Adding some LEDs or movers to our system

[Mustangnaz]

We have put together a "rock band" to do a special worship set on the 14th. They are going to bring their big stacks and rock down the house. We want to do some different lighting, preferably with different colors and movement.

Right now all of our lights are on dimmers, so that makes things nice. Unfortunately it's just a bunch of white lights from the house and PAR64s with no gels. I was wondering if there is any way we can add LEDs or some type of movers or scanners without running new wiring. We have 3 pin XLR run to the dimmer pack room, and then just power wires ran to all the lights. I don't see how we could control anything other than brightness without actually running XLR to the fixtures, but thought I would ask just in case. Thanks.

[Esoteric]

Man, I have done tons of temporary gigs and many installs and there is one little item that I am never without that would make your life so much easier. A DMX splitter!! Suddenly one DMX line from your console becomes 4-5. Then either run it down the snake (not recommended, but possible) or make a home run and take it down well, and viola! Instant DMX on stage. LEDs plug right into normal outlets and do not require (in fact do not like) dimmers. Same with movers. Just be sure to get some good stuff and not a lot of junk.

Mike

[daver2]

The key statement is "without running new wires". If you want to replace some/all of the PAR64s with LEDs of some type then the answer will almost certainly be "no". As a minimum (as Mike has said) intelligent fixtures want permanent power feeds so you will invariably have to power the fixtures without going through your existing dimmers.

You 'may' be very lucky (!) and be able to power the LED fixture from the existing dimmer set at full brightness. This will depend on a good quality dimmer producing the minimum of mains distortion and a good quality of LED fixture being able to work with the mains voltage from the dimmer. I - personally - don't believe that luck would be on your side for this combination!

This still leaves you with the problem of getting a DMX signal to the fixture without installing new cables. The only way I can think of (and this is where everyone reading this thread will throw something at me) would be to convert one of the mains cables into a totally unsuitable DMX cable... Needless to say - I wouldn't recommend this course of action though!

Other solutions would be wireless DMX - but you are paying for something for a very short period of time when the installation of a proper DMX cable is really what you want.

It sounds like what you are doing is a temporary gig - but it still needs to comply with whatever electrical codes are applicable in your circumstances.

My recommendation would be to install some coloured gels in the PAR64 and use those for this gig and then look to installing a more permanent DMX cable to the appropriate locations for the future.

[2cool]

A DMX splitter!! Suddenly one DMX line from your console becomes 4-5. I have been wanting to do this for a while. Okay so I have 2 dimmer packs wired the same way as 'Mustangnaz' does. We just got 4 LED units (2-strips and 2 cans) I so want to add them to our current 24 channel board. So what can I do if my outlets are all used up on my dimpaks.

[Steve Vanciel]

Originally Posted by 2cool

4 LED units (2-strips and 2 cans) I so want to add them to our current 24 channel board. So what can I do if my outlets are all used up on my dimpaks.

First of all, do not plug your LED units into a dimmer outlet. Bad things will result. Just plug them into regular 120V outlets.

Second, LED units typically can require several DMX channels to provide the full range of control (color, intensity, effects). So, if you only have a 24 channel control board, your options may be very limited. How many dimmers do you have in use? 24? Are they individually controllable or are some patched to come on together?

Bottom line - you may need to upgrade your control capacity to get full use of the LEDs.

SteveV

[Esoteric]

Yeah, 24 channels might be rough. You can set all the LEDs to the same channel, but then you are stuck doing solid color washes.

Mike

[2cool]

Thanks for the info on the LEDs. I actually only use 9 of the first 12 channels for individual can controls the other 3 I cant seem to find on the dimmer packs. The bottom 12 channels I am using for rolling effects. These are presets which work out well for our use. I tried programing them so I could use more channels but man, I just couldnt get it right. Programing is not my strong suit. Its pretty difficult to get an IT guy to spend time with me to get the effects I want. They are only available to me one day a week for a few hours. Which is hard for me since I only volunteer a few hours a week.

[Steve Vanciel]

Originally Posted by 2cool

I tried programing them so I could use more channels but man, I just couldnt get it right. Programing is not my strong suit.

What is the make and model of your controller?
There are so many competing products on the market it is nearly impossible to give generic programming guidance. While there are general styles of control, each manufacturer seems to delight in inventing their own unique syntax and button presses.

SteveV

Also, make and model of the LEDs would be helpful as well.

[D.R.HADDOCK]

Are you using a behringer 24/12 lighting desk!
Just like the one I use,
If you are, I can help you,
they are a complex desk, and can do a lot
more than you realize.
It took me some time to work out how to use
just some of the features on the desk.

[2cool]

I will get back to you guys on the models but, I just thought of one question. I have noticed that sometimes the band (youth) doesnt play the songs consistently so I am worried that the light scheme would be off. Its times like this/that which make it a good thing that I am ridding the lights live.

[D.R.HADDOCK]

There is some merit to your comment!
I prefer to do lights manually for that very reason,
You can more acurately follow the mood of the room,
which is not always predictable.
But as time goes on, and you get to know your board better,
You will end up using programs and chases more and more.

[JeffReckart]

how did it go? what did you wind up doing?

JR