L.E.D. Newb

Former Member

Sorry, I did try to search but... I'm flummoxed.

I'd like to set up a "mood lighting" rig for my home. Something like the P36 or P64 - maybe a couple.
I'm unclear on the minimum requirements to be able to control theser lights. I think I need a controller AND a dimmer pack. If so, it's getting a little pricey for a visual lark but maybe I'm overestimating. I don't want to mess with gels.

Seems like most controllers and/or dimmers are overkill for just running three channels of DMX. Can anyone advise on a minimalist config that would allow dimming and blending RGB? IF there some growing room, that might be OK price-wise. I don't need chasers and all that stuff. These units have builtin mics and if they can respond to music, that's cool if it is not expensive.

Am I correct in that all 3 channels for a P36 are carried on one XLR cable? Would the P36 run into the dimmer (via power plug?)and then the dimmer is connected to the controller via XLR?

I did not see any kind of basic setup info for LED, so I apologize for being a worthless, scumsucking newb.

Thanks.

1/23/076:24 PM

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Former Member

Hello,
This is actually quite simple. You do not need dimmer packs for the LED Pars, you simply plug them into AC power and the XLR cable will go from your lights to your controller. Depending on how many lights you get will determine how big of a controller you will using. If you have a small amount of lights and they are on dmx channel 1, you will just a need a small controller such as the Stage Setter 8. If you control all the lights on the same channel they will all do the same functions together, if you want them split up you will need a bigger controller.

The led cans themselves use 6 Dmx channels: red, green, blue, macros, strobe, other(automatic programs, etc). If you buy a basic 8 channel controller then you will set all your lights on channel 1 and use channels 1-6 on your board to control them. If you with for them to be split up, then you will address them like this: Light 1, Ch. 1, light 2 Ch. 7, light 3 Ch. 14, light 4 Ch. 21. and you will need a controller that will handle 21 dmx channels.

I hope this helps and I havent went over your head, if you have anymore questions please let me know.

Justin

1/24/0712:34 PM

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Former Member

quote:
EBAC Lights

I appreciate the info.
So the controller handles dimming? I gfuess I am wanting to control brightness of each RGB channel. I reckon that is what is expanding the color options beyond RGB.

1/24/073:37 PM

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Former Member

Right,
The DMX controller will dim the lights. You will have 6 channels, 3 of those being R,G,B, and the others being for special effects. Say for instance fader 1 is red you have 1-100% and that is your dimmer value for that channel.

1/24/079:09 PM

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Former Member

OK, cool, thanks. Now to find the best deal...