Blizzard Lighting Kaptivator User manual

Blizzard Lighting, LLC
www.blizzardlighting.com
Waukesha, WI USA
Copyright (c) 2013
KAPTIVATOR

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Kaptivator™ 1
1. Getting Started 3
What’s In The Box? 3
Getting It Out Of The Box 3
Powering Up! 3
Getting A Hold Of Us 3
Laser Safety Requirements 4
2. Meet The Kaptivator™ 5
Main Features 5
 LaserSpecications     5
DMX Quick Reference 5
The Kaptivator Pin-up Picture 6
3. Setup 7
Fuse Replacement 7
Connecting A Bunch Of Kaptivators™ 7
Data/DMX Cables 7
Cable Connectors 8
3-Pin??? 5-Pin??? Huh? 8
Take It To The Next Level: Setting up DMX Control 8
Fixture Linking (Master/Slave Mode) 9
Mounting/Rigging 9
4. Operating Adjustments 10
DIP Switch Settings 10
Sound Active Mode 10
Auto Shapes 10
Auto Animation 10
Slave Mode 10
DMX Mode 10
DMX Channel Values In-Depth 11
Troubleshooting 12
5. Appendix 13
A Quick DMX Lesson 13
Keeping Your Kaptivator™As Good As New 14
Returns (Gasp!) 14
Shipping Issues 14
Tech Specs 15

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
1. GETTING STARTED
What’s In The Box?
 •1xKaptivator™
 •1xMountingbracketw/bolts
 •ThisLovelyUserManual
Getting It Out Of The Box
Congratulations on purchasing one way cool, way original RGB 3D Laser!
Now that you’ve got your Kaptivator™ (or hopefully, Kaptivators!), you
should carefully unpack the box and check the contents to ensure that
all parts are present and in good condition. If anything looks as if it
has been damaged in transit, notify the shipper immediately and keep
the packing material for inspection. Again, please save the carton and
allpackingmaterials.Ifaxturemustbereturnedtothefactory,itis
importantthatthexturebereturnedintheoriginalfactoryboxand
packing.
Powering Up!
Allxturesmustbepowereddirectlyoffaswitchedcircuitandcannot
be run off a rheostat (variable resistor) or dimmer circuit, even if
the rheostat or dimmer channel is used solely for a 0% to 100%
switch.
AC Voltage Switch -Notallxtureshaveavoltageselectswitch,so
pleaseverifythatthextureyoureceiveissuitableforyourlocalpower
supply.Seethelabelonthextureorrefertothexture’sspecica-
tionschartformoreinformation.Axture’slistedcurrentratingisits
averagecurrentdrawundernormalconditions.Checkthextureorde-
vice carefully to make sure that if a voltage selection switch exists that
it is set to the correct line voltage you will use.
Warning! Verify that the voltage select switch on your unit
matches the line voltage applied. Damage to your xture may
result if the line voltage applied does not match the voltage indi-
cated on the voltage selector switch. All xtures must be con-
nected to circuits with a suitable Ground (Earthing).
Getting A Hold Of Us
If something is wrong, just give us a call or send an email. We’ll
be happy to help, honest.
Blizzard Lighting
W220 N1531 Jericho Ct. Suite E, Waukesha, WI 53186 USA
[email protected]
www.blizzardlighting.com
1.866.493.6025

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
LASER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Lasers are one of the coolest effects available, and when they are used appropri-
ately, they will be fun, legal and harmless. To make sure that is the case...
•Alwayssetupandinstallalllasereffectssothatalllaserlightisatleast3me-
ters(9.8feet)abovetheooronwhichpeoplecanstand.
•Aftersettingup,andbeforepublicuse,testlasertoensureproperfunction.Do
not use if any defect is detected. Do not use if laser emits only one or two laser
beams rather than dozens/hundreds, as this could indicate damage to the dif-
fraction grating optic, and could allow emission of higher laser levels above Class
3R.
•NEVER point lasers at people or animals. Never look into the laser aperture or
laser beams.
•NEVER point lasers in areas in which people can potentially get exposed, such
as uncontrolled balconies, etc.
•NEVER pointlasersathighlyreectivesurfaces,suchaswindows,mirrorsand
shinymetal.Evenlaserreectionscanbehazardous.
•NEVER point a laser at aircraft, this is a federal offense!
•NEVER point un-terminated laser beams into the sky.
•NEVER expose the output optic (aperture) to cleaning chemicals.
•NEVER use laser if the laser appears to emit only one or two beams.
•NEVER use the laser if the housing is damaged, the housing is open, or if the
optics appear damaged in any way.
•NEVER open the laser housing. The high laser power levels inside of the pro-
tectivehousingcanstartres,burnskinandwillcauseinstanteyeinjury.
•NEVER leave this device running unattended.
The operation of a class 3R laser show is only allowed if the show is controlled
by a skilled and well-trained operator, familiar with the data from this manual.
The legal requirements for using laser entertainment products vary from country
to country. The user is responsible for the legal requirements at the location/
country of use.

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
2. MEET THE KAPTIVATOR™
MAIN FEATURES
•Highpowerclass3BRGBlaser
•Soundactivemode,automode,DMX512(11ch)&master/slave
•120beamshowand7animatedgraphicshowpatterns
•3-pinDMXIn/Out
•Microphonesensitivityadjustmentknob
•Dipswitchcontolledfunctionsettings
•Polishedbluealuminumcasingw/hangingbracket
•Compactandlightweight(itkeptitsnewyear’sresolution!)
Laser Specications
Color Wavelength Power Output
Red 650nm 100mW
Green 532nm 50mW
Blue 450nm 100mW
White (all) 250mW
DMX Quick Reference - 11 Channel Mode
Channel What it does
1Mode
2Pattern Select
3Color Change
4Moving-X
5Moving-Y
6Dimmer-X
7Dimmer-Y
8Rotation
9Zoom (+/-)
10 Drawing
11 Rolling X/Y

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Figure 1: The Kaptivator™ Pin-Up Picture
Attractive Ice Blue
Colored Aluminum Casing
Secure Mounting Bracket
&AdjustmentScrews
Figure 2: The Rear Connections
Laser Output (Aperture)
Power Indicator
Microphone
Mic Indicator
On/Off Switch
AC Power Input
Mic Sensitivity
Cooling Fan
DMX In DMX Out
Dipswitches
Convenient
Dipswitch Chart

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
3. SETUP
Fuse Replacement
With a philips head screwdriver, unscrew the fuse holder from its hous-
ing. Remove the damaged fuse from its holder and replace with exact
same type fuse. Insert the fuse holder back in its place and reconnect
power.
Connecting A Bunch of Kaptivator™ Fixtures
You will need a serial data link to run light shows using a DMX-512
controllerortorunshowsontwoormorexturessettosyncinmas-
ter/slave operating mode. The combined number of channels required
byallthexturesonaserialdatalinkdeterminesthenumberofx-
tures the data link can support.
Fixtures on a serial data link must be daisy chained in one single line.
Also,connectingmorethan32xturesononeserialdatalinkwithout
the use of a DMX optically-isolated splitter may result in deterioration
of the digital DMX signal.
The maximum recommended cable-run distance is 500 meters (1640
ft).Themaximumrecommendednumberofxturesonaserialdata
linkis32xtures.
Data/DMX Cabling
Tolinkxturestogetheryou’llneeddatacables.Youshouldusedata-
grade cables that can carry a high quality signal and are less prone to
electromagnetic interference.
Forinstance,Belden©9841meetsthespecicationsforEIARS-485
applications. Standard microphone cables will “probably” be OK, but
note that they cannot transmit DMX data as reliably over long distanc-
es. In any event, the cable should have the following characteristics:
2-conductor twisted pair plus a shield
Maximum capacitance between conductors – 30 pF/ft.
Maximum capacitance between conductor & shield – 55 pF/ft.
Maximum resistance of 20 ohms / 1000 ft.
Nominal impedance 100 – 140 ohms

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Cable Connectors
Cables must have a male XLR connector on one end and a female XLR
connector on the other end. (Duh!)
CAUTION:Donotallowcontactbetweenthecommonandthex-
ture’s chassis ground. Grounding the common can cause a ground
loop,andyourxturemayperformerratically.Testcableswithan
ohm meter to verify correct polarity and to make sure the pins are not
grounded or shorted to the shield or each other.
3-Pin??? 5-Pin??? Huh?!?
If you use a controller with a 5 pin DMX output connector, you will need to use a 5 pin to 3 pin adapter.
They are widely available over the internet and from specialty retailers If you’d like to build your own, the
chart below details a proper cable conversion:
Conductor 3-Pin Female
(Output)
5-Pin Male
(Input)
Ground/Shield Pin 1 Pin 1
DMX Data (-) Pin 2 Pin 2
DMX Data (+) Pin 3 Pin 3
Not Used. No Connection. No Connection.
Not Used. No Connection. No Connection.
Take It To The Next Level: Setting Up DMX Control
Step 1: Connect the male connector of the
DMX cable to the female connector (output)
on the controller.
Step 2: Connect the female connector of the
DMXcabletotherstxture’smaleconnec-
tor (input). Note: It doesn’t matter which
xtureaddressistherstoneconnected.
Werecommendconnectingthexturesin
terms of their proximity to the controller,
ratherthanconnectingthelowestxture
numberrst,andsoon.
Step 3:Connectotherxturesinthechain
from output to input as above. Place a DMX
terminatorontheoutputofthenalxture
to ensure best communication.

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Fixture Linking (Master/Slave Mode)
1. Connect the (male) 3 pin connector side of the
DMX cable to the output (female) 3 pin connector of
therstxture.
2. Connect the end of the cable coming from the
rstxturewhichwillhavea(female)3pinconnec-
tortotheinputconnectorofthenextxturecon-
sisting of a (male) 3 pin connector. Then, proceed
to connect from the output as stated above to the
inputofthefollowingxtureandsoon.
A quick note: Often,
the setup for Master-
Slave and Standalone
operation requires that
therstxtureinthe
chain be initialized for
this purpose via either
settings in the control
panel or DIP-switches.
Secondarily,thextures
that follow may also re-
quire a slave setting.
Check the “Operating Adjustments” section in this manual for com-
pleteinstructionsforthistypeofsetupandconguration.
Mounting & Rigging
ThisxturemaybemountedinanySAFEpositionprovidedthereis
enough room for ventilation.
It is important never to obstruct the fan or vents pathway. Mount the
xtureusingasuitable“C”or“O”typeclamp.Theclampshouldbe
ratedtoholdatleast10xthexture’sweighttoensurestructuralsta-
bility. Do not mount to surfaces with unknown strength, and ensure
properly“rated”riggingisusedwhenmountingxutresoverhead.
Adjusttheangleofthexturebylooseningbothknobsandtiltingthe
xture.Afterndingthedesiredposition,retightenbothknobs.
•Whenselectinginstallationlocation,takeintoconsiderationlamp
replacement access (if applicable) and routine maintenance.
•SafetycablesMUSTALWAYSbeused.
•Nevermountinplaceswherethexturewillbeexposedtorain,
high humidity, extreme temperature changes or restricted ventilation.

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Kaptivator™ Manual - Rev. A (c) 2013 Blizzard Lighting, LLC
Dipswitch #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10
Value 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 ON
4. OPERATING ADJUSTMENTS
DIP Switch Settings
All of the various functions of the Kaptivator™ are set up using the 10-position DIP switch
located on the rear of the unit. Using this set of switches, you can select the different
operating modes and also set up the starting DMX channel in DMX mode. The chart below
describes the various operating modes and their respective DIP switch settings.
Sound Active Mode
1.) Set the dipswitch numbers 1-9 settings to OFF, and #10 to ON.
2.)Adjustthesensitivityknobtothedesiredlevel.
Auto - Shapes
1.) Set the dipswitch numbers 1-8 settings to OFF, and #9 and #10 to ON.
Auto - Animation
1.) Set the dipswitch #1, #9 and #10 to ON, and dipswitch numbers 2-8 to OFF.
Slave Mode
1.) Set dipswitch #1 to ON and others to OFF.
DMX Mode
1.) Set dipswitch 10 to OFF.
2.)ConnectDMXOUTofcontrollertoDMXINof1stxture.DaisychainDMXOUTtoDMX
INforanyadditionalxtures.
3.)Usedipswitches1–9tosetthexturesStarting DMX Address. Each dipswitch repre-
sents a binary value in which the sum would equal the set address.
Example:TosetthexturesstartingDMXaddressto12,dipswitch#10wouldbeOFF
(DMX Mode), plus dipswitch #3 and #4 would be ON. (4+8=12).
DIPSWITCH CHART
Function
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON Sound Active
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON Auto - Shapes
ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON Auto - Animation
ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF Slave Mode
SET DMX ADDRESS OFF DMX Mode
ON DIP
1 2345 678910