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Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 13th, 2009, 3:23 am
by matt
Over the Next Few days, i will be hacking into my Chauvet CH-158 and converting it from Midi to DMX.

Image


I Opened up the unit and discovered that all the lamps are 120volt.

my plans are to use a MBT DX-404 DMX Dimmer Pack and connect it to the lamps.

Ill post pics of the modification process.

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2009, 2:05 pm
by madgadget
If your going to gut the insides, why not just change it all to 240, and get a normal 4 or 8ch dmx controller to go in it? Would make life a lot simpler.

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2009, 2:08 pm
by madgadget
Haha just realised your US so 110 anyway...

Ill get my coat......

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2009, 8:18 pm
by matt
Yes, The Dimmer Pack arrived yesterday for it.

I now will start the Gutting Out part. I just need to grab 4 old Computer Power cords (to Spice into the Light)

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2009, 11:57 pm
by madgadget
So are you going to have the controller separate? If so you perhaps should have a look at a plug like this to put on the back of your lights:

http://www.bulgin.co.uk/Products/GenPur ... ctors.html

The 8 bin bulgin ones used to be a standard over here I think.

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 16th, 2009, 1:28 am
by matt
What I am going to do is to Remove all the Midi Controllers From the Inside of the light, Take the Leads from the Lights and Splice them into Regular Edison Type Power Ends using 6 foot computer power cords. There will be a Plug for each 2 lamps of same color. A total of 4 Cords will come out of the unit and plug into a dimmer.

Here are some Pics of the Equipment.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattxhank/3358472364/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattxhank/3357654579/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattxhank/3357653681/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattxhank/3358469850/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattxhank/3357651403/

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 16th, 2009, 1:34 am
by madgadget
why not multicore single lead? would be a lot neater...

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 16th, 2009, 1:42 am
by matt
madgadget wrote:why not multicore single lead? would be a lot neater...
????? you mean like a cmy fixture?

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 16th, 2009, 1:47 am
by madgadget
well i mean you just make a small box with 4 flying lead with IEC plugs on them, and then that converts to a single multi core cable with plugs that goes to your light fixture, rather than having four leads going to one fixture. Would be more costly to make perhaps but would be a lot neater if that kind of thing bothers you.

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: March 16th, 2009, 3:03 am
by matt
I thought about it more,, I might Gut the Dimmer out of its case and fit it where the midi controller used to be.. That way it will still be a ALL IN ONE unit.

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: June 11th, 2009, 7:11 pm
by nikasio14
btw why not demount the dimmer and reorganise it inside your lamp package? in a normal dimmer-package there is very much free space in it, i mean more or less there is just a bunch of relays in it, some knops to control, thats it.

good luck oc

Re: Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

Posted: June 11th, 2009, 7:17 pm
by matt
Actually, I am Currently Just controlling it with that Dimmer in relay Mode...

However i am going to Retire this unit as i now have 3 Chauvet ColorStrips!