Pixel Range PixelPar 90 User manual

1
General set up
1Mount the fixture in the required position. The integral yoke can
act as a floor stand or hanger.
Important
• When suspended off ground, always use a safety wire rated
to a minimum of 34kg (75lbs) around the yoke.
• Do not position the fixture close to fog machines. The fog oil
mist will be drawn in by the cooling fan and will short out
important components. The warranty will be void for all
fixtures returned in such a condition.
2Where external control is to be used, connect a DMX lead (XLR
5-pin female) to the input socket at the rear of the fixture.
When suspended
off ground, always
use a safety wire
rated to a minimum
of 34kg (75lbs)
around the yoke.
3Where other fixtures are to be used in a control daisy-chain, con-
nect a DMX lead (XLR 5-pin male) to the output socket at the rear
of the fixture.
4 Connect power to the fixture.
5Use the control panel to access the internal menu and choose the
appropriate operation mode and related settings (see over).
DMX in (XLR 5pin
male) connector
Fuse holder
DMX out
(XLR 5pin
female)
connector
Circuitry
cooling vent
LED heat sink
Power lead
Control panel
Version 1.64 firmware
Revision 2 control panel
Operation modes
The PixelPar 90 provides a range of operation modes. These are
selected using the MODE section of the control menu:
DMX Allows RGB control via DMX input. Internal chase
effects are not available within this mode.
MANU Provides RGB colour mixing independently of any
external control. Use the internal control menu
(MAN section) to select the required colour values.
EF D Superseded by MAX2 and operates in a similar manner
except that only chase effects can be selected via DMX
input (no RGB mixing). Requires 7 DMX channels.
EF M Allows the display of the dual internal chase effects,
independently of any external control. Use the internal
control menu (PROG section) to select the required
chase effects, speeds and cross fades.
MAX2 Provides control of RGB mixing and selection of the
dual internal chase effects via DMX input. Requires 10
DMX channels.
16bt Allows RGB control via DMX input, using two 8bit
channels per colour. Internal chase effects are not avail-
able within this mode.
PixelPar 90 personalities are available for a variety of controllers.
Please see www.pixelrange.com for details.
Factory reset (perform this prior to new use)
To clear previous settings: At the rear panel, press the middle
two buttons ( and ) while the current address and mode
are being displayed. The four digit display will show FACT then
SET to indicate that the fixture has been returned to its default
condition. This is useful to remove any settings that might cause
confusion in a new configuration (e.g. master intensity settings).

2
Chase effects
This section describes each of the 31 internal chase
effects that are selectable either via the control menu
(PROG > C1/C2 > EFEC) or using DMX values sent
from an external source. To use the internal effects, set
the MODE option either to EF M (to control effects via
the menu) or MAX2 (to control effects externally via
DMX).
DMX EFEC Chase effect description
value value
0-7 00 Off
8-15 01 Rainbow chase forward
16-23 02 Rainbow chase reverse
24-31 03 10/90 duty cycle strobe white
32-39 04 10/90 duty cycle strobe white
40-47 05 10/90 duty cycle strobe white
48-55 06 50/50 duty cycle strobe white
56-63 07 50/50 duty cycle strobe red
64-71 08 50/50 duty cycle strobe blue
72-79 09 50/50 duty cycle strobe yellow
80-87 10 50/50 duty cycle strobe green
88-95 11 Pulse strobe white
96-103 12 Pulse strobe blue
104-111 13 Pulse strobe rainbow
112-119 14 Pulse strobe red/green/blue
120-127 15 Rainbow chase
128-135 16 Rainbow chase
136-143 17 Yellow/blue chase
144-151 18 Rainbow chase
152-159 19 Yellow/blue chase
160-167 20 Red/blue chase
168-175 21 Red/green chase
176-183 22 Red/green/blue chase
184-191 23 Purple/white/green chase
192-199 24 Rainbow chase
200-207 25 Static orange
208-215 26 Static yellow
216-223 27 Static light blue
224-231 28 Static purple
232-239 29 Static red
240-247 30 Static green
248-255 31 Static blue
Using the menu
• When not in the menu, the four digit display scrolls the
current DMX address and mode. The display’s right hand
decimal point (data dot) is used to indicate status (see below).
• Press to enter the menu. The four digit display will show ADDR.
• Use and to move between menu options (or to change a
value within an option).
• Press to enter an option (or to fix a changed value within an
option and return to the previous option level). Note: If you do
not press to fix a value, operation will revert to the
previously set mode at the next power on.
• Press to exit from a menu option (and eventually
exit the menu completely).
General notes
• Ensure that only one DMX
device in the chain is set
as master (e.g. the lighting
desk). This fixture is usually
set to slave mode.
• This fixture is shipped with
the DMX address set to
001.
• The four digit display can
be set to switch off when
not in use. To restore, press
. To alter this mode use:
PERS >DISP.
MENU ENTER
www.pixelrange.com
*Refer to product manual for proper operating instructions
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Master/slave/data indication
The right hand decimal point (data dot) of the display is used to indicate the mas-
ter/slave settings and also the presence of a DMX input signal, as shown below:
Data dot ON Master mode
Data dot FLASHING Slave mode (DMX data input present)
Data dot OFF Slave mode (no DMX data present)
Notes:
•Ensure that only one DMX device in the chain is set as master (e.g. the desk).
•Use PERS > data to change between master and slave modes.
•When set to master mode, the fixture will scroll MASTER in place of a DMX
address (when not within the menu).
•If the display has been set to auto off (disp > aoff), the data dot will
remain active but at a lower brightness.
Channel layouts within operation modes
The table below shows how colour mixing, chase effects and master intensity
controls are mapped to DMX channels for each mode. The dmx and16bt modes
do not use chase effects. In all modes, the first channel of the fixture occurs at the
DMX address selected using addr and successive channels for the fixture follow
from there.
Channel dmX 16bt) MAX2 EF d
1 Red Red (coarse) Red c1 Effect
2 Green Red (fine) Green c1 Speed
3 Blue Green (coarse) Blue c1 Xfade
4 Master intensity* Green (fine) c1 Effect c2 Effect
5 - Blue (coarse) c1 Speed c2 Speed
6 - Blue (fine) c1 Xfade c2 Xfade
7 - Master intensity* c2 Effect Master intensity
8 - - c2 Speed -
9 - - c2 Xfade -
10 - - Master intensity -
*Master intensity for dmx and16bt modes are available only when the
pers > mint option is set to on. Master intensity is always 8-bit.
coarse = High channel for 16-bit, fine = Low channel for 16-bit

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Sets the base DMX address from which the control channels will begin.
Shows the main processor software revision. No changes are possible within
this option.
Shows the display controller software revision. No changes are possible within
this option.
Selects the primary internal chase effect. See Chase effects for descriptions.
Select MODE >EF M to show the selected chase.
Selects the cross fade speed between the steps of the selected
C1 chase effect.
Selects the speed of the selected C1 chase effect.
Selects the master intensity level of chase effects C1 and C2.
Selects the secondary internal chase effect. See Chase effects for descriptions.
Select MODE >EF M to show the selected chase.
Selects the cross fade speed between the steps of the selected C2 chase effect.
Selects the speed of the selected C2 chase effect.
Sets the red intensity. Select MODE >MANU (manual) to show the result.
Sets the green intensity. Select MODE >MANU (manual) to show the result.
Sets the blue intensity. Select MODE >MANU (manual) to show the result.
Determines whether this fixture will act as a master controlling others.
When controlled via DMX this fixture must be set to SLAV.
DMX and 16bt modes only. When set ON this enables the master intensity channel.
When set oN, this option scrolls through the primary colours at power on to
demonstrate correct operation of the emitters.
Determines the intensity of the four digit control panel display. Values range from
0 (dimmest) to 15 (brightest).
When set to AOFF, the control panel display will blank out 60 seconds
after the menu is exited. The data dot indicator will remain active.
Allows you to balance the intensities of the red, green and blue emitters in order to
achieve a particular open white colour temperature. See next page for details.
Provides a selection of dimmer curves (FINE, TV, TUNG or LGCY) to suit particular
circumstances. See next page for descriptions of each option.
RGB control using an external DMX control input. PERS >MINT set to ON provides
a master intensity in DMX and 16bt modes. No chase effects are selectable.
Displays the resulting RGB levels that are set via the MAN section of the internal
menu. External DMX control is not possible in this mode.
Ch1 to 3: C1 Effect, Speed & Xfade, Ch4 to 6: C2 Effect, Speed & Xfade,
Ch7: Master intensity
Displays the chase effect(s) determined within the PROG section. External DMX
control is not possible in this mode.
DMX Ch1 to 3: RGB colour mixing, Ch4 to 6: C1 Effect, Speed & Xfade,
Ch7 to 9: C2 Effect, Speed & Xfade, Ch10: Master intensity.
16bit RGB control using 2x the number of DMX channels determined by PERS>RES.
PERS>MINT set to On provides a master intensity. No chase effects are selectable.
Control menu contents

4
Fuse type: 20mm 2A (T2AH)
anti-surge, ceramic body
Dimmer curve options (PERS > DIMR)
The PixelPar 90 provides four separate dimmer curve options which
determine exactly how the digital values received via the DMX link
are converted into emitter intensities. To alter the dimmer curve,
go to the PERS menu option, choose the DIMR option, select the
required setting and then press the button to save.
Note: Dimmer curve selection has no effect in 16bt mode, where a
single fixed high resolution curve is used.
The four dimmer curve options are as follows:
• FINE Closely resembles the original PixelPar 90 dimmer curve
with improved responses to low end values.
• TV Uses dimming frequencies that will eradicate any visible
flicker when viewed by video cameras and broadcast systems.
• TUNG Alters the dimming response to closely emulate the very
smooth action of standard tungsten bulbs. The TUNG setting can
be used with all operation modes.
• LGCY Provides full compatibility with the dimmer curves of
previous Pixel Range fixtures. Use this mode when mixing
PixelPar 90 fixtures with original PixelRange fixtures.
Using master mode to drive other units
This unit can control any number of other PixelRange fixtures via
DMX links, without the need for a control desk.
1 Set this unit as master (PERS > DATA > MAST) and ensure all
others are set to slave (PERS > DATA > SLAV). Connect all
fixtures via DMX daisy-chain.
Note: Don’t forget to terminate the devices at either end of the
chain - see ‘DMX links and termination’ left.
2 Set each slave to Mode > DMX.
3 Set the master to either create chases or static colours:
Chases: Select Mode > EF m and then use PROG > C1 and
C2 to create the required effects (see page 2).
Static colours: Select Mode > MANU and then use MAN >
RED, GRN and BLUE to mix the colour.
4 Set each slave DMX address (using ADDR > DMX) according to
the following:
18 cells are output in groups of 3 DMX channels to give RGB
values per cell (54 channels in total). Set the address of each
slave fixture according to which of the 18 cells you want them to
appear within, or to begin with (for multi-cell fixtures): (A001 for
cell 1, A004 for cell 2, ... A052 for cell 18).
Fuse access
The single fuse is located at the rear of the fixture near to the DMX
input connector. Use a small flat blade screw driver to twist the fuse
holder anticlockwise until the carrier can be extracted to reveal the
fuse.
White balance (PERS > WBAL)
Using different intensity mixes of the red, green and blue channels, it
is possible to create a range of open white colour temperatures. The
PixelPar 90 provides a white balance feature to assist you to quickly
reproduce any particular ‘white’ mix.
This feature requires you to first mix your white by adjusting the
emitter intensities, using either an external DMX input or the manual
controls from the menu. When the required white is achieved, you
then capture it. From that point, the PixelPar 90 will recreate your
white mix whenever all channels are faded to 100%.
To create a white balance
1 Ensure that the white balance is initially switched off - failure to
do this will result in an incorrect colour mix. To switch off, go to
PERS > WBAL > Y/N and select the NO option.
2 According to how you will initially mix the colours - either by
external DMX input or by manual menu control - use the menu to
select the appropriate mode: MODE > DMX or MODE > MANU.
3 Using either a DMX controller or the manual colour settings (MAN
> RED / GRN / BLUE), first set all the outputs to maximum and
then reduce the individual intensities until you reach the desired
white.
4 In the menu, go to PERS > WBAL > CAPT and press the
button to capture the current mix. The display will show DONE.
5 Your mix is now stored. To enable it, go to PERS > WBAL >
Y/N and select the YES option.
Notes:
• You can enable/disable the white balance feature at any time by
setting PERS > WBAL > Y/N to either NO or YES, as required.
• White balance settings will work with any dimmer curve option
(PERS > DIMR) and the stored settings are unaffected by
factory resets.
• To reset the white balance calibration, go to PERS > WBAL >
RSET and press the button.
• When white balance is enabled, during normal operation, the
four digit display will show the current mode prefixed with C+.
DMX links and termination
This section provides useful advice for gaining reliable operation
from your DMX installation:
• Use good quality flexible twisted pair cable that has a nominal
characteristic impedance of 120 ohms. Microphone cables have
a lower impedance and a higher capacitance, which can lead
to data errors.
• Use a daisychain arrangement to link fixtures together, so that
the output of one fixture is connected to the input of the next.
• Connect no more than 32 devices to a single DMX run. If further
fixtures are needed, then use a DMX booster to allow up to 32
more fixtures to be attached.
• Never split a DMX cable to form two branches (a Y-split). If
separate branches are required, use a powered DMX splitter.
• Ensure that the devices at each end of the daisychain are both
terminated using a 120 ohm resistor (usually contained within
a separate XLR connector that has no cable - the resistor forms
a link between pins 2 and 3). Control desks are often internally
terminated.
It is possible to get away with breaking some of the above rules,
particularly on smaller installations that have short cable runs and
few fixtures. However, results can be unpredictable and problems
will inevitably hit you at the very worst time: During your show.

5
Troubleshooting
• Display panel is blank: Press a control panel button, if the
display still does not show, check the input power and
fuse.
• No response during DMX control: Check whether a mas-
ter intensity input is required. MAX2 and EF d modes
always require a master intensity input (channels 10
and 7 respectively). DMX and 16bT have an optional
master intensity, depending on the setting of PERS >
MINT (channels 4 and 7 respectively). If the MINT set-
ting is On then no output will occur until a level greater
than zero is applied to the master intensity channel. See
pages 2 and 3 for details.
Note: It is good practice to perform a factory reset
before these fixtures are used on any new installation.
This will ensure that settings like the MINT option are set
to off and do not create the potential for confusion. See
page 1 for details of how to perform a factory reset.
• No response during DMX control: If live DMX is con-
nected, the right hand decimal point on the display
should flash - if not, check the DMX cable(s) and the
desk output.
• Erratic operation during DMX control: Check that the
final fixture within the DMX daisy chain is correctly termi-
nated with a 120 ohm terminator plug.
• Erratic operation during DMX control: Check that the
selected MODE matches the personality being used on
the control desk.
• Erratic operation during DMX control: Ensure that only
one DMX device in the daisy chain is set as master.
• Rapid colour/intensity changes not occuring: Check
whether the tungsten dimmer mode is selected (PERS >
dIMR > TUNG). This would slow the reaction times of the
emitters and could mean that rapid changes are blended
into each other. Choose a faster reacting dimmer mode.
• Standalone chase effects not working: Check that a
chase has been programmed using PROG >C1 and/or
PROG >C2 and also that MODE >EF M is selected.
Check also that PROG >LEVL is not set at zero.
• Standalone RGB mixing not working: Check that one or
more colour values have been set within MAN section
and also that the MODE >MANU is selected.
Firmware upgrades
Firmware upgrades are released from time to time in order
to provide new operational features. The PixelPar 90 has
been designed to allow straightforward firmware upgrad-
ing via its DMX interface, a PixelU2D USB device and a
computer.
Please contact PixelRange technical support for details.
Weight
Fixture and yoke: 6.8kg (15 lbs)
Power
Input voltage: 90 to 264V AC, 47 to 63Hz autosensing
Earth leakage 0.39mA
Connectors: Supplied with cable only: live, neutral & earth
Power requirements: @ 230V/50Hz @ 115V/60Hz
Standby 10 watts 10 watts
Maximum (const.) 120 watts 120 watts
Start up (peak*) 30 amps 15 amps
* The peak value occurs only at first power up and
lasts only for a period measured in microseconds.
Approvals
Miscellaneous
Enclosure rating: IP20 (not protected against moisture ingress)
Control input: USITT DMX512 (input connector pin out below)
Specifications
Dimensions
PIN 1
Ground
PIN 2
Data –PIN 3
Data +
PIN 5
Not used
PIN 4
Not used
Documentation by Corporate Text & Design (www.ctxd.com)
Release 1.64b
www.pixelrange.com
UK [phone]
[email protected] USA [phone] [email protected]