Equinox Systems POLARIS User manual

Order code: EQLA18
user manual

WARNING
FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY, PLEASE READ THIS USER MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE YOUR INITIAL START-UP!
CAUTION!
Keep this equipment away from rain,
moisture and liquids.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Every person involved with the installation, operation & maintenance of this
equipment should:
- Be competent
- Follow the instructions of this manual
CAUTION! TAKE CARE USING THIS EQUIPMENT!
HIGH VOLTAGE-RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK!!
Before your initial start-up, please make sure that there is no damage caused during
transportation. Should there be any, consult your dealer and do not use the
equipment.
To maintain the equipment in good working condition and to ensure safe operation, it is necessary
for the user to follow the safety instructions and warning notes written in this manual.
Please note that damages caused by user modications to this equipment are not
subject to warranty.
Equinox Polaris Laser Safety

Equinox Polaris Laser Safety
IMPORTANT:
The manufacturer will not accept liability for any resulting damages caused
by the non-observance of this manual or any unauthorised modication to the
equipment.
• Never let the power-cable come into contact with other cables. Handle the power-cable
and all mains voltage connections with particular caution!
• Never remove warning or informative labels from the equipment.
• Do not open the equipment and do not modify the equipment.
• Do not connect this equipment to a dimmer-pack.
• Do not switch the equipment on and off in short intervals, as this will reduce the
system’s life.
• Only use the equipment indoors.
• Do not expose to ammable sources, liquids or gases.
• Always disconnect the power from the mains when equipment is not in use or before
cleaning! Only handle the power-cable by the plug. Never pull out the plug by pulling the
power-cable.
• Make sure that the available voltage is between 220v/240v.
• Make sure that the power-cable is never crimped or damaged. Check the equipment and
the power-cable periodically.
• If the equipment is dropped or damaged, disconnect the mains power supply immediately.
Have a qualied engineer inspect the equipment before operating again.
• If the equipment has been exposed to drastic temperature uctuation (e.g. after
transportation), do not switch it on immediately. The arising condensation might damage
the equipment. Leave the equipment switched off until it has reached room temperature.
• If your product fails to function correctly, discontinue use immediately. Pack the unit
securely (preferably in the original packing material), and return it to your Prolight dealer
for service.
• Only use fuses of same type and rating.
• Repairs, servicing and power connection must only be carried out by a qualied
technician. THIS UNIT CONTAINS NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS.
• WARRANTY; One year from date of purchase.
OPERATING DETERMINATIONS
If this equipment is operated in any other way, than those described in this manual,
the product may suffer damage and the warranty becomes void.
Incorrect operation may lead to danger e.g.: short-circuit, burns, electric shocks,
lamp failure etc.
Do not endanger your own safety and the safety of others!
Incorrect installation or use can cause serious damage to people and property.

You should nd inside the Laser carton the following items:
1, Polaris Laser 2, Power cable 3, User manual
Technical Specications:
DMX channels: 7
Laser diodes: 1 x 50mW Green (532nM) DPSS laser, 1 x 120mW Violet (405nM) DPSS laser
1 x 100mW Red (650nM) DPSS laser
Operating modes: 1, Sound Active
2, Auto Run
3, DMX
4, Slave
Power consumption: 50W
Power supply: 240V - 50Hz
Dimensions: 320 x 220 x 130mm
Weight: 4.5Kgs
Fuse: 2A
Features:
The Polaris features 7 DMX channels, more than 100 patterns and over 300 effects that are ideal
with or without fog.
Equinox Polaris Laser Technical specications
Identication:
1, Key switch
2, Cooling fan
3, DMX In
4, DMX out
5, Audio sensitivity control
6, Dip switches
7, Microphone
8, Power input
9, Microphone LED
10, Power LED
11, Fuse

Sound active
Operation modes:
The Polaris has four modes of operation as follows:
1, Sound active mode
To select sound active mode set dip switch 10 to ON and all others to the OFF position.
You can now use the sensitivity control on the back panel to set the required sound level.
2, Auto run mode
To select auto run mode set dip switches 10 + 9 to ON and all others to the OFF position.
The Polaris will now cycle through all it’s internal patterns and effects.
3, DMX mode
To select DMX mode, set dip switch 10 to OFF. You can now set the required DMX address using
dip switches 1 to 9. Please refer to the chart below for DMX functions. The DMX address starts at 1.
4, Slave mode
To set the unit/s in slave mode, set dip switch 3 to the ON position and all others to OFF. The
Polaris laser(s) will now run in sequence with the master unit.
DMX function chart:
Equinox Polaris Laser Operation modes
Channel DMX Address Function
CH.1
CH.2
0-49
50-99
100-149
150-199
0-255
0-255
0-255
No function
Static pattern mode
Dynamic pattern mode
Position X adjustment
Position Y adjustment
Scanning speed
0-255
0-255
Dynamic pattern speed
Static Pattern size (small - large)
0-255 Static/Dynamic pattern selector
200-255 Auto run
CH.3
CH.4
CH.5
CH.6
CH.7

DMX Control Mode
Operating in a DMX control mode environment gives the user the greatest exibility when it comes
to customising or creating a show. In this mode you will be able to control each individual trait of
the xture and each xture independently.
Setting the DMX address
The DMX mode enables the use of a universal DMX controller. Each xture requires a
“start address” from 1- 511. A xture requiring one or more channels for control begins to read the
data on the channel indicated by the start address. For example, a xture that occupies or uses 7
channels of DMX and was addressed to start on DMX channel 100, would read data from
channels: 100,101,102,103,104,105 and 106. Choose a start address so that the channels used
do not overlap. E.g. the next unit in the chain starts at 107.
Set the start address using the group of dip switches located usually on the back of the xture.
Each dip switch has an associated value. Adding the value of each switch in the ON position will
provide the start address. Determining which switches to toggle ON given a specic start address
can be accomplished in the following manner. By subtracting the largest switch value possible
from the selected start address until zero is achieved.
Equinox Polaris Laser DMX control mode
EXAMPLE STARTING ADDRESS
Address 10
Address 24
Pin No: 4 = 8
Pin No: 2 = 2
Total: = 8
Pin No: 5 = 16
Pin No: 4 = 8
Total: = 24
DMX address using
simple maths
233 - (128) = 105, Turn on dip No: 8
105 - (64) = 41, Turn on dip No: 7
41 - (32) = 9, Turn on dip No: 6
9 - (8) = 1, Turn on dip No: 4
1 - (1) = 0, Turn on dip No: 1
You will modt likely use the rst
available number which maybe
number 1. This number was selected
for example purposes
Dip switch (DMX Value)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
4
8
16
32
64
128
256
option 256 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
option 256 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1

DMX-512:
• DMX (Digital Multiplex) is a universal protocol used as a form of communication between
intelligent xtures and controllers. A DMX controller sends DMX data instructions form the
controller to the xture. DMX data is sent as serial data that travels from xture to xture via the
DATA “IN” and DATA “OUT” XLR terminals located on all DMX xtures (most controllers only have
a data “out” terminal).
DMX Linking:
• DMX is a language allowing all makes and models of different manufactures to be linked together
and operate from a single controller, as long as all xtures and the controller are DMX compliant.
To ensure proper DMX data transmission, when using several DMX xtures try to use the
shortest cable path possible. The order in which xtures are connected in a DMX line does not
inuence the DMX addressing. For example; a xture assigned to a DMX address of 1 may be
placed anywhere in a DMX line, at the beginning, at the end, or anywhere in the middle. When a
xture is assigned a DMX address of 1, the DMX controller knows to send DATA assigned to
address 1 to that unit, no matter where it is located in the DMX chain.
DATA Cable (DMX cable) requirements (for DMX operation):
• The Equinox Polaris laser can be controlled via DMX-512 protocol. The DMX address is set on
the back of the unit. Your unit and your DMX controller require a standard 3-pin XLR connector for
data input/output (gure 1).
Figure 1
Also remember that DMX cable must be daisy chained and cannot be split.
Equinox Polaris Laser DMX set up
Further DMX cables can be purchased from all
good sound and lighting suppliers or Prolight
dealers.
Please quote:
CABL10 – 2M
CABL11 – 5M
CABL12 – 10M

Notice:
• Be sure to follow gures 2 & 3 when making your own cables. Do not connect the cable’s shield
conductor to the ground lug or allow the shield conductor to come in contact with the XLR’s outer
casing. Grounding the shield could cause a short circuit and erratic behaviour.
Special Note: Line termination:
• When longer runs of cable are used, you may need to use a terminator on the last unit to
avoid erratic behaviour.
Using a cable terminator (part number CABL90) will decrease the possibilities of erratic
behaviour.
5-Pin XLR DMX Connectors:
• Some manufactures use 5-pin XLR connectors for data transmission in place of 3-pin. 5-Pin
XLR xtures may be implemented in a 3-pin XLR DMX line. When inserting standard 5-pin
XLR connectors in to a 3-pin line a cable adaptor must be used. The Chart below details the
correct cable conversion.
Termination reduces signal transmission problems
and interferance. it is always advisable to connect a
DMX terminal, (resistance 120 Ohm 1/4 W) between
pin 2 (DMX-) and pin 3 (DMX+) of the last fixture.
Equinox Polaris Laser DMX Set Up

Equinox Polaris Laser Dip Switch Reference Chart
DMX Dip Switch Quick Reference Chart
Dip Switch Position
Dip Switch position DMX Address

Class 3B Laser Safety Guide
Warning
Class 3B Lasers have the potential to harm eyesight if viewed directly and can also be
harmful at long distances.
Any unit that contains a laser diode has to be classied depending upon the light output that
someone may be exposed to. All laser products are classed as dened in the
Laser Product Safety Standard (BS/EN 60825.1). The classes range from the safest, which is
Class 1, through to the most hazardous, which is Class 4. A laser diode that emits more than 5mW
of light and less than 500mW can be classied as a Class 3B product.
Operation and installation Notes
Laser effects should only be installed and operated by persons who have been trained in how to
operate laser effects safely.
Laser effects should be located in a safe and secure position in the venue, so that once installed it
cannot be tampered with by unauthorized users.
Before operation the path of the laser beams should be taken into account in respect to how the
beams will scan the viewing audience.
If direct audience scanning is to be used then the laser energy levels from the effects needs to be
calculated.
Health
If used responsibly and in accordance with the relevant guidance issued by the Health and Safety
Executive a laser effect will not present a hazard to those viewing the show as long as the laser
beams are projected over the heads of the viewing audience. When laser effects are directed into
the audience area it becomes difcult to tell if the effects are causing harm.
Class 3B laser beams can be harmful to eyesight if viewed directly The injury that a Class 3B
laser can inict is dependant upon several varients, including the amount of time the laser beam
enters the eye for, the intensity of beam and what part of the eye that actually receives the beam.
The part of the eye which is most susceptible to receive damage from the beam is the retina. The
retina is the part of the eye that receives the light signals that are sent to brain. All light entering
the eye gets focused onto the retina.
Normal light sources including halogen lamps are not usually harmful to view. Lasers are different
in the fact that they can get the beam focused down to a very small point on the retina which can
burn holes on the back wall of the eye. There are no pain receptors on the retina and the damage
can happen in less time than it takes for a person to blink so the person will be not be aware of
any damage taking place. Damage to the retina cannot be repaired and therefore is permanent.
Symptoms include severe loss of sight and unnoticeable vision loss.
Equinox Polaris Laser Safety