Here's the situation.

My mighty scans have stopped working as a group of four. I can only get a maximum of two fixtures at a time to respond to the controller. If I connect a third or fourth fixture, it causes the first two to stop responding.

I connected the controller directly into each fixture to verify that the 'IN' on each fixture was functioning properly, and they are.

I also connected each fixture to another to verify that the 'OUT' one each fixture was functioning properly.

The DMX addressing on each fixture is correct because they do respond to the controller individually.

I've tried everything both with and without a terminator.

I am using the original Show Designer. I am not sure if the problem lies in the controller or the fixtures. I would guess that it's in the controller/signal because each each fixture seems to function properly on its own, but I could be wrong.

Please let me know of any ideas at all because at the moment, I am at a loss.

Thanks in advance!

-Tech

Tech,
This is beyound me, so all I can advise is for you to call support.

I seriosly love these kinda problems, i friggen get retarded with my elation PS575s and the leprecon board. Ok man, the problem is from the board no doubt. Look and make sure that the board is not in any kind of preset mode. The best solution right now is to FACTORY RESET The board. My leprecan board hasn't done this but i know that it is very possible to isolate lights. If you could, try making all 4 lights the same DMX address.... all starting at 1. If all lights respond at the same DMX value, then you can be sure its not the lights at all! ok? ill give u more help after you tell me what happens.

-Bryan
Wavehouse/Belmont Park San Diego
Lighting Operations

Here's the update.

I tried the lights with an AutoMate controller. I could get 3 lights to respond with that controller. Then, I switched back to the Show Designer and I still had 3 lights working. So I figured it isn't the controller. So now I've figured that it isn't the lights and it isn't the controller.

As suggested over on the Elation board, I belive this is a cable shielding issue. Because I shifted some of the cables around and moved them away from the AC cords, the DMX signal was facing an interference from AC induction.

Eventually, I got all four lights back online. The controller and lights are now running like champs.

The part that is really bugging me is that I have no idea how this problem developed. Now I have to go back and try to find the culprit. If it is an intermittent cable issue, it's really going to be hard to find.

I know I shouldn't be using regular XLR cable for DMX lighting , but they worked for a long time with no issues. The setup with other lighting never changed. This problem just came out of the blue.

Anyone else had a problem with interference?

Thanks.
-Tech

http://www.americandj.com/pdffiles/MIGHTY.pdf

try checking this sight out it has some of the technical settings needed

This eventually turned out to be a cabling problem after all. There was a faulty XLR in the mix, and I found it by working down the chain on location one night, at a show, when they went wacky on me.

All 8 are still running strong, and the Show Designer couldn't be better.

Glad to hear it!