Changing Unit ID's

[drivemewilder]

I have shooting stars coming down from my backyard, over-top of my house, to the street. In my sequence the first star (backyard, top coming down) is Unit 3 channel 7. That was just the layout when i created the sequence. Now that i've got the stars up, i realize that the first 6 channels on Unit 3 are needed in the front yard and i would need tons of extension cords for those 6 channels to reach to the back which is where the controller is mounted. Unit 4 is ALL stars. If i just change the Unit id's and make Unit 3, Unit 4. And Unit 4 to Unit 3, would this solve my problem?

[Guest wbottomley]

Nope. You just reversed your problem.

You need to change the unit ID and channel number in the sequence.

[drivemewilder]

...And channel number? What do you mean?

[drivemewilder]

Been playing with the software. Can i JUST re-assign channels and not mess with Unit id? Here's what i mean: Take the 6 channels from unit 3 (not stars) and drop them to unit 4 (last 6 channels), since unit 4 will be mounted right where i need those 6 channels. Then move all the stars up 6 channels to fill the void left and make room for those 6 channels 58-64? I would like to just re-name the channels and not drag/drop them as this would change my layout (channel config). Thus the 40th channel (example) from the top could in fact be something entirely different from 40, which i wouldn't know unless i clicked on the channel and saw what unit # and channel # it is.

Sorry for the confusement and my lack of knowledge. I'm getting the hang of it.

[medman2000]

There are two issues (if I understand your question). First, you need to physically put your controllers in the yard/roof/wherever, and you have to plug stuff in. Second, you need to tell the software (assign unit and channel). You do this in the channel configuration tool, or by right-clicking on a channel and selecting change channel settings.

So in the software, let's say you have channels with default names (like unit 01.1...unit 01.16). Change those names to "star 1" and "star 2" etc. Then for your "star 1" channel, you use the channel settings/config tool to assign the actual unit (for you it is controller 1, 2, 3, or 4) and which channel on that unit (1-16).

Does that make sense? And/or answer your question? Or did I mis-understand your question?

[drivemewilder]

I think that answers my question. I need 3 controllers in the front yard. 2 will control various items, 1 will control various items + stars, and 1 controller in the backyard for stars. I already have songs sequenced, and right now the layout shows unit 3 needing to be in the backyard to take stars 1-10 which are actually channels 7-16. Unit 4 placed in the front yard to take the other 16 stars. But unit 3 needs to actually be my 3rd unit in the front yard that is "various items + stars." And move unit 4 to the backyard. To avoid changing unit id's on the controller, it sounds like i can leave unit 3 in the backyard but assign channel #'s so that unit 4 becomes "various items + stars." Right now unit 3 channels 1-6 are firesticks (6 out of 8 channels). Meaning unit 2 channels 15-16, unit 3.1-6. If i re-assign unit id's and channel id's, i would have firesticks being 2.15-16 and 4.11-16.

[drivemewilder]

1.1 - 2.14, various items
2.15 - 3.6, firesticks
3.7 - 4.16 stars

That was then, this is what i'm asking about doing:
1.1 - 2.14 various items.
2.15 - 2.16 firesticks
3.1 - 4.10 stars (26 stars)
4.11 - 4.16 firesticks

The firesticks need to be in order just like the stars do, but easier to manage 8 consecutive channels out of whack than it is 26 channels. Did this make better sense?

[CLD Kevin]

drivemewilder wrote:

1.1 - 2.14, various items
2.15 - 3.6, firesticks
3.7 - 4.16 stars

That was then, this is what i'm asking about doing:
1.1 - 2.14 various items.
2.15 - 2.16 firesticks
3.1 - 4.10 stars (26 stars)
4.11 - 4.16 firesticks

The firesticks need to be in order just like the stars do, but easier to manage 8 consecutive channels out of whack than it is 26 channels. Did this make better sense?

The firesticks...or anything else doesnt need to be in order as long as your channel assignments match what you have connected to the controller. I’m not sure if you’re asking about how its arranged in the sequence editor, but that doesn’t matter either. Move it around anyway you want. Even though your firestick are on separate controllers, you can bunch them all together in the sequence editor. If you knew this already…sorry, disregard. Its definitely easier to track when they are together on the same controller, but remember to take in consideration the power your using. That is one of my main reason (location too) if I need to separate items. You dont want all your power hogs lights on one controller and very little on the others especially if your pushing the max amp rating. Try to even it out as much as possible.

Best thing to use is a spreadsheet to track your channels and power consumption. I live by my spreadsheet and no way could I keep track of my channels and power use without it.

[medman2000]

One last thought (sorry if overkill) - the way you are talking about your units/channels makes me think you haven't changed their names in the sequence editor. If you change the names in your sequence editor (away from unit1.01 to firestick1, as an example) I bet this will all make much more sense. It sounds like you might be stuck on something being called unit1.01 in your sequence editor, but now that "thing" is plugged into a different unit? The sequence editor doesn't care what you call your channels.

When I add a new element to my display - I add channels to the sequence. Say I'm adding 4 candy canes on my porch. In sequence editor, I right click on a channel, select "insert channels-->insert multiple channels below-->". It might then call these inserted channels unit20.1, unit 20.2, unit 20.3, unit 20.4. I click on unit20.1 - that opens up channel settings. I change name to Candy1, I change color to red. Same thing for unit 20.2 (change name to Candy2, color to red). Same for unit 20.3 and 20.4. Here's the key - I haven't plugged them in to anything yet in the yard - does that make sense? I might actually plug Candy1 into unit4.16 because that box has an extra channel - so when I do that, I go back inside and in the sequence editor, I click on Candy1 (to open channel settings) - and under "unit" I change to 4, and under circuit I change to 16. Now the software knows that the thing I called Candy1 is plugged into unit 4, channel (or circuit) 16. So everytime I want Candy1 to light/shimmer/fade/twinkle the software sends the command to unit 4, channel/circuit 16. That's it. The software didn't care where I chose to plug it in, it just needs to know what I decided.

Good luck! Again, sorry for overkill but wanted to make sure you get the help you need.

[drivemewilder]

You guys have been super helpful. Thank you! Unless someone corrects me, my plan this evening will be to keep unit 3 in the backyard and unit 4 in the front. I will go into my editor and take the items that are currently 3.1-3.6, and move them to unit 4.11-4.16. Then slide all my stars, currently 3.7-4.16, up to begin at 3.1-4.10.

Sorry medman, i do not mean to come off as using the default of 1.1 1.2...ect as the name of the channel. I did in fact re-name them star, firestick, C9roof, ect. I'm definately doing a poor job of asking my question, but you all have done a great job of explaining and getting me the answer i need. I now see/understand that in my sequence editor, my very first channel showing may be....Stick Tree. But in fact if i gave it a different ID, it could actually be Unit 50, channel 10.

[Alan C]

If you choose "Tools" then "Channel Configuration", then this will list the names you have given all your channels, and also list the controller and channel numbers. You can then put controller number and channel number against these named items as you decide how you are going to connect them up. It is also possible to print out the list (certainly with S3) so you have a printed version to take with you when you wire the lights up.

Regards,

Alan.

[Dave Boros]

drivemewilder wrote:

You guys have been super helpful. Thank you! Unless someone corrects me, my plan this evening will be to keep unit 3 in the backyard and unit 4 in the front. I will go into my editor and take the items that are currently 3.1-3.6, and move them to unit 4.11-4.16. Then slide all my stars, currently 3.7-4.16, up to begin at 3.1-4.10.

Sorry medman, i do not mean to come off as using the default of 1.1 1.2...ect as the name of the channel. I did in fact re-name them star, firestick, C9roof, ect. I'm definately doing a poor job of asking my question, but you all have done a great job of explaining and getting me the answer i need. I now see/understand that in my sequence editor, my very first channel showing may be....Stick Tree. But in fact if i gave it a different ID, it could actually be Unit 50, channel 10.

Forget about the physical controllers for a minute. Program your sequence. Go outside with a notepad and pen. Plug your "lights" into the cord on the unit. Write down what unit and what channel you plugged those "lights" into. After you've plugged and written, go inside to your pc, and change your channel config to match your paper. Moving the units is irrelavent. Its the channel and box #'s that matter. If you plug star strand one in box3 ch 5, change the channel config on your sequence to b3 ch5. If you plug star strand two in box 4 ch 10, change the channel config on your sequence to b4 ch 10...etc. hope this helps and I think this is what medman was trying to say.

[drivemewilder]

Above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks everyone, you've been a tremendous help.