Martin MAC 250 Wash, User Manual

Page: 17 / 44

DMX control 17
DMX control
The MAC 250 Wash is compatible with USITT DMX 512 controllers and can be added to a standard DMX
data link.
This section briefly describes the DMX-controllable effects. See “ DMX protocol ” on page 27 for an overview
of DMX control options.
DMX operating modes
The MAC 250 Wash has two DMX operating modes, 16-bit and 16-bit Extended. 16-bit mode uses 13 DMX
channels and 16-bit Extended mode uses 19 DMX channels. 16-bit Extended mode provides more precise
control of the dimmer, CMY mix, color filter and frost settings. All other functions are identical. The DMX
mode is selected using the

option in the fixture’s control panel (see “ Control menu ” on page 29).
Lamp power
L A M P - O N
Unless automatic lamp strike is enabled, lamp power remains off until a lamp-on command is sent from the
controller.
Note: A peak of electric current that can be many times the operating current is drawn for an instant when
striking a discharge lamp. Striking many lamps at once may cause a voltage drop large enough to prevent
lamps from striking or draw enough current to trip circuit breakers. If sending lamp-on commands to multiple
fixtures, program a sequence that strikes lamps one at a time at 5 second intervals.
L A M P - O F F
The lamp can be doused from the controller by sending the lamp-off command on channel 1 for 5 seconds.
Important! Once a lamp is doused, it cannot be restruck until it has cooled. This typically takes
around 8 minutes.
Note that the lamp-off command may be disabled using the DMX Lamp-Off personality setting
(

→

) in the fixture’s control panel.
Effect position
R E S E T
If an effect loses its indexing and fails to move to programmed positions, the fixture can be reset from the
controller by sending the “Reset” command on channel 1. Note that you can require a DMX reset command
to be sent for 5 seconds before it is executed, or you can disable the DMX reset feature, using the.DMX
Reset personality setting (
 → 
) in the fixture’s control panel.
D I M M E R / S H U T T E R
The mechanical dimmer/shutter system provides full high-resolution dimming, “instant” open and blackout,
random and variable strobe effects, and random and variable pulses in which the dimmer snaps open and
slowly dims or snaps closed and slowly opens. Shutter, strobe, and pulse effects are selected on channel 1.
The intensity level is selected on channel 2. 16-bit Extended mode provides fine tuning of the intensity level
on channel 3.