Flickering Lights on PixCon16

[CKSedg]

I have had a PixCon16 for several years, all working fine last year.  I am changing my whole show this year--drastically downsizing.

All of the lights connected to my PixCon16 flicker, including those that worked great last year, and have not been changed this year.

If I push the test button on the controller itself, the lights come on and stay on, with NO FLICKERING, as they should.  But, if I control them with any LOR software, they flicker (including testing on the Test Lights tab on the Control Panel, and from a sequence).  It is very weird, because they will flicker for 5-10 seconds, then go off completely for 1-2 seconds, then stay on without flickering for 1 second, then repeat.  It's very random in the timing.

I have spent three full days trying to figure this out, changing every setting I can think of to change.  Any ides?  Thanks in advance!  I'm stumped.

[Gmitch]

49 minutes ago, CKSedg said:

I have had a PixCon16 for several years, all working fine last year.  I am changing my whole show this year--drastically downsizing.

All of the lights connected to my PixCon16 flicker, including those that worked great last year, and have not been changed this year.

If I push the test button on the controller itself, the lights come on and stay on, with NO FLICKERING, as they should.  But, if I control them with any LOR software, they flicker (including testing on the Test Lights tab on the Control Panel, and from a sequence).  It is very weird, because they will flicker for 5-10 seconds, then go off completely for 1-2 seconds, then stay on without flickering for 1 second, then repeat.  It's very random in the timing.

I have spent three full days trying to figure this out, changing every setting I can think of to change.  Any ides?  Thanks in advance!  I'm stumped.

Hi, is your speed set to a minimum of 500k? I just had a similar problem.

[CKSedg]

I don't think the speed setting applies to the PixCon16, but rather to regular A/C controllers.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong............

[CKSedg]

I just timed the lights, and it is NOT random!  When controlled by clicking the test tab, or when controlled with a sequence, they 1) flicker for 15 seconds; 2) off for 2 seconds; 3) on steady for 2 seconds, repeat forever.  What is causing this?????

[k6ccc]

2 hours ago, CKSedg said:

I don't think the speed setting applies to the PixCon16, but rather to regular A/C controllers.

Are you controlling it via E1.31 or a LOR network?  If LOR, it must be either 500K or 1000K speed and must be ELOR.

1 hour ago, CKSedg said:

I just timed the lights, and it is NOT random!  When controlled by clicking the test tab, or when controlled with a sequence, they 1) flicker for 15 seconds; 2) off for 2 seconds; 3) on steady for 2 seconds, repeat forever.  What is causing this?????

Could some something else on the network be sending commands to this Pixie?

 

[CKSedg]

Controlling via E1.31 network.

I don't know what else would be sending commands.  How would I trace/troubleshoot that?  It's weird that it has a definite repeated cycle pattern: 15 sec flickering, 2 seconds off, and 2 seconds on steady.

I want to turn the lights on Thanksgiving night, but can't do it until I get this issue resolved.

[k6ccc]

I've never used a PixCon16 so grasping at straws here.  I assume that the web interface to the PixCon16 will show status including packet counts and maybe errors.  Turn off the Control Panel of what should be sending traffic to the PixCon16 and look at the status display.  If it's showing that packets are still being received, there is something else sending traffic.  Also verify that the PixCon16 does not have a standalone sequence loaded.

 

[CKSedg]

I don't think the PixCon16 can store a standalone sequence.  If it can, I don't know how to do it, so have never done it.

I'm not sure how to look at packet counts and errors.  I'm only sorta computer savvy.

[k6ccc]

Can't help you on either as I've never used a PixCon16

 

[CKSedg]

Ok---I fixed it, but don't know exactly what made the difference.  I did only two things, and now all is working great:

1) pinged my controller through a command prompt to see if it was receiving information from the computer--it was.

2) restarted my computer.

That's it!

[k6ccc]

Hope it stays working!