Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: christie DCD-224 series dimmer instalation manual

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Posted by Mike Moreno (Member # 4887) on 09-18-2015, 09:17 PM:

Hi guys.

i´m having problems on one christie dcd dimmer, i can´t make it to dim and right now we have to turn on and off the breaker.
i´m not sure if is broken or just loose the programing but i cant find the installation manual and is not on the manuals site.
can you guys can send me or tell me were do i can find it?

thanks a lot for your help

miguel moreno
mexico

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-20-2015, 09:51 AM:

Sounds like a shorted triac. This is not uncommon especially when people change light bulbs with the power turned on. If a socket breaks that's when the triac shorts out. Not an expensive part and if it's easily accessible you can swap one over from another unit to make the test.

Mark

Posted by Buck Wilson (Member # 5885) on 09-20-2015, 08:20 PM:

You shouldn't change bulbs on a dimmer circuit with the lights on? I hadn't heard that.

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 09-20-2015, 10:03 PM:

quote: Buck Wilson
You shouldn't change bulbs on a dimmer circuit with the lights on?

I think what Mark meant, if you re-read his reply, is that if the bulb socket
should break and short out, you'll fry the triac. So, turning the power off
when changing the bulb is the old "ounce of prevention" theory.

I've seen theater bulbs get broken off in sockets when using one of those long
bulb-changing poles. (OK, I'll admit I've probably broken one or two myself)
so turning the power off is an easy way prevent having to change out a triac.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-21-2015, 07:33 PM:

Exactly! Have a bypass switch installed so the dimmer is OUT of the circuit!!

Mark

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-22-2015, 08:35 AM:

Then, go into bypass when power is applied until you know all is well.

I've installed nearly 1000 Kelmar dimmers, also with triac. I ALWAYS jump the input to output with a heavy #12 wire until late on opening day. This saves the triac when unexpected changes are made (curtain guy wiggles the light fixture, electrician adds expansion rings, etc.)

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-22-2015, 09:28 AM:

The Kelmar dimmers ship with jumper wires in place (and tagged) for exactly this purpose and I always lay the law down with the electricians about not removing them. Like Louis, I don't pull those off until maybe 2 days prior to opening.

Posted by Jim Cassedy (Member # 4115) on 09-22-2015, 10:57 AM:

quote: Louis Bornwasser
I ALWAYS jump the input to output with a heavy #12 wire until late on opening day. This saves the triac when unexpected changes are made (curtain guy wiggles the light fixture, electrician adds expansion rings, etc.)

WoW- Excellent idea. So simple I'm surprised I didn't think of it. ! LoL
I rarely get involved with installations anymore, but if I ever do, I'll
remember this 'trick'.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-22-2015, 12:48 PM:

Also... Kelmar dimmers no longer have to be fed from the same phase like they had to be in the past to prevent the possibility of flicker. Each channel now has it's own independent power transformer.

Mark

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 09-22-2015, 03:00 PM:

The jumper is there on the Kelmar because I, personally, required them to be shipped that way. Solved the problem, too. Now all of them get it.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-22-2015, 04:54 PM:

From day one the Ash TEC8112 dimmers were shipped with a jumper in place