Lights Flicker Randomly HELP ASAP

> Its not a cable issue because I tried it at
> the head of the chain

This doesn't necessarily mean that your DMX cables are good. A bad cable or connection can cause problems anywhere in the chain.

I used multiple cables right out of the widget, and it still flickers

A bad cable or connection anywhere in the chain can cause a problem. DMX is a shared bus. Just because the first fixture is having a problem, doesn't mean that the cable between the console and that fixture is bad.

Get a multimeter and test one DMX cable. Plug your console and LED tubes into the same wall outlet. Run the tested DMX cable between them and plug in a terminator. Do you still have the flicker? If not, start adding and changing things until you find that causes the flicker. If yes, then you may need to experiment with various opto-isolators or signal buffers to find a signal that the LED tubes like.

DMX troubleshooting can be a bit of an art. Set aside a good chunk of time for troubleshooting. If you can describe more about your setup, we may be able to offer some more specific advice.

I have tried putting it on with a termintor right out of my opto splitter, and it still flickers once randomly every minute or two. Let me know if there is anything I may be able to do on the console.

DMX problems usually can't usually be solved at the console. If your tires are blown, fiddling with the engine won't help.

You can try slowing down the refresh rate in the node settings, but the Hog3 line is already pretty conservative about refresh rates.

Did you try my suggestion of plugging the everything into the same outlet and disconnecting everything else? Using the same outlet will help you determine if there's some kind of ground loop problem. Also try this with and without the opto splitter.

There's no simple cookbook approach to DMX troubleshooting. It takes a process of methodical experimentation. Talk to your dealer, they'll almost certainly have someone who's experienced with DMX troubleshooting who can help you, and they might even be able to come to your site. Or maybe there's an electrician or maintenance person in your congregation who has experience with RS485 (DMX is based on RS485).

I have tried putting everything on the same circuit, and moving the entire system to another circuit to try again and I still get the flicker. I lowered the refresh rate in Network settings and the flicker was slower when it flashed, and obviously the flicker got quicker as I raised the refresh rate. no as in intervals between flicker, but the flicker itself. The thing is, when the system is in stand alone it doesnt flicker. Its only when data is run right through it. Terminator also didnt work.

Is there a terminator on the end of your DMX chain? I have had termination problems similar to this before.

yes there is a terminator, and it flickers with or without, its not the controller because I swapped it out thinking it may be a problem with the controller.

I think that the best thing to do would be to start with just one cable to one fixture and then add one at a time after that until the problem re-appears, hopefully this helps single out the bad cable which seems to be the cause of the trouble.

Eric

What console & sofware version?

Eric right says! control signal input and output all devices and dmx cable...A faulty device input and output signals to the whole system may be a problem...Too many devices to connect to the same output...Dmx cable length , especially 100m after...Short circuit in the device sig.in-out or the signal cable...Bad ground...

I am using Hog3 ipc and I am using the latest version released

ive ran it right out of the console before going through any other fixtures, and it still gives the same problem.

cefirott45,

Did you ever resolve this problem? Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.

thanks,

Ive tried everything but nothing was resolved. I only get this issue when Hog3 is controlling it.