2.4 Precedence
If more than one source is assigned to a dimmer, there has to be some way to define which source
actually has control at any given time. This is referred to as “precedence”. How and when a source
controls a dimmer is programmed by the “precedence selector”. Precedence selectors are used between
two sources or combinations of sources. How sources are paired up is explained in the section that
follows. There are four types of precedence selectors.
1. Highest takes precedence (HTP): This means that, for two sources, only the source that is the
highest will control that dimmer. This is also referred to as pile-on.
2. Take control if the specified DMX input is present: This type of precedence uses the detection
of a DMXA or DMXB signal input to select a source for control. When this type of precedence
selector is used for the Main or Analog/Collage selectors, it is automatically interpreted as any
DMX present whereas this selector in the DMX precedence selector column discerns between
DMXA and DMXB sources.
3. Take Control: This type of precedence uses a programmable input to select which of the two
sources controls the dimmer. There are five take controls available and they may be
programmed to respond to a switch closure, a Collage button, or a set level from any input.
4. Nothing: This precedence indicates that the control is not a combination of two sources, but
rather one source or the other or possibly neither.
Figure 4: Dimmer Control Precedence Chart
Module Phase
ID
DMXA
DMXP
DMXB Main P Analog A/C/P
Area
Zone
Low
High
ND
P1
P2
DM1A
A
1
1
<
1
<
Area 1
Zn-001
0
100
X
DM1B
A
2
2
+
Area 1
Zn-002
0
100
X
DM2A
B
3
3
+
3
<
Area 1
Zn-003
0
100
X
DM2B
B
4
4
+
4
+
Area 1
Zn-004
0
100
X
DM3A
C
5
5
+
5
<
P1
+
Area 2
Zn-061
0
90
X
DM3B
C
6
6
<
P2
+
Area 3
Zn-062
25
100
X
X
DM4A
A
7
7
+
7
<
P3
+
Area 2
Zn-063
0
90
X
DX3 Manual
10
DMX Precedence
Selector
Analog/Collage
Precedence
Selector
Main Precedence
Selector
+
Final Dimmer Output
