaching "the way it's almost always been done" so that the students >have a sound grasp of those fundamental concepts? Teach the fundamentals, and teach the current paradygm and as close to the bleeding edge as you can get, at least letting them know that it exists. Let them kow that things are done differently the world over nad that they have to keep an open mind when it comes to innovation, and one eye on possible hazards. Teach them to think, rather than to mimic, and they'l be fine. Originally, the question was, loosely paraphrased, "How much of the way we do it in my dadd's barn should we teach 'em?" I voted for very little... Chris "Chris" Babbie Location Sound MON AZ Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment. Rates negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 08:50:07 -0500 From: Dave Reynolds Subject: Dragon for "The Hobbit" Message-id: <2147483647.1097657407 [at] [141.140.13.64]> Hi folks, I am doing a community theater production of "The Hobbit" and am in need of advice for making Smaug the Dragon. I will have 3-4 youths to act as the dragon. Any ideas for a lightweight construction? I don't have a lot of time to devote to this, so something simple that could be built quickly would be preferable. Any ideas??? Thanks! Dave Reynolds A man finds joy in giving an apt reply - and how good is a timely word! --Proverbs 15:23, New International Version Dave Reynolds Media Services Macalester College 1600 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 voice: (651) 696-6378 fax: (651) 696-6304 reynolds [at] macalester.edu DV Cassie with lots of fonts and effects, KRON and Final Cut Pro. ------------------------------ End of Stagecraft Digest #162 *****************************