Chauvet Minisphere 3 User manual

User Manual

Page 2 of 13 Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Before You Begin................................................................................3
What Is Included ...........................................................................................3
Unpacking Instructions..................................................................................3
Claims...................................................................................................................3
Text Conventions ..........................................................................................3
Icons.............................................................................................................3
Document Information...................................................................................3
Product at a Glance.......................................................................................4
Safety Notes .................................................................................................4
2. Introduction.........................................................................................5
Product Overview..........................................................................................5
Product Dimensions......................................................................................6
3. Setup...................................................................................................7
AC Power......................................................................................................7
Fuse Replacement.................................................................................................7
Mounting.......................................................................................................8
Orientation.............................................................................................................8
Rigging..................................................................................................................8
4. Operation ............................................................................................9
Configuration (DMX)......................................................................................9
Starting Address ....................................................................................................9
Configuration (Standalone)............................................................................9
Sound Active Mode................................................................................................9
Automatic Mode.....................................................................................................9
Master/Slave Mode................................................................................................9
DMX Channel Assignments and Values.......................................................10
4-CH....................................................................................................................10
5. Technical Information ......................................................................10
Product Maintenance ..................................................................................10
General Troubleshooting.............................................................................11
Contact Procedure ......................................................................................12
CHAUVET® Contact Information.................................................................12
Returning Products to CHAUVET®..............................................................12
6. Technical Specifications..................................................................13

Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4) Page 3 of 13
1.BEFORE YOU BEGIN
What Is
Included
•1 x Minisphere™ 3
•1 x Power Cord
•1 x Warranty Card
•1 x Quick Reference Guide
Unpacking
Instructions
Immediately upon receipt, carefully unpack the product and check the container to make
sure you have received all the parts indicated above in good condition.
Claims
If the container or the contents appear damaged from shipping, notify the carrier
immediately, not CHAUVET®, upon receipt.
Failure to do so in a timely manner may
invalidate your claim with the carrier. In addition, keep the container and all the pa
cking
material for inspection.
For other issues such as missing parts, damage not related to shipping, or concealed
damage, file a claim with CHAUVET® within 7 days of receiving the product.
Text
Conventions
Convention Meaning
[10]
A DIP switch to be configured
1~512
A range of values
50/60
A set of values of which only one can be chosen
Settings
A menu option not to be modified
Menu > Settings
A sequence of menu options to be followed
<ENTER>
A key to be pressed on the product’s control panel
ON
A value to be entered or selected
Icons
Icon
Meaning
Critical installation, configuration, or operation information. Failure
to comply with this information may render the product partially or
completely inoperative, cause damage to the product, or cause
harm to the user.
Important installation or configuration information. Failure to
comply with this information may prevent the product from
functioning correctly.
Useful information.
Document
Information
The information and specifications contained in this document are subject to change
without notice. CHAUVET® assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or
omissions that may appear in this manual.
CHAUVET® reserves the right to update the
existing document or to create a new document to correct any errors or omissions.
Download the latest version of this document from www.chauvetlighting.com.
© Copyright 2012 CHAUVET®. All rights reserved.
Electronically published by CHAUVET® in the U.S.A.
Author Date Editor Date
A. Diaz 11/15/11 S. Graham 3/1/12

Page 4 of 13 Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4)
Product at a
Glance
Use on Dimmer

Auto Programs

Outdoor Use

Auto-ranging Power Supply

Sound Activated

Replaceable Fuse

DMX

User Serviceable

Master/Slave

Duty Cycle

Safety Notes
Please read the following Safety Notes carefully before working with the product. The
Notes include important safety information about installation, usage, and maintenance.
•Always connect the product to a grounded circuit to avoid the risk of electrocution.
•Always disconnect the product from the power source before cleaning or replacing
the fuse.
•Avoid direct eye exposure to the light source while the product is on.
•Make sure the power cord is not crimped or damaged.
•Never disconnect the product from power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord.
•If mounting the product overhead, always secure to a fastening device using a
safety cable.
•Make sure there are no flammable materials close to the product when operating.
•Do not touch the product’s housing when operating because it may be very hot.
•Always make sure that the voltage of the outlet to which you are connecting the
product is within the range stated on the decal or rear panel of the product.
•The product is for indoor use only! (IP20) To prevent risk of fire or shock, do not
expose the product to rain or moisture.
•Always install the product in a location with adequate ventilation, at least 20 in (50
cm) from adjacent surfaces.
•Be sure that no ventilation slots on the product’s housing are blocked.
•Never connect the product to a dimmer.
•Make sure to replace the fuse with another of the same type and rating.
•Never carry the product from the power cord or any moving part. Always use the
hanging/mounting bracket or the handles.
•The maximum ambient temperature (Ta) is 104° F (40° C). Do not operate the
product at higher temperatures.
•In the event of a serious operating problem, stop using the product immediately.
•Never try to repair the product. Repairs carried out by unskilled people can lead to
damage or malfunction. Please contact the nearest authorized technical assistance
center.
•Keep this User Manual for future use. If you sell the product to another user, be
sure that they also receive this document.

Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4) Page 5 of 13
2.INTRODUCTION
Product Overview
DMX Out
DMX In
Power
In & Fuse Holder

Page 6 of 13 Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4)
Product Dimensions

Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4) Page 7 of 13
3.SETUP
AC Power
The Minisphere™ 3 has an auto-ranging power supply that works
with an input voltage
range of 100~240 VAC, 50/60 Hz.
To determine the product’s power requirements (circuit breaker, power outlet, and
wiring), use the current value listed on the label affixed to the product’s back panel, or
refer to the product’s specifications chart. The listed current rating indicates the
product’s average current draw under normal conditions.
Always connect the product to a protected circuit
(circuit breaker or fuse). Make
sure the product has an appropriate electrical
ground to avoid the risk of
electrocution or fire.
Never connect the product to
a rheostat (variable resistor) or dimmer circuit, even
if the rheostat or dimmer channel serves only as a 0 to 100% switch.
Fuse
Replacement Follow the instructions below to change the fuse, if necessary.
Disconnect the product from the power outlet before replacing the fuse.
1. Wedge the tip of a flat-head screwdriver into the slot of the fuse holder and pry out
of the housing.
2. Remove the blown fuse from the holder and replace with a fuse of the exact same
type and rating.
3. Insert the fuse holder back into place and reconnect power.
The product does not ship with a spare fuse; however, the safety cap has room
for a spare.
Installed fuse
(held by plastic clip)
Spare fuse holder
(inside safety cap)
Safety cap

Page 8 of 13 Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4)
Mounting
Before mounting the product
, read and follow the safety recommendations indicated in
the Safety Notes section in this manual).
Orientation
The Minisphere™ 3
may be mounted in any position; however, make sure adequate
ventilation is provided around the product.
Rigging
•Before deciding on a location for the product, always make sure there is easy
access to the product for maintenance and programming purposes.
•Make sure that the structure or surface onto which you are mounting the product
can support the product’s weight. Refer to the Technical Specifications secti
on of
this manual for weight information.
•When mounting the product overhead, always use a safety cable.
Mount the
product securely to a rigging point, whether an elevated platform or a truss.
•When rigging the product onto a truss, you should use a mounting clamp of
appropriate weight capacity.
Mounting Diagram
Teardrop
Mounting Holes
(x2)
Mounting Screw
Holes (x4)

Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4) Page 9 of 13
4.OPERATION
Configuration
(DMX)
Set the product in DMX mode to control with a DMX controller.
1. Connect the product to a suitable power outlet.
2. Turn the product on.
3. Connect a DMX cable from the DMX output of the DMX controller to the DMX input
socket on the product.
Starting Address
When selecting a starting DMX address,
always consider the number of DMX channels
the selected DMX mode uses. If you
choose a starting address that is too high, you
could restrict the access to some of the product’s channels.
The Minisphere™ 3 uses up to 4 DMX channels in 4-Channel DMX mode, which defines
the highest configurable address to 509.
If you are not familiar with the DMX protocol, download the
DMX Primer from
www.chauvetlighting.com.
To select the starting address, do the following:
1. Set DIP switch [10] to the OFF position.
2. Use DIP switches [1~9] to set the DMX starting address.
Configuration
(Standalone)
Set the product in one of the standalone modes to control without a DMX controller.
1. Connect the product to a suitable power outlet.
2. Turn the product on.
Never connect a product that is operating in any standalone mode (either Static,
Automatic, or Sound) to a DMX string connected to a DMX controller. Products in
standalone mode may transmit DMX
signals that could interfere with the DMX
signals from the controller.
Sound Active
Mode
To enable the Sound Active mode, do the following:
1. Set DIP switch [9] to the ON position.
2. Turn the music on and adjust the microphone sensitivity knob until the product
starts reacting to the beat of the music.
The product will only respond to low frequencies of music (bass and drums).
Automatic Mode
To enable the Automatic Mode do the following::
1. Set DIP switch [xx] to the ON position.
2. Use DIP switch [xx] to increase the operating speed.
Master/Slave
Mode
The Master/Slave mode allows a single Minisphere™ 3
(the “master”) to control the
actions of one or more Minisphere™ 3 product
s (the “slaves”) without the need of a
DMX controller. The master product
will be set to operate in either Automatic or Sound
Active mode, while the slave product
s will be set to operate in Slave Mode. Once set
and connected, the slave products will operate in unison with the master.
Configure the products as indicated below.
Slave products:
1. Set DIP switch [10] to the ON position.
2. Connect the DMX input of the first slave product to the DMX output of the master
product.
3. Connect the DMX input of the subsequent slave products to the DMX output of the
previous slave product.
4. Finish setting and connecting all the slave products.
Master product:

Page 10 of 13 Minisphere™ 3 User Manual (Rev. 4)
1. Set the master product to operate in either Automatic or Sound mode.
2. Make the master product the first product in the DMX daisy chain.
•Configure all the slave units before
connecting the master unit to the DMX
daisy chain.
•
Never connect a DMX controller to a DMX string configured for Master/Slave
operation because the controller
may interfere with the signals from the
master unit.
•Do not connect more than 31 slave units to the master unit.
DMX Channel Assignments and Values
4-CH
Channel
Function
Value
Setting
1 Effects
000 009
Blackout
010 019
Red rotation
020 029
Green rotation
028 039
Blue rotation
040 049
Red + Green rotation
050 059
Red + Blue rotation
060 069
Green + Blue rotation
070 079
Red + Green + Blue rotation
080 229
Red + Green + Blue chase
230 255
Automatic Sound
2
Strobe
000

255
0~100% (slow to fast)
3
Effect Speed
000 255
0~100% (slow to fast)
4
Rotation Speed
000 255
0~100% (slow to fast)
5.TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Product
Maintenance
Dust build-
up reduces light output performance and can cause overheating. This can
lead to reduction of the light source’s life. To maintain optimum performance and
minimize wear, you should clean your lighting products at least twice a month. However,
be aware that
usage and environmental conditions could be contributing factors to
increase the cleaning frequency.
To clean the product, use the following instructions:
•Unplug the product from power.
•Wait until the product is cold.
•Use a vacuum (or dry compressed air) and a soft brush to remove dust collected on
the external surface/vents and reachable internal components.
•Clean all glass/transparent surfaces with a mild soap solution, ammonia-free glass
cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol.
•Apply the solution directly to a soft, lint free cotton cloth or a lens cleaning tissue.
•Softly drag any dirt or grime to the outside of the glass/transparent surface.
•Gently polish the glass/transparent surfaces until they are free of haze and lint.
•When cleaning units with one or more movable mirrors, you should keep the contact
with the mirror’s surface to a minimum to avoid scratching or damaging it.
Always dry the glass/transparent surfaces carefully after cleaning them.