6
CEM3 User Manual
Chapter 2
System Reference
This chapter includes the general concepts behind the features of your CEM3, the general menu
structure of the software, definitions of all dimmer properties, and illustrations of the various dimmer
curves available in your system.
Important Concepts
This section introduces some of the primary concepts. Topics are listed alphabetically.
Advanced Features (AF)
Advanced Features (AF) allow you to receive feedback from your dimmer modules about their current
state, including the amount of current being drawn on each circuit, whether the module is installed or
not, and whether the circuit breaker on the module has tripped. This information is available both at
the front panel of the rack and at remote devices, including ETC Eos
®
and Cobalt
®
control systems and
other ACN-capable devices.
Advanced Features also allow you to monitor circuit loads by recording and running a rig check (see
In order to use Advanced Features, you need AF-capable modules (modules with AF in the module
name, such as D20AF or ED15AF) and AF cards installed in the rack.
Circuit
A circuit is a user assignable number between 1 and 99999. The circuit is the reference number for that
dimmer in the rack. Circuit numbers
must
be unique per space; it is possible to have multiple circuits of
the same number, but they must be in different spaces.
Configuration
The rack configuration is a collection of all of the data stored about the rack and all of its circuits. The
configuration is stored automatically in the CEM3 whenever you make a change (for example,
changing a circuit from switched to dimmed).
The configuration of any rack is automatically stored on both the CEM3 module and the CEM3
backplane. Therefore, you can remove a CEM3, replace it with a new, unconfigured CEM3, and the
configuration from the backplane will be loaded to the new CEM3.
You can save and load rack configurations by connecting a USB removable media device to the USB
port on the front of the module, by connecting to a computer on the network (using the CEM3 web
interface), or by connecting to an FTP server. Saving and loading are performed from the File
Operations menu. See
Saving or Uploading Files and Firmware
Dimmer Doubling (UL/ 120V 60Hz Systems Only)
ETC’s Dimmer Doubler™ technology allows you to double the number of controllable circuits in your
system without adding dimmer modules or running additional cable. The key to this feature is the
Dimmer Doubler two-fer.
The Dimmer Doubler two-fer is installed between a Sensor dimmer module and two ETC Source Four
77-volt fixtures. It splits the output of a single dimmer into two separately controlled outputs.
