Trebs Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Thoughts please.. After a successful start last year with only 16 channels I am trying to “upgrade” my system this year (finances allowing...) and wanted to get away from using a pc to run the show as I can’t easily run a network cable from my pc to the first controller. I am looking at the Showtime MP3 Director unit so I can utilise the internal clock and will power it from the first controller. My question is how to power the fm transmitter, can this be done without having to use a wall transformer??? ( Another power point taken up!!!) any comments appreciated, and thanks to all on this forum, my first post but gained alot of info from everyone here, thanks again....
LarryDrumAZ Posted June 12, 2011 Posted June 12, 2011 Trebs wrote:Thoughts please.. After a successful start last year with only 16 channels I am trying to “upgrade” my system this year (finances allowing...) and wanted to get away from using a pc to run the show as I can’t easily run a network cable from my pc to the first controller. I am looking at the Showtime MP3 Director unit so I can utilise the internal clock and will power it from the first controller. My question is how to power the fm transmitter, can this be done without having to use a wall transformer??? ( Another power point taken up!!!) any comments appreciated, and thanks to all on this forum, my first post but gained alot of info from everyone here, thanks again....If your transmitter uses a wall transformer, you can utilize a spare channel and run the transmitter off a controller. Just create an animation sequence to run the length of the show and use that particular channel and presto. Otherwise, you could use a manual timer and set it to come on when the show starts and stops...edit..This assumes you have a spare channel in your setup. If not, the timer is the way to go. I used a timer our 1st year, then made sure the following years to keep a static channel for the transmitter, signage, etc. Good Luck!
Trebs Posted June 12, 2011 Author Posted June 12, 2011 Thanks for that, hadn't thought of using a spare channel if one left... I was using the USB power from the laptop previous, but now without the laptop I can't see an easy way without using more power outlets...
Surfing4Dough Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Have you considered the mini-director instead. If you are possibly going to be using a timer anyways, it is a lot cheaper and that (the internal clock) is the main difference between the mini-director and the Showtime Director. The mini-director often goes down to $99 during sales--you can use the savings to buy more channels.I personally wouldn't use a channel just for my transmitter, unless you had an abundance of channels so having a spare isn't a big deal. But when at 16ch-64ch it seems that every single channel is too valuable and needed for lights.Read here for discussion about the minidirector:http://forums.lightorama.com/view_topic.php?id=26111&forum_id=25http://forums.lightorama.com/view_topic.php?id=25908&forum_id=76&jump_to=237142#p237142
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Or, consider a pair of ELLs and you can use your show computer, and that eliminates the need for the director. Thats assuming your preference would be to use your show computer if you could. From your comments, sounds like that fixes your FM xmtr power problem..There might be a pair left from this sale (I took the one pair myself..), just a thought.http://forums.lightorama.com/forum81/26410.html
Robert G. Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I run an always on power cord seperate from LOR out to the center of the lawn under a present. Closest to the street for clearest signal.
Steven Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 This is a bit off at a tangent, but since I use a show computer that is connected to a UPS, I got power for my transmitter from the UPS batteries. I use a parallel port relay board to switch the transmitter on and off. It's really not a big deal in my area, but the show will continue (minus the lights :X) if the power goes out.
PaulXmas Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Robert G. wrote: I run an always on power cord seperate from LOR out to the center of the lawn under a present. Closest to the street for clearest signal. Doesn't the distance from your computer to the transmitter pose a signal problem?I would think the closer is better.I would use the ELL...
cmoore60 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I have tried using a channel off of a controller to power my EDM transmitter. Because of the switching on the triac, this introduce more noise into the power supply for the transmitter. I use a simple timer to power on the transmitter. I also try to keep the distance between the computer to the transmitter as short as possible. the longer this connection, the more likely noise can be introduced.As much as possible do not run power and signal cables next to each other. Try to cross at 90 degree angles to keep noise down as much as possible.Chuck
Trebs Posted June 13, 2011 Author Posted June 13, 2011 Thank you very much for all the suggestions, this has given me a few great options... Not quite sure which way to go yet but using the mini director and saving money for more channels may just win out... And thanks for the links, I had searched for some threads but missed a couple of thoseThanks again
Recommended Posts