- Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:38 pm
#688
External sources of light which are focused directly towards the housing/lens of a fixture can penetrate the front lens opening & potentially cause severe internal damage. These external sources can include direct sunlight, other lighting moving head fixtures, and lasers.
Damage can include burning of optics, dichroic colour filters, glass and metal gobos, prisms, animation wheels, frost filters, iris, shutters, motors, belts, wiring, discharge lamps, and LEDs.
This issue is not specific only to ELATION lighting fixtures, it is a common issue with lighting fixtures from all manufacturers – But Elation have pioneered their software to help address this issue. In addition, many internal hardware modifications (shields/baffles for example) were already in place to minimise the potential issue
The Smarty Max software works together with constant information from motion sensors within our units to determine the position/orientation of the head at all times – when the sun protection software is activated by the operator the unit will automatically pan and tilt to point the lens downwards (and hence out of direct sunlight for example).
So for example, units exposed to direct sunlight at an outdoor festival can be put into this mode if not being used for extended times – particularly helpful for units on a stage floor that may be pointing upwards by default or IP65 fixtures that typically wouldn’t have a roof or canopy over them.
To make sun protection active you can enable it from the fixtures control channel via DMX console. It can be deactivated within the same channel.
Or
It is automatically implemented after 2 minutes if DMX signal is lost. Once DMX is reapplied the unit will go back to its previous pan/tilt position.
The Fixtures display will show ‘Sun Protection Active’ whilst it is in use.
Please ensure your fixture has the latest software installed & your console personality for it is up to date so the mode is easily identifiable in the control channel.
Damage can include burning of optics, dichroic colour filters, glass and metal gobos, prisms, animation wheels, frost filters, iris, shutters, motors, belts, wiring, discharge lamps, and LEDs.
This issue is not specific only to ELATION lighting fixtures, it is a common issue with lighting fixtures from all manufacturers – But Elation have pioneered their software to help address this issue. In addition, many internal hardware modifications (shields/baffles for example) were already in place to minimise the potential issue
The Smarty Max software works together with constant information from motion sensors within our units to determine the position/orientation of the head at all times – when the sun protection software is activated by the operator the unit will automatically pan and tilt to point the lens downwards (and hence out of direct sunlight for example).
So for example, units exposed to direct sunlight at an outdoor festival can be put into this mode if not being used for extended times – particularly helpful for units on a stage floor that may be pointing upwards by default or IP65 fixtures that typically wouldn’t have a roof or canopy over them.
To make sun protection active you can enable it from the fixtures control channel via DMX console. It can be deactivated within the same channel.
Or
It is automatically implemented after 2 minutes if DMX signal is lost. Once DMX is reapplied the unit will go back to its previous pan/tilt position.
The Fixtures display will show ‘Sun Protection Active’ whilst it is in use.
Please ensure your fixture has the latest software installed & your console personality for it is up to date so the mode is easily identifiable in the control channel.
