Chauvet CH-158 DMX Conversion

[matt]

Over the Next Few days, i will be hacking into my Chauvet CH-158 and converting it from Midi to DMX.




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.

[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.

[madgadget]

Haha just realised your US so 110 anyway...

Ill get my coat......

[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)

[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.

[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/

[madgadget]

why not multicore single lead? would be a lot neater...

[matt]

why not multicore single lead? would be a lot neater...

????? you mean like a cmy fixture?

[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.

[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.

[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

[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!