PRG Controlling VARI-LITE Equipment Using DMX 512 - Manual (Page 22)

DMX512 R EFERENCE G UIDE
1 4 02.3004.0300.54
Thumbwheel Addresses
All VARI ❋LITE® Series 200 luminaires, Smart Repeater units, and interface boxes have a three-digit
thumbwheel address switch. The address set on this thumbwheel sets the starting address for the
device. Under VARI
❋LITE protocol, these addresses may not duplicate or overlap. Series 200
luminaires must be set to their DMX512 starting address, but no two luminaires may overlap addresses
or use the same starting address when controlled by the same ACS rack.
Since VARI
❋LITE Series 300 luminaires do not have physical thumbwheel switches, their
thumbwheel address is determined by the port connection at their respective Smart Repeater unit. The
thumbwheel address set on the Smart Repeater unit sets the starting DMX512 address for the first port
on the unit. Each successive port’s starting address and the number of DMX512 addresses allocated to
each port depends on the Smart Repeater unit’s mode. Thumbwheel addresses on Smart Repeater units
controlled by DMX512 may duplicate and overlap, but this is not recommended.
Figure 1-4: Smart Repeater Thumbwheel Switch
Patching
Patching A Fixture Library Console
Each automated luminaire is generally given a fixture number. Most operators have created their own
system for numbering the luminaires in their system. An example would be to number the fixtures
consecutively from downstage right working across each truss or batten, then moving upstage and
back to stage right to the next position and continuing the process. This numbering system is generally
based on the fixture’s position in the system and makes numeric sense. Alternately, each type of fixture
can have a number in a range; all the VL5 wash luminaires start with 100, the VL6 spot luminaires
with 200, etc. This numbering system is not necessarily based on the fixture’s position in the lighting
system. The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) has also established a
methodology for numbering the fixtures in a lighting system; please consult their literature for the
specifics of this method. Decide upon a numbering system and then begin to patch.
Patching will pair the fixture number and the DMX512 address to a control channel. When patching a
VL5 or VL5B wash luminaire, do not forget to patch dimmer channel to the intensity control channel
for the fixture. For example, to patch four VL5 wash luminaires, you would note the thumbwheel
address of the Smart Repeater unit, decide on a control channel number, then patch this at the console
using the appropriate syntax. Remember to take into account which DMX512 universe is chosen;
control problems can occur if the patching does not occur in the proper universe. Many consoles
currently can have up to four DMX512 universes, each with 512 channels.
Thumbwheel
Address Switch