Chroma Color Block PSU30 User manual

Chroma-Q™
Color Block™ PSU30
User Manual
Version 1.2 December 2006
PN: 602-0503

Color Block PSU-30 User Manual 1 V1.2 December 2006
Disclaimer
The information contained herein is offered in good faith and is believed to be accurate.
However, because conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control, this
information should not be used in substitution for customer's tests to ensure that Chroma-Q
products are safe, effective, and fully satisfactory for the intended end use. Suggestions of use
shall not be taken as inducements to infringe any patent. Chroma-Q sole warranty is that the
product will meet the sales specifications in effect at the time of shipment. Your exclusive
remedy for breach of such warranty is limited to refund of purchase price or replacement of any
product shown to be other than as warranted.
Chroma-Q reserves the right to change or make alteration to devices and their functionality
without notice due to our on going research and development.
The Color Block PSU30 has been designed specifically for the professional entertainment
lighting industry. Regular maintenance should be performed to ensure that the products
perform well in the entertainment environment.
If you experience any difficulties with any Chroma-Q products please contact your selling
dealer. If your selling dealer is unable to help please contact [e-mail]. If the
selling dealer is unable to satisfy your servicing needs, please contact the following, for full
factory service:
Outside North America: North America:
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[email protected] supp[email protected]
For further information please visit the Chroma-Q website at www.chroma-q.com.
Chroma-Q is a trademark, for more information on this visit www.chroma-q.com/trademarks.
The rights and ownership of all trademarks are recognised.

Color Block PSU-30 User Manual 2 V1.2 December 2006
Table of Contents
1. Product Overview ……………………..………………………….………............... 3
2. Operation ……………...…………………………………………………….………… 3
2.1 Cabling …………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.2 Control ………………………………………………………………………… 5
a. Control menu ……………………………………………………………… 5
b. DMX personality mode 1-3 ……………………………………………… 7
c. DMX personality mode 4-6 ……………………………………………… 8
d. DMX personality mode 7-9 ………………………………………….… 9
2.3 Technical Information ………………………………………………………. 10
a. Specification …………………………………………………………… 10
b. Maintenance ……………………………………………………………… 10
c. Battery replacement …………………………………………………… 10
d. Installation ………………………………………………………………… 11
e. Wiring ……………………………………………………….…………….. 11

Color Block PSU-30 User Manual 3 V1.2 December 2006
1. Product overview
The Color Block PSU-30 is a 2U 19” rack mounted power supply suitable for up to 30 Color
Block DB4 LED fixtures. It can be controlled remotely via ANSI E1.11 USITT DMX 512-A in a
variety of modes to accommodate most applications or can operate independently as a
standalone system.
The Color Block PSU-30 delivers power and data via six XLR4 outputs. A maximum of five
daisy-chained Color Block DB4 fixtures can be connected to each XLR4 output. Return lines are
not required. The total cable length of each chain must not exceed 60m/200ft.
Color Block DB4
For the purpose of clarification, the Color Block DB4 unit below is known as a Fixture. Each
Fixture contains 4 Cells, with each Cell comprising of 3 LEDs.
2. Operation
2.1 Cabling
2.2 Control
a. Control menu
b. DMX personality mode 1-3
c. DMX personality mode 4-6
d. DMX personality mode 7-9
2.3 Technical information
a. Specifications
b. Maintenance
c. Battery replacement
d. Installation
e. Wiring
2.1 Cabling
The Color Block utilises an XLR4 cable system. This is used to supply power and control data.
Pin 1 = 0VDC, pin 2 = control minus, pin 3 = control plus, pin 4 = +48VDC. The chassis should
be ground bonded.
Only genuine Tourflex Datasafe cable is recommended for use with the Color Block system.
Damage will occur if power connections short-circuit to data or ground shield connections.
When assembling XLR4 cables, heat shrink should be used on each individual data pin and the
drain wire to prevent short circuits.
A maximum of five daisy-chained Color Block DB4 fixtures can be connected to each XLR4
output. Return lines are not required. The total cable length of each chain must not exceed
60m/200ft.

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Note: Due to the higher levels of leakage current of the PSU-30 it is important that the XLR4
cables used are manufactured only to the specification detailed above. It is also important that
the cables are not coupled or uncoupled whilst the PSU is powered and that the PSU is
correctly grounded.

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2.2 Control
The Color Block PSU-30 menu items are accessed via the LCD display and the following
controls:
•Right hand button (red) = Enter (hold for 2 seconds to save)
•Left hand button (blue) = Exit without saving
•Wheel = Adjusts values or scrolls through menu items
The LCD screen shown to the right is currently at the Home
position. The Home position displays; product name, current
DMX Address, current Control Mode and Time.
If left unadjusted at a main menu position for 5 seconds the
LCD screen will revert to the Home position.
The software version number is displayed on power-up.
a. Control menu
Use the wheel to scroll through the control menu positions:
Home / DMX Address
To set the DMX start address of the PSU-30, press Enter, turn wheel to adjust DMX
start address, press Enter for 2 seconds to save.
Control Mode
The PSU-30 can be set to operate in various DMX controlled modes. We offer 3
grouping options (individual, block, all) with 3 control options on each (FX, HSI and
RGB) see below for details. Press Enter, turn wheel to select control mode, press
Enter for 2 seconds to save.
Mode 1 (367ch) - Individually grouped, 120 x HSI + FX
Mode 2 (360ch) - Individually grouped, 120 x HSI
Mode 3 (360ch) - Individually grouped, 120 x RGB
Mode 4 (96ch) - Block grouped, 30 x HSI + FX
Mode 5 (90ch) - Block grouped, 30 x HSI
Mode 6 (90ch) - Block grouped, 30 x RGB
Mode 7 (9ch) - All grouped, 1 x HSI + FX
Mode 8 (3ch) - All grouped, 1 x HSI
Mode 9 (3ch) - All grouped, 1 x RGB
When DMX is Lost
If DMX is not detected various output options can be selected: Press Enter, turn
wheel to selection, press Enter for 2 seconds to save.
Off - will snap to off
Hold - will hold last valid DMX state
Trig - will default to Time Trigger operation
Look 1-42 - will snap to the Look of your choice
Look Store
The PSU-30 has 42 internal FX Looks for standalone operation, 1-9 are preset. To
replay a Look, press Enter and scroll through the Looks.
Note: DMX has priority over internal Looks.
Looks can be recorded to the internal flash memory by users and will be preserved
on power down. However, looks will be returned to default setting if menu 8 Reset is
performed. There are two ways to record a look:
Simple, with DMX console.
Set the PSU-30 to Control Mode 1. Use a DMX console to adjust the internal FX

Color Block PSU-30 User Manual 6 V1.2 December 2006
engine to create the desired effect. Scroll to Look Store and press Enter, scroll to
desired Look and press Enter. Press Enter again for 2 seconds to save Look.
Advanced, standalone. Set the PSU-30 to Control Mode 1.
Scroll to Look Store and press Enter, scroll to desired Look and press Enter to access
the memory data. The data is presented as two numbers separated by a letter “c”.
The number to the left of the c is the channel number and to the right is the channel
level. Scrolling the wheel will select the channel number. To edit the channel level,
press Enter to toggle to the alternate number and use the scroll wheel to adjust the
level (shown as 0-255). Press Enter to toggle back to the channel number. When the
desired effect is created press Enter for 2 seconds to save Look.
Time Triggers
The PSU-30 has real time triggering of the internal Looks. Press Enter and scroll to
desired Time Trigger and press Enter. Press Enter to toggle between Day, Hour (24),
Minutes and Look to be triggered, adjusting the setting with the scroll wheel as
desired. Press Enter for 2 seconds to save settings. By default Time Triggers will
occur on all 7 days unless specified. The triggers will only be activated when the
feature “When DMX is Lost” is set to Trig.
Set Day and Time
Press Enter. Press Enter to toggle between Day, Hour (24) and Minutes, adjusting the
setting with the scroll wheel as desired. When the Day and Time is set correctly
press Enter for 2 seconds to save settings.
Display Backlight (Displ. Backlight)
The LCD backlight can be set to go off after 5 seconds of no activity. Press Enter,
scroll wheel to On (permanently) or Off (after 5 seconds) and press Enter for 2
seconds to save setting.
Reset to Default
Press Enter for 2 seconds to reset all menu items to factory defaults. Factory defaults
are: DMX address = 001, Control Mode = 1 (367 channels HSI+FX), DMX Lost =
Hold, Looks = default, Time Triggers deleted, Display = On. Sync FX = Master.
Sync Mode
In normal operation internally generated FX should stay synchronised between PSU-
30’s for approx 30 minutes. If better synchronisation is required a timing signal can
be run via a RJ45 patch (not crossover) cable between PSU-30’s. In order for this to
work correctly one PSU-30 must be designated as the Master and all other must be
set to Slave.
Press Enter and use the scroll wheel to select Master or Slave. Press Enter for 2
seconds to save setting.

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b. DMX personality mode 1-3
In modes 1-3 each cell is a group
PSU-30 (v1.0) Mode 1 (367ch)
120 x HSI + FX
Mode 2 (360ch)
120 x HSI
Mode 3 (360ch)
120 x RGB
Channel 1 Grouping
0-100 Variable grouping range
between 1-120 cells with FX
running within the group.
102-206 variable grouping range
between 1-120 cells with FX
running between the groups.
209-255 Variable grouping range
for every 2nd to every 120th cells in
a group.
Hue for group 1 Red for group 1
Channel 2 Colour Speed
0-255 Variable speed of colour
scrolling. From static at 0 to
maximum at 255.
Saturation for group 1 Green for group 1
Channel 3 Colour Fan
0-255 Variable fan of colour
between / within groups. All units
are the same colour at 0.
Intensity for group 1 Blue for group 1
Channel 4 Colour Range
0 Full spectrum
1-255 Variable limit of spectrum
for colour scrolling. Single colour
at 1, full spectrum at 255.
Hue for group 2 Red for group 2
Channel 5 Colour Step
0-255 Variable control of
smoothness of colour scrolling.
Smoothest is at 0. Most coarse is
at 250. Rate will vary with
scrolling speed. 255 will override
effects and switch to RGB.
Saturation for group 2 Green for group 2
Channel 6 Intensity Effects
0 Static
1-63 Fade on, fade off . Variable
range, 63 the fastest
64-127 Fade on, snap off. Variable
range, 127 the fastest
128-191 Snap on, fade off.
Variable range, 191 the fastest.
192-255 Snap on, snap off
(strobe). Variable range, 255 the
fastest.
Intensity for group 2 Blue for group 2
Channel 7 Intensity Fan
0-255 Variable fan of intensity
effect between / within groups. All
units at the same intensity at 0.
Alternating units on and off at
255.
Hue for group 3 Red for group 3
Channel 8 Hue for group 1 Saturation for group 3 Green for group 3
Channel 9 Saturation for group 1 Intensity for group 3 Blue for group 3
Channel 10 Intensity for group 1 Hue for group 4 Red for group 4
Channel 11 Hue for group 2 Saturation for group 4 Green for group 4
Channel 12 Saturation for group 2 Intensity for group 4 Blue for group 4
Channel 13 Intensity for group 2 Hue for group 5 Red for group 5
...and so on up to group 120
Total DMX channels 367 DMX channels 360 DMX channels 360 DMX channels

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c. DMX personality mode 4-6
In modes 4-6 each Color Block DB4 fixture (4 cells) is a group
PSU-30 (v1.0) Mode 4 (96ch)
30 x HSI + FX Mode 5 (90ch) 30 x HSI Mode 6 (90ch) 30 x RGB
Channel 1 Colour Speed
0-255 Variable speed of colour
scrolling. From static at 0 to
maximum at 255.
Hue for group 1 Red for group 1
Channel 2 Colour Fan
0-255 Variable fan of colour
between groups. All units are the
same colour at 0.
Saturation for group 1 Green for group 1
Channel 3 Colour Range
0 Full spectrum
1-255 Variable limit of spectrum
for colour scrolling. Single colour
at 1, full spectrum at 255.
Intensity for group 1 Blue for group 1
Channel 4 Colour Step
0-255 Variable control of
smoothness of colour scrolling.
Smoothest is at 0. Most coarse is
at 250. Rate will vary with scrolling
speed. 255 will override effects
and switch to RGB.
Hue for group 2 Red for group 2
Channel 5 Intensity Effects
0 Static
1-63 Fade on, fade off . Variable
range, 63 the fastest
64-127 Fade on, snap off. Variable
range, 127 the fastest
128-191 Snap on, fade off.
Variable range, 191 the fastest.
192-255 Snap on, snap off
(Strobe). Variable range, 255 the
fastest.
Saturation for group 2 Green for group 2
Channel 6 Intensity Fan
0-255 Variable fan of intensity
effect between groups. All units at
the same intensity at 0. Alternating
units on and off at 255.
Intensity for group 2 Blue for group 2
Channel 7 Hue for group 1 Hue for group 3 Red for group 3
Channel 8 Saturation for group 1 Saturation for group 3 Green for group 3
Channel 9 Intensity for group 1 Intensity for group 3 Blue for group 3
Channel 10 Hue for group 2 Hue for group 4 Red for group 4
Channel 11 Saturation for group 2 Saturation for group 4 Green for group 4
Channel 12 Intensity for group 2 Intensity for group 4 Blue for group 4
Channel 13 Hue for group 3 Hue for group 5 Red for group 5
...and so on up to group 30
Total DMX Channels 96 DMX channels 90 DMX channels 90 DMX channels

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d. DMX personality mode 7-9
In modes 7-9 all PSU-05 output is grouped as one
PSU-30 (v1.0) Mode 7 (9ch)
HSI + FX Mode 8 (3ch) HSI Mode 9 (3ch) RGB
Channel 1 Colour Speed
0-255 Variable speed of colour
scrolling. From static at 0 to
maximum at 255.
Hue for group 1 Red for group 1
Channel 2 Colour Fan
0-255 Variable fan of colour within
group. All units are the same
colour at 0.
Saturation for group 1 Green for group 1
Channel 3 Colour Range
0 Full spectrum
1-255 Variable limit of spectrum
for colour scrolling. Single colour
at 1, full spectrum at 255.
Intensity for group 1 Blue for group 1
Channel 4 Colour Step
0-255 Variable control of
smoothness of colour scrolling.
Smoothest is at 0. Most coarse is
at 250. Rate will vary with scrolling
speed. 255 will override effects
and switch to RGB.
Channel 5 Intensity Effects
0 Static
1-63 Fade on, fade off . Variable
range, 63 the fastest
64-127 Fade on, snap off. Variable
range, 127 the fastest
128-191 Snap on, fade off.
Variable range, 191 the fastest.
192-255 Snap on, snap off
(Strobe). Variable range, 255 the
fastest.
Channel 6 Intensity Fan
0-255 Variable fan of intensity
effect within group. All units at the
same intensity at 0. Alternating
units on and off at 255.
Channel 7 Hue for group 1
Channel 8 Saturation for group 1
Channel 9 Intensity for group 1
Total DMX Channels 9 DMX channels 3 DMX channels 3 DMX channels

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2.3 Technical information
a. Specifications
Product code: CHCBPSU30 (max 30 DB4s)
Dimensions: 483mm × 368mm × 89mm
19" × 14.5" × 3.5"
Weight: 11.1kg / 24.5lbs
Working Voltage: 100-240VAC 50/60Hz auto-switching
Power consumption: 18A @120VAC; 9A @ 240VAC
Output connector in/out: XLR4
Sync: Ethercon RJ45 in and through
Power connector: Trailing lead
Control: ANSI E1.11 USITT DMX 512-A
Body color: Black power coated paint
IP Rating: IP20
Fuses: Both live and neutral are fused
110V - 2 x 20A 1.25” ceramic
220V - 2 x 10A 1.25” ceramic
Cooling: 5 x rear mounted fans, ventilation required front and rear
Operating temperature: 0º C to + 40º C
Approvals: EN55103-1, 55103-2, IEC60950
b. Maintenance
With care the Color Block PSU-30 will require little maintenance. However, as the unit is likely to
be used in a stage environment we recommend periodical internal inspection and cleaning of
any resulting dust and cracked oil residue. In addition the internal battery will need to be
replaced on a regular basis (see following section).
Do not spray liquids on the front or rear panel. If the front enclosure requires cleaning, wipe
with a mild detergent on a damp soft cloth.
c. Battery replacement
The CR20/32 Lithium battery should last approximately 5 years from the date the battery was
made – note that a 4 year life from date of product sale would not be unexpected when delivery
and manufacturing times are allowed for.
Caution: Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the
battery manufacturer’s instructions and local regulations.

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d. Installation
The Color Block PSU-30 must be installed in a 2U rack mounted enclosure and be supported
front and rear. Ensure adequate ventilation around the front and rear of the enclosure. Failure to
allow adequate ventilation may result in premature failure of the unit.
e. Wiring
Power in, mains voltage
Europe
Live = brown, neutral = blue, earth = green / yellow
North America
Live = black, neutral = white, ground = green
OUT - XLR4
Used to supply power and control data to the Color Block DB4 fixtures. Pin 1 = 0VDC, pin 2 =
control minus, pin 3 = control plus, pin 4 = +48VDC. The chassis should be ground bonded.
Note: Due to the higher levels of leakage current of the PSU-30 it is important that the XLR4
cables used are manufactured only to the specification detailed above. It is also important that
the cables are not coupled or uncoupled whilst the PSU is powered and that the PSU is
correctly grounded.
DMX - XLR5
Pin 1 = ground/shield, pin 2 = control minus, pin 3 = control plus, pins 4 and 5 are not used.
SYNC - RJ45
Used to synchronise the FX running on multiple PSU-30s. A straight wired RJ45 patch cable is
suitable to connect units (not a crossover cable).
Note: The SYNC connector on the PSU-30 is not using Ethernet.