Newbie question before the big summer sale!!

[dcarter4]

Hi All,

This will be my first year...and I am hoping the summer sale will allow me to purchase the Showtime Pro 16 w/Advanced software upgrade.

Anybody know what the sale price might be?

Controller question:

I control my light via X-10 (via Crestron) to simply turn my lights on and off at a certain time.

What I'd like to do, is maintain this simple task, but turn on/off all of the lights via x-10 (controlled by the ShowTime Pro 16 unit) at the end of my sequenced "show".

For example. At 6pm, ShowTime turns on all the lights. At 7pm...ShowTime dramatically dims all the lights to OFF...then starts the show (say...10min show). At the end of the "show"..certain lights remain on..and the rest go off. This is repeated throughout the night.

Question: Do I need the advanced software to do this? I assume so..because it's the only one that has x-10 control.

TIA

Dwayne

[james campbell]

welcome to light o rama,you will find good people with great information here. I think it would be better to get the ctb16pc it has all the same functions as the showtime pro but is cheaper. most everyone uses tham here.I not sure what the x-10 does,but if it just turns the lights on and off you will not need that with the new controller .I think you can do everything you described with the software,the new version s3 will be out later this month but no firm date yet. the level of software you will need to buy depends on the amout of channels you will have and also the higher levels have many differnt tools so if you can buying the advanced would be a good idea

[Gary Levelius]

As James mentioned, I would definitely go with the advanced software since at some point you'll need the added features and the price difference is minimal. I'd also recommend the PC series of controllers. I would suggest getting two and using some of the channels from one of the controllers to replace the X-10 functions you have now since all the controllers will do the ON/OFF and dimming functions you're using the X-10 modules for.

Oh, and everyone knows here and will tell you, plan on plenty of extension cords cause you'll need 'em

-Gary-

[Surfing4Dough]

To make sure you understand when we are saying PC controllers, this is what we are referring to:
http://store.lightorama.com/ctb16pcpage.html

Both Control lights the exact same way. For residential display, the showtime pro controllers don't add anything major. If you are having a hard time determining the difference and what is significant, then please ask. Save the money for more channels/lights/extension cords, etc.

http://www.lightorama.com/ShowtimePC.html

[evandewindt]

Gary Levelius wrote:

Oh, and everyone knows here and will tell you, plan on plenty of extension cords cause you'll need 'em

-Gary-

haha so true...plan to spend more on extension cords than you did on the cntroller lol

[dcarter4]

Hey Guys,

Thanks so much for the quick response! I have a better idea of what to buy, now.

Just waiting on the sale!!

Thanks again!

Dwayne

[dcarter4]

OH...one last question....

We have about 7 or so inflatables. Do you guys control them via the Controlers...or are they on a seperate system?

I imagine an Inflatable would use up a lot of the lighting available power. How much power DOES an Inflatable use? How do you calculate?

TIA

Dwayne

Attached files

[dcarter4]

Ok...one more question..

Looking at the CTB16PC ($ 249) and the advanced software ($ 139) it looks like I'm set?!

The description for the CTB16PC is a bit brief. It just says that it lacks the bells and whistles of the Showtime Pro. What other differences does it have...over the CTB16PC (other than an ID wheel).

Thanks again!!

[Gary Levelius]

Biggest difference is the Showtime controllers can store animation sequences onboard and can run standalone whereas the PC controllers require a computer, another showtime controller or an director card to run.

As for the inflatables, most people just keep the fans powered all the time and control the lights with a LOR channel. You NEVER want to put a fan load on a channel as it can cause undesirable effects in addition to taking time to inflate

-Gary-

[Gary Levelius]

Also, the Showtime controllers are UL listed whereas the PC controllers are not. You'll want the UL listing if, for example, the show were to be done in a commercial place, such as a mall or community park.

-Gary-

[cmoore60]

Your inflatables should be powered seperately. Not so much for the consumption of the power that could be lights. But the way that LOR achieves dimming, by pulsating the AC is not liked by motors. Plus motors are inductive loads and LOR is designed for resistive loads. You will shorten the life of your motors. One thing you can do is modify your inflatables and control the lights via LOR and run motors off an ordinary timer.

The bells and whistles that are NOT on the CTB-16PC. No stand alone mode. Meaning you cannot load an animation sequence into the controller and have it run when plugged in. The PC version can only be 15 amps per side. The Showtime presently has dials to set the address, the PC is set using the hardware utility. The newer version of the Showtime controller, not yet released, will do away with the dials.

For more differences follow this link. Near the bottom of the page there is a comparison chart. http://www.lightorama.com/ShowtimePC.html

Chuck

[dcarter4]

Thanks Guys.

Looking at the numbers, if I buy the CTB16PC, the advanced software, and the USB485B...I get a total of about $ 431. If I go with the 16ch Showtime Starter w/ same upgrades...then I'm looking at about $ 451

Correct?

As far as the inflatables...Using the advanced software..how does the unit (either the showtime or the CTB) "trigger" the x-10 command?

Is the x-10 signal transmitted through one of the 16ch plugs?

What I'm trying to do, is to trigger the x-10 event to turn off the Inflatables, in time with the music "show". The Inflatables would be connected to a separate 15A circuit.

Thanks!

Dwayne

[Greg]

I would use the x-10 to control your inflatables, with a few modifications you might be able to use the x-10 strictly for the blowers and LOR controllers for the lights inside them.

[Surfing4Dough]

I suggest getting the "card assembled" version of the PC controllers. No soldering, and if you can use a screwdriver, you can attach the cords in about 30 minutes and save even more money. To clarify on the "stand-alone" mode of the showtime controllers. This is only for animation sequences (no music). If you are planning to do a sequence to music (like most displays do) you will need either a computer or a director/mini-director to control either the PC or the Showtime controllers. So for most, this stand-alone mode isn't even used.
Card Assembled (Complete Package) http://store.lightorama.com/ctascpa.html
These usually go for about 15% off during the sale.

And buy the generic starter package with the PC controller
http://store.lightorama.com/spk800.html
I come up with roughly $333. (with advanced software, and USB485B, at regular price) = more money to spend now/later!

All these controllers control lights the EXACT same way (a common misunderstanding).

Good discussions on this topic:
http://forums.lightorama.com/forum25/23291.html (changed to this discussion half way down the page)

http://forums.lightorama.com/forum80/22003-1.html (best discussion starts on page 2)

[Surfing4Dough]

If there is concern about assembling the cords on the "card assembled" PC controller, here is a how-to video of the exact process:

And FYI, cheaper to buy cat5 from monoprice rather than getting it from LOR:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208

[james campbell]

Surfing4Dough wrote:

I suggest getting the "card assembled" version of the PC controllers. No soldering, and if you can use a screwdriver, you can attach the cords in about 30 minutes and save even more money. To clarify on the "stand-alone" mode of the showtime controllers. This is only for animation sequences (no music). If you are planning to do a sequence to music (like most displays do) you will need either a computer or a director/mini-director to control either the PC or the Showtime controllers. So for most, this stand-alone mode isn't even used.
Card Assembled (Complete Package) http://store.lightorama.com/ctascpa.html
These usually go for about 15% off during the sale.

And buy the generic starter package with the PC controller
http://store.lightorama.com/spk800.html
I come up with roughly $333. (with advanced software, and USB485B, at regular price) = more money to spend now/later!

All these controllers control lights the EXACT same way (a common misunderstanding).

Good discussions on this topic:
http://forums.lightorama.com/forum25/23291.html (changed to this discussion half way down the page)

http://forums.lightorama.com/forum80/22003-1.html (best discussion starts on page 2)

I agree that is the kit I bought,very easy to assemble and about 50 bucks cheaper

[evandewindt]

dcarter4 wrote:

OH...one last question....

We have about 7 or so inflatables. Do you guys control them via the Controlers...or are they on a seperate system?

I imagine an Inflatable would use up a lot of the lighting available power. How much power DOES an Inflatable use? How do you calculate?

TIA

Dwayne

I have 3 inflatable for halloween and I re wired them so they each have a connection for the lights and a connection for the motors. I control all the blowers on one channel that is either totally on or totally off. Not all my shows use the inflatables so I wanted a way to deflate them multiple times throughout the night. It's worked well so far... I figured most inflatables don't last long anyways.. I've had multiple inflatable fan motors die after 3 years of use just being plugged in to a regular circuit. Maybe I'm actually making them last longer by not running them so much.. I guess only time will tell lol

[PaulXmas]

Do you have the Active Home Software?
I used it to turn my blow ups off and on each night.
You program it and forget it!

[dcarter4]

Hey All,

I actually have a very hi-end Crestron Automation system (that's what I do for a living)...so triggering the inflatables to go on and off is no problem...but I wanted
to have the inflatables work with the "show" program.

How does the unit (either the showtime or the CTB) "trigger" the x-10 command?

Is the x-10 signal transmitted through one of the 16ch plugs?

What I'm trying to do, is to trigger the x-10 event to turn off the Inflatables, in time with the music "show". The Inflatables would be connected to a separate 15A circuit.

Thanks!

Dwayne

[cmoore60]

The controller does not trigger the X-10. You can only control X-10 if driving your show by a computer. The channel in the sequence editor would be defined as an X-10 channel. I believe you would put the house and unit code in there. LOR is very particular on what interface that it uses to communicate to the X-10. I personally do not use X-10. My information comes by being familiar with the software and from reading many threads from people over time that have experieced issues and sought answers.

I would suggest for the time being you download the demo and take a look around the software. Then when you purchase and get your license code you will just have to enter the information and unlock the features. There is no difference in the software package, just what features are unlocked at the different levels.

Chuck