URGENT: Need help with ETC Unison dimmer rack

[cybercoaster]

We have an ETC 24/48 light board with 2 DR12 Unison Light Control System
(one with expansion rack).

I was looking at the Unison systems in order and try to get a map of what
controls what. Note: I dont have a book on this. When I did and then tried
to exit, the display said [Test DMX OFF]. And now the lights are always on
and I have no control at the ETC light board. Does this mean it's in Test
mode and DMX control is off? If so, how do I get it back into DMX control
mode. I scrolled through but could never change it. I even loaded the
configuration off the floppy and it did a reset but the lights are still on
and I have not control.

I will be calling ETC in the morning to try and correct this but thought I
would ask here in case someone had a quick answer. And I will also be trying
to find the book on this thing!

I did find the test menu and the one where I could set all dimmers to a
certain level and right now set them to 0 just to turn it all off. But it
still comes back to Test DMX OFF and I cant get out of that unless I press
the reset button but then it just goes back where the lights are always on
again.

Please help. This is for a church and Easter is just a couple days away!!!

Why o why did I touch this! Thats one way to learn something!

TIA
***@cox.net

[Rusty]

Post by cybercoaster
We have an ETC 24/48 light board with 2 DR12 Unison Light Control
System (one with expansion rack).
I was looking at the Unison systems in order and try to get a map of
what controls what. Note: I dont have a book on this. When I did and
then tried to exit, the display said [Test DMX OFF]. And now the
lights are always on and I have no control at the ETC light board.
Does this mean it's in Test mode and DMX control is off? If so, how
do I get it back into DMX control mode. I scrolled through but could
never change it. I even loaded the configuration off the floppy and
it did a reset but the lights are still on and I have not control.
I will be calling ETC in the morning to try and correct this but
thought I would ask here in case someone had a quick answer. And I
will also be trying to find the book on this thing!
I did find the test menu and the one where I could set all dimmers to
a certain level and right now set them to 0 just to turn it all off.
But it still comes back to Test DMX OFF and I cant get out of that
unless I press the reset button but then it just goes back where the
lights are always on again.
Please help. This is for a church and Easter is just a couple days away!!!
Why o why did I touch this! Thats one way to learn something!

Out of convienence I will just copy the relevent secion (page 8) out of
the Unison manual which is online:
<http://www.etcconnect.com/products/products.asp?20>
<http://www.etcconnect.com/docs_downloads/manuals/Unison_ER_and_DR_Rack_Owner%27s_Manual_7080M1006_Rev_B.pdf>
_To set dimmer levels in the Test submenu_

You can use the Test submenu to set dimmer levels to test your dimmer
circuit wiring or lighting load operation. Test also allows you to view
DMX levels being received by the dimming processor.

1. Access the configuration menu (press the Unison Menu activation button.)

2. Scroll to [Test] with [^] or [v] and press [Enter]. The brackets move
to Ckt. The DMX input value for that circuit is displayed between a
range of 0 and 255.

3. Use [^] or [v] to scroll to the desired circuit number and press
[Enter]. The brackets move to Level. This shuts off all DMX to the rack.
DMX levels are held at last look and DMX level changes have no effect.

4. Use [^] or [v] to scroll to the circuit output level. Circuit output
will continuously match the levels as they scroll. Press [Exit] to set
levels on another circuit or [Enter] to go to Restore DMX?. (Restoring
DMX will cancel all test levels.)

Note: Circuit levels will remain at their test setting when you press
[Exit]. You can set levels for all the dimmer circuits by repeating
steps 2 and 3. 5. Use [^] or [v] to scroll to [Yes] to clear the test
settings and restore DMX or [No] to temporarily keep the look and press
[Enter].

Note: If you keep the test settings, DMX512 input is disabled until you
return to the Test menu and restore DMXand 255.

_To set dimmer levels in the Set All submenu_

The [Set All] submenu is an additional test menu. It allows you to
change all of the levels in the dimmer rack.

1. Access the configuration menu (press the Unison Menu activation button.

2. Scroll to [Set All] with [^] or [v] and press [Enter].

3. Use [^] or [v] to change the level of all dimmers.

4. Press [Enter], and use [^] or [v] to scroll to [Yes] to clear the
[Set All] and restore DMX. Or [No] to temporarily keep the look and
press [Enter].

<<<<<<

[cybercoaster]

Post by cybercoaster
We have an ETC 24/48 light board with 2 DR12 Unison Light Control System
(one with expansion rack).
I was looking at the Unison systems in order and try to get a map of what
controls what. Note: I dont have a book on this. When I did and then tried
to exit, the display said [Test DMX OFF]. And now the lights are always on

<<CHOP>>

Well, it's working again now. Found the manual on ETC's web site and got it
back to DMX control but when I did, all the lights were still on. I called
ETC and found out they had a 24hr emergency line. Called that and someone
called me back in 5 minutes. He had me go to another menu setting and it
cleared it all out. He said the DMX buffer did not reset.

He even showed me how to do a dimmer check and when I ran through that,
found out we had 3 sets of house lights above the stage that were hooked up
to the dimmer rack. I got those patched in now. We always wondered how to
turn those lights on! The people that installed this should have documented
this all of what went where!

In the mean time, I am printing the manual out and saw in the back of it
where you can map all this out.

I just want to say what an awesome company ETC is! Tech support after hours
and quick!!!!

Thanks

[Mark Wetstein]

Post by cybercoaster
I just want to say what an awesome company ETC is! Tech support after hours
and quick!!!!
Thanks

Yep. I've never waited more than 15 minutes to get a response from a
service tech. That was on a Sunday afternoon. My only wish is that they
would provide schematic diagrams of their consoles, so my in-house
engineering staff could handle minor problems.