controlling chain motors

[TechGuy]

Is there any way that chain motors and can be controlled via our lighting controller? So that the truss can be raised and lowered as needed for certian secnes.

[NGRRFan]

Not as far as I know. But I'd bet that the pro's have a special program that controls all the stuff they use.

Medalion is the only one i know thats worth it, the software your looking at is called show control software

remember you need to control from a dmx signal to a 20 amp nema twist lock where the pickle goes, there is a bit of hardware integration from dmx to relays to 20 amp nema, so there are addons you will need, i am pretty sure they are hand made for your pplication, so break out the soldering iron, you can email CM hoists and ask what software they know of, its a start and CM is a brand i know

http://www.cmrigging.com
http://www.cmworks.com

[CCCLights]

motion labs has some intelligent motor control http://www.motionlabs.com/index2.html

DMX has no error checking and should not be used for moving loads. you could possibly use it to trigger a controller, but not control the motors directly.

--Chuck--

[TechGuy]

Originally Posted by CCCLights

motion labs has some intelligent motor control http://www.motionlabs.com/index2.html

DMX has no error checking and should not be used for moving loads. you could possibly use it to trigger a controller, but not control the motors directly.

--Chuck--

Ok, I wasn't sure if they where controlled by DMX or manually.

[BobM]

I hope this post doesn't come across as being overly negative but when thinking of using moving truss there are several things you need to be concerned about.
Most of the shows that I've seen that have any moving truss such as TSO have one person running just the movements on the truss nothing else. That person is constantly watching those truss pieces for any problems.
You didn't say if the truss you plan to have move are going to be over anyone standing on stage. If this is true then you may have to check your insurance policy. I'm only a lighting guy and haven't done any of the moving truss things but from what I've heard you need certain insurance and it's fairly pricey if the "moving" truss is going to be overtop of anyone on stage.
Remember that no matter how awesome we want our event/show to look Safety is always the number one priority.

[Jonathan Wills]

Bob,

Most companies that own and rent motors are required to carry a $5 million dollar insurance policy for liability. Most companies, me included, only carry 1 to 2 million in liability.

Insurance is something to definately look at with motors and rigging.

Jonathan Wills
www.WillsLighting.com

in the tent, we were not allowed to have anything moving, so we hand rigged mostly and that alone was 5 mil liability 10mil aggregate for the tent, no way could we have afforded 20x a year for moving rigging, it would have been nice, but...

i understand that some insurance companies wont even write a temporary policy for special events like Christmas or Easter

the only way i know of around this, is to have your own self insured policy, which meens you need to have that cash in the bank, or special policy paid in full, with your own equity

Jonathan good info, thanks for bringing this to light

Blessings
T.

[TechGuy]

I was just planning on using the chain motor to support a cross for our Easter Drama. The cross would sit on the floor, the chain motor would just be used to pull it up to an upright position. The only weight would be the weight of the cross, the person playing Jesus would be standing on a stool.

[waynehoskins]

Originally Posted by CCCLights

DMX has no error checking and should not be used for moving loads.

I know this is an old thread, but Chuck's advice there is worth writing in Sharpie on the cover of your lightboard manual.

I had never thought of using DMX to control motors, but YOU CAN'T DO THAT! But the question I've heard more often is "How do I hook up these flashpots to the DMX board?" .. YOU CAN'T USE DMX FOR PYRO for exactly the same reason. MSC, sure, but not DMX.

I would also be very very very wary about moving a motor during a performance. Goodness, I learned that before you press "up" on the pickle that you give a Heads Up call "truss moving!" and make sure everybody's watching the truss. To move something with a chain motor during performance is a bad idea in my book.

To the application at hand, though, lifting a cross from on deck to an upright position: no matter how you do it, the thing's gonna swing. If it has any mass at all, it's gonna swing a lot. You can't do that! You might could do it with a sandbagged hemp line with the bottom of the cross hinged to the deck, but you just simply can't use a chainmotor to do that!

Again: DMX IS NOT AN ERROR-PROOF PROTOCOL AND MAY NEVER NEVER NEVER BE USED IN A SITUATION WHERE A CONTROL FAILURE PRESENTS A DANGER TO PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PATRONS!

Unacceptable uses include:
-pyro
-chainmotors