Oh NUTS! What did I do?

[Vladius71]

I have a single controller with the USB485 abd s2 software. I ran my lights wich BTW was Greek tragedy in it self..lol. I connected the controller to the USB adapter with provided cat5 cable. i ran the hardware utility and programed the id and ran tests with it. It worked fine and even ran some sequences. I connected my stereo up to pump the music outside and now nothing. Hardware app shows the controller, the controller light blinks when I disconnet the cat5 but goes solid when I plug it in. I wont allow me to test or run a sequence. Major bummer. Any clues i on what I just did? Thanks

[kzaas]

Make sure your software does not say Demo Version and if it doesn't, then go to the play menu in the sequencer and make sure "Control Lights" is checked.

Also under the "Edit" Menu go down to "Preferences" and select "Network Preferences" and make sure you have the right communication port selected.

[ItsMeBobO]

Your hardware utility working is a good sign there is nothing wrong your controller or wiring.

I think your sequence channels may be wrong. Check it using tools/channel property grid.

Also check Edit/preferences/Network preferences to verify your comm port is correct. Use same one found by HWU

[Vladius71]

Check... however i'm confused why I can't even test the lights. when I run the sequencer it say that it is connectd to the controller. I will fart with it more. Fire more ideas I will certainly take any help i can get. Thanks

[ItsMeBobO]

oh....it might be telling you the comm port is in use another program. That is the hardware utility. Close that down.. then back in sequence editor verify it says 'control lights'

[vipzach]

You can't test the lights with the hardware utility or in a sequence?

You can also try using the verify. Right click the LOR light bulb in the system tray and click on verify.

[Vladius71]

I may not be explaining this well. The first thing I do is go into Hardware and I scan for the controller. Wht It finds it I run the tests, both the streaming lights and and go into consol and try loghting them manually. Nothing happens. I run verfy and diagnostic with no errors. When I go into squence editor it shows that i'm conneted to the controller on the lower right side square. When i run the sequence it happily tries but the lights stay as black as night...lol. Thanks

[kzaas]

vipzach wrote:

You can't test the lights with the hardware utility or in a sequence?

You can also try using the verify. Right click the LOR light bulb in the system tray and click on verify.

Huh? Yes you can... I do it all the time. You just can't have them both open at the same time and control the lights with them.

[Vladius71]

I think im going to reinstall the software and check both fuzes in the morning. i doubt i popped them. i'm running 90% LED and I leveled the load rather well.

[vipzach]

Vladius71 wrote:

I may not be explaining this well. The first thing I do is go into Hardware and I scan for the controller. Wht It finds it I run the tests, both the streaming lights and and go into consol and try loghting them manually. Nothing happens. I run verfy and diagnostic with no errors. When I go into squence editor it shows that i'm conneted to the controller on the lower right side square. When i run the sequence it happily tries but the lights stay as black as night...lol. Thanks

From the sequence editor, click the play button at the top and make that "control lights" is checked.

[vipzach]

kzaas wrote:

vipzach wrote:

You can't test the lights with the hardware utility or in a sequence?

You can also try using the verify. Right click the LOR light bulb in the system tray and click on verify.

Huh? Yes you can... I do it all the time. You just can't have them both open at the same time and control the lights with them.

Sorry, I was trying to clarify if he could use hardware utility to turn on the lights or if the problem was in the sequence editor. I know you can't do both at the same time. Just trying to make sure I understood where his issue was.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

[scubado]

Just in case you didn't do this, but each time you go into HWU, you have to do a refresh. Make sure it sees the controller(s).

[kzaas]

vipzach wrote:

kzaas wrote:

vipzach wrote:

You can't test the lights with the hardware utility or in a sequence?

You can also try using the verify. Right click the LOR light bulb in the system tray and click on verify.

Huh? Yes you can... I do it all the time. You just can't have them both open at the same time and control the lights with them.

Sorry, I was trying to clarify if he could use hardware utility to turn on the lights or if the problem was in the sequence editor. I know you can't do both at the same time. Just trying to make sure I understood where his issue was.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Looks like it was my mistake, I read the post too quickly and did not see the question mark at the end of you sentence. I am sorry and will make sure I read more carefully next time.

Now for Vladius, If the fuses were popped you wouldn't be seeing the LED blinking or solid on the controller. One could be popped but not both so you should be able to control at least half the lights connected.

I suggest that you open the hardware utility and do the refresh that everybody is talking about. Verify what the controller unit number is, that shows up in the box next to the refresh button.

After you do that close down the HWU and open the Sequence editor and select one of your sequences. Select one of the Channel buttons on the left hand side and verify that the controller unit number is the same as what you found in the HWU. Also look at the LED on the controller board and verify that it is not blinking while you are in the sequence editor, that would be a good indication that you have the right comm port selected in the sequence editor.

[Vladius71]

OK this doesn't appear to be working. I have verified, confimed Com port, found HW, confirmed ID, confirmed no popped fuzes and all cables/adapters are connected it just doesn't work. I have tried every suggestion given here and no dice. The program sees the box, recognizes it, but the box is giving me the middle finger.

[beeiilll]

You dropped off line before I could answer your post.

You say the problem started when you hooked up your stereo?

Go back to the point where you had things working first and see how things go. Plus a reset of the controller as well as a reboot on computer can't hurt.

How far is the controller from the computer (how long a Cat5 cable are you using)?

What type of 485 adapter are you using? http://www.lightorama.com/Converters.html

What type controller? CTB16PC or Pro LOR1600W or Pro CTB16D

[Vladius71]

Sooooo. I figured it out. I had a feeling I screwed up the logic on the controller with my mucking about. I pulled the J10 jumper. Powered the controller. Let it reset itself. Killed the power, replaced the jumper and fired it up again!!. Wham-o works like a champ now. It's too bad I have to wait another 11hrs to get to enjoy it . So all I need is bunch more 16 channel sequences. BTW I have learned some important leassons that other newbies should consider.

1. Patience is not just a virture, it a requirement.
2. Label everything.
3. When it fails to work, it's moslty likely your fault.
4. Zip ties do wonders.
5. 3m Command strips make the world go around.
6. When at the store and your wondering if you need another extension cord? Yup you do!
7. If your wife says go ahead and buy it. It means you owe her one later.
8. Calling corporate HQ's to find LED lights will get you lots of lights, some free.
9. Neighbors do get ticked when cranking "Wizards of Winter" to test your lights 5-6 times at 10pm.
10. Drilling holes in your wall to shorten the distance your Cat5 cable has to go, is tantamount to marital suicide.

Thanks Everyone for your support! Happy Lighting!:dude::dude:

[Guest Don Gillespie]

Vladius71 wrote Drilling holes in your wall to shorten the distance your Cat5 cable has to go, is tantamount to marital suicide.


Don Gillespie says who cares gotta run the show, LOL

Glad you got it figured out enjoy your show

[scubado]

Vladius71 wrote:

8. Calling corporate HQ's to find LED lights will get you lots of lights, some free.

Who's HQ did you call? I'd like to hear more detail on this one.

Glad to hear your back up and running!

[Vladius71]

I bought really cool icicle lights from Big Lots (go figure). They are dimmable SKU 145 360023961 0 080 Icy Icicle Light. However as cool as they are they sometime are missing the actual icicle part and they sell fast. 25 lights, 12ft, 9-10 bucks ea. I was having issues not only locating but replacing the ones had missing icicles. I got fed up and called Big Lots coporate. After some crossed wires with a jerky store manager. They found some more for me since the local store was out. I had to drive 45min to get them so they sweetened the deal. Big Lots rocks with coporate customer care. Their store not so much.

[beeiilll]

Alright, way to go. Yes resetting is usually the number one starter point to begin for troubleshooting problems since it really is the easiest thing to do.

Good to hear that your show can go on. We will be waiting to see video of it later on.

When you get a chance you really should update your profile info on here so that we know where you are and such. There may be someone just down the street from you who reads this forum. You never know.

Good luck with the seasons lightshows.

Bill