RC4 Wireless RC4Magic 3 Series User manual

RC4Magic Series 3 Quick Start Guide
DMX2micro, DMX2dim,
DMX4dim, DMX4dim-500
Contents
Disclaimers................................................................................................................................2
Not for Use Where Human Safety May Be At Risk..............................................................2
Not for Control of Pyrotechnical Devices ............................................................................2
Product Safety .......................................................................................................................2
RC4 Wireless Dimming ............................................................................................................3
The RC4 Series 3 User Interface ...............................................................................................3
Restore Defaults........................................................................................................................3
DMX Controller and Transmitter ............................................................................................4
Make the DMX Connection..................................................................................................4
Battery and Dimmer .............................................................................................................4
Pairing Receivers with Transmitters ....................................................................................5
Make Something Light Up!...................................................................................................5
Assign DMX Channels ..........................................................................................................6
RC4 OneTouchTM Channel, Curve, and Digital PersistenceTM Assignment ........................7
Dimmer Curves .....................................................................................................................7
RC4 Digital PersistenceTM .....................................................................................................7
PWM Frequency....................................................................................................................7
Easy RC4 OneTouchTM Channel Level Chart...........................................................................8
How to Reach RC4 Wireless.....................................................................................................9
Physical Address....................................................................................................................9
Telephone / Fax.....................................................................................................................9
Internet..................................................................................................................................9

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
Page 2
Disclaimers
WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF BATTERIES, DIMMERS, AND LOADS MUST BE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL AND NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODES.
RC4 Wireless devices and equipment are operated at the user’s own risk and RC4 Wireless
accepts no liability, either direct or consequential, as a result of using this equipment.
Not for Use Where Human Safety May Be At Risk
RC4 Wireless accepts no liability for direct, indirect, or consequential damages resulting
from the use of any RC4 Wireless product or group of products. RC4 Wireless does not
guarantee the suitability of any product for any purpose; user assumes all risk. RC4
dimmers must be used strictly in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and cannot
be used for unsupervised operation. RC4 Wireless products must be installed and
operated only by qualified technicians, as outlined in the manufacturer's documentation,
and should be inspected and tested on a regular basis to ensure proper and safe operation.
Not for Control of Pyrotechnical Devices
RC4 Wireless products should not be used to control pyrotechnics of any kind. A brief
output surge on dimmer outputs during power-up could trigger these devices. RC4
Wireless accepts no liability if RC4 equipment is used for this or any other purpose.
Product Safety
RC4 receiver/dimmers are capable of controlling very large currents at up to 35VDC.
Dimmers should not be allowed to operate at dangerous temperatures. Appropriately
sized wire and connectors must be used, along with suitable ventilation to dissipate heat,
and external fuses rated for the load being operated.
This guide is not intended to provide comprehensive electrical safety instructions.
RC4 devices should be used only by qualified personnel.

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
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RC4 Wireless Dimming
If you are unsure about what wireless dimming is used for, explore expert examples with
pictures and information at www.wirelessdimming.com. Highlights include The
Rockettes, Katy Perry, Wicked –The Musical, The Who’s Tommy, and much more.
Tutorial videos to help you use and understand RC4 technology are available at
http://www.theatrewireless.com/category/support/video/. Seeing the process is
sometimes easier than reading a manual.
The most important thing is this: wireless dimming with professional and reliable
results is easy –it’s easier than you think!
The RC4 Series 3 User Interface
The RC4 Series 3 User Interface consists of numerous LEDs and recessed pushbuttons. All
LED are behind small round holes. All buttons are behind small slotted openings. A small
tool, like a bent paperclip, is required to press the recessed buttons.
Never insert a tool into a round hole –buttons are only behind slotted holes.
Never insert a tool into a round hole –buttons are only behind slotted holes.
Poking tools into round holes may void the product warranty.
Restore Defaults
If you are unsure of the settings in an RC4 Series-3 device, or if it is not responding as
expected, you can restore default settings to a power device at any time:
Hold the recessed Func button while you press and release the SetA recessed
button. The DimA indicator will blink, and most settings will be cleared to
defaults. Some firmware versions leave the PWM frequency and RC4 Digital
PersistenceTM setting unchanged after loading defaults.
To restore original factory settings including PWM frequency and Digital Persistence:
Hold both the Func and the SetA buttons while powering on the device, and hold
them for more than 5 seconds. The COP indicator will light for 5 seconds in bootloader
mode before reverting to normal operation. Hold the two buttons for this entire time.
Restoring defaults is easiest with two bent paperclips, one for each button.

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
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DMX Controller and Transmitter
RC4 Wireless devices are DMX controlled. You need a DMX controller (sometimes
called a DMX Console, or a DMX Desk) to get started. If you’re setting up in a theatre
space, you probably have a DMX controller in the lighting booth.
You need a wireless DMX transmitter. The most common transmitter for an RC4Magic
system is an RC4Magic DMXio. You can also use an RC4MagicPC dongle and Windows
software. The software and additional information can be downloaded at
http://www.theatrewireless.com/download/.
Be sure your transmitter sends RC4Magic Series 2 or Series 3 data.
RC4Magic devices do not work with W-DMX or LumenRadio transmitters. If
you are using a W-DMX transmitter, you need a W-DIM dimmer device. If you are
using a Lumen Radio transmitter, you need a LumenDim dimmer device.
Make the DMX Connection
Connect a DMX data output from your DMX controller to the DMX data input on your
wireless DMX transmitter. Be sure your transmitter is powered on and operating. In most
cases, that’s all you need to do. Your DMX universe will now be out on the airwaves.
Battery and Dimmer
RC4 Series 3 dimmers have a wide voltage input range: 6V –35VDC. Connect a battery or
DC power supply within this range to the Vin terminals and the device will power on.
All RC4 Wireless DC power inputs are protected against reverse polarity.
If you connect the battery backwards, nothing bad will happen.
It is difficult to protect dimmer circuits from power connected to the output
terminals. Do NOT do this! Connect your battery or power supply ONLY to the
Vin terminals.
Each RC4 dimmer has an output indicator, so you don’t need to connect anything more to
see things work right away.

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
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Pairing Receivers with Transmitters
New RC4 Series 3 units are shipped with dimmers in sequential order, starting at DMX
channel 1.
You can restore any RC4 Series 3 device to factory default settings: press
and hold the recessed Func button while you press and release the SetA
recessed button. DimA will blink, and all settings will be cleared to
defaults. This job is easiest with two bent paperclips, one for each button.
Every RC4Magic system has its own set of three unique Digital IDs, plus one Public ID
that is the same on every RC4Magic Series 2 and Series 3 device ever built. Read the labels
on your devices to confirm that they are programmed with at least one ID that is the same
for all units. All devices within a single system must be set to the same ID.
If you are setting up a new RC4Magic system for the first time, all of this is taken
care of for you –everything is ready to go, plug-and-play, right out of the RC4 box.
No special steps are required: your devices are already paired, secure, and ready to
use in the most demanding situations.
RC4Magic dimmers can take up to 15 seconds (usually much less) to connect with the
transmitter. When the connection is established, the blue RF connect indicator will
begin flashing and the yellow RF data indicator will blink or shimmer with incoming data
packets.
Make Something Light Up!
On your DMX controller, fade DMX channels 1 and 2 up and down. You will see the DimA
and DimB indicators on your wireless dimmer fading up and down on command, in real-
time. If you are working with a 4-channel dimmer, experiment with DMX channels 3 and
4 as well.
Wireless dimming really IS easy!

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
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Assign DMX Channels
You probably don’t want to run all your wireless dimmers on DMX channels 1 through 4.
RC4 OneTouchTM makes it easy to assign any DMX channel and dimmer curve to any
dimmer with a single press of a single button. You need a working DMX controller and
transmitter, an RC4Magic dimmer that is set to the same System ID as your transmitter,
and a bent paperclip or other small tool for pressing small recessed buttons.
Start by clearing all your DMX channels to zero on your controller. Be sure this includes
any “special” channels, like house lights and work lights, and be sure you are not using
fixture profiles that “home” some channels at levels other than zero. For example, some
moving light fixture profiles will send X and Y motion to a midpoint when the console is
“cleared.” That midpoint is not zero; for our purposes, you need actual zero.
If you are unsure if all channels are really at zero, check your DMX line with
a tester, like a Goddard DMXter or a Fleenor Gizmo. These are very handy
devices to have around, for all kinds of reasons. Put this on your wish-list!
Now, bring up the level of one DMX channel –any channel you like –to 30% (if you can’t
decide on what channel to try, use channel 92). If you’re using a simple fader, put it about
1/3 of the way up. If you can type in a channel level, use 30%. Now, go to your RC4Magic
dimmer and press the SetA button. You’ll see the DimA indicator come on at about 30%
brightness. When you let go of the button, the dimmer should stay on. It is now assigned
to the channel you have up.
Fade the channel up and down from your DMX controller. The wireless dimmer will track
it exactly. It will remember your channel assignment after you cycle the power. It
remembers forever, until you change it.
If the dimmer came on brightly when you pressed the button, and did not
stay on after you released the button, the data connection to the transmitter
is not working. Go back to the previous steps and get it working with default
settings for wireless control on DMX channels 1, 2, 3, etc.
Setting the channel to 30% tells the dimmer to use a combination of options that make
LEDs look great, ideal for viewing the little indicator on the dimmer device itself.
You can set the channel to levels other than 30% to select configurations that are
optimized for other kinds of loads. Each dimmer can be set to a channel, curve, PWM
frequency, and RC4 Digital Persistence level, accommodating the different needs of
multiple loads connected to the same device.

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
Page 7
RC4 OneTouchTM Channel, Curve,
and Digital PersistenceTM Assignment
When an RC4 Series 3 device is connected to an active transmitter with DMX data
streaming in, the Set buttons provide RC4 OneTouchTM dimmer configuration. Press a
dimmer Set button to assign it to the first DMX channel that is at a level of 20% or higher.
The level of the DMX channel determines the dimmer curve and RC4 Digital Persistence
time.
Dimmer Curves
Using RC4 OneTouchTM, three different dimmer curves can be selected: Inverse Square
Law (ISL), Linear, and Non-Dim.
The ISL Curve is optimized for light emitting diodes (LEDs). You must use the ISL
curve to make LEDs dim smoothly; do not use the linear curve for LEDs.
The Linear Curve is perfect for incandescent (including halogen) lighting –
traditional filament bulbs.
The Non-Dim Curve is ideal for relays, solenoids, AC inverters, and anything else
that needs cleanly switched DC power.
RC4 Digital PersistenceTM
The ISL dimming curve is only part of how to make LEDs look great. RC4 Digital
PersistenceTM makes LEDs look as pleasing as incandescent lighting, with no visible
stepping, by emulating the natural filament persistence of vintage lamps.
Using RC4 OneTouchTM, the ISL curve can be selected with or without RC4 Digital
Persistence by using the ISL-Slow or ISL-Fast dimmer curve.
PWM Frequency
All RC4 Series 3 dimmers provide a range of PWM frequencies. Low frequencies must be
used with high-power loads, particularly incandescent lamps. Higher frequencies are best
for LEDs, to eliminate visible flicker. Using RC4 OneTouchTM, the default frequency for
the Linear Curve is 77Hz; the default for the ISL Curves is 615 Hz. (These defaults are user
selectable –see the complete RC4 Series 3 User Manual for additional details.)

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
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Easy RC4 OneTouchTM Channel Level Chart
Dimmer Curve,
RC4 Digital PersistenceTM (DP),
PWM Frequency
Level % (0-100)
Level Dec (0-255)
Level Hex (0-FF)
Non-Dim,
Off (no Digital Persistence),
No Modulation
100%
(80% or higher)
255
(205 or higher)
0xFF
(0xCD or higher)
Linear,
Off (no Digital Persistence),
77Hz PWM
70%
(60% - 79%)
180
(154-204)
0xB4
(0x9A-0xCC)
ISL Fast,
Off (no Digital Persistence),
Default is 615Hz PWM
50%
(40% - 59%)
128
(103-153)
0x80
(0x67-0x99)
ISL Slow 1,
Default DP is Fast Medium 2,
Default is 615Hz PWM 2
30%
(20% - 39%)
77
(52-102)
0x4D
(0x34-0x66)
Channel Ignored
(No change to current settings)
Less than 20%
Less than 52
Less than 0x34
1. If you are unsure about which curve to use, try the ISL Slow curve. If your load is
drawing a lot of power and the dimmer is getting too hot, use the Linear curve.
2. Default PWM frequency and RC4 Digital PersistenceTM time are user adjustable.
See the complete RC4 Series 3 User Manual for details.
Download the complete RC4 Series 3 User Manual for complete details about
all Series 3 features and functions at:
http://www.theatrewireless.com/support/manuals/
Numerous tutorial and demonstration videos are also available at
http://www.theatrewireless.com/category/support/video/

RC4Magic Series 3 Wireless Dimmer Quick Start Guide
Page 9
How to Reach RC4 Wireless
Physical Address
RC4 Wireless is a registered trade-name of
Soundsculpture Incorporated of North Carolina.
Soundsculpture Incorporated / RC4 Wireless
13604 Heathwood Court
Raleigh, NC, 27615
USA
Telephone / Fax
Toll Free 1-866-258-4577 (North America)
North Carolina, USA, Local 919-229-9950
London, UK [phone]
Emergency Cellular 919-400-3961
Toll Free Fax [phone] (North America)
Internet
Email [e-mail]
Skype RC4 Sales and Technical Support rc4smd
Skype RC4 Administration rc4acw
Website www.theatrewireless.com
Rev 1.0 Aug-2014 JDS