Zylight Z90 User manual

MECHANICAL
SIZE:
WEIGHT:
MOUNTING:
ELECTRICAL
INPUT:
DC PLUG:
AC ADAPTER:
POWER:
WIRELESS FREQ:
CHANNELS:
OUTPUT
BEAM ANGLE:
DIMMING:
PRESETS:
LED LIFE:
5.3" x 3.0" x 2.0" [135mm x 76mm x 51mm]
16oz. [454g]
Two: 1/4"-20 Socket
7-24V DC
Positive Locking Type
OD: 5.5mm, ID: 2.1mm
100-240V, 50-60Hz
30W max. [2.5A max. @ 12V]
2.45GHz
10
60° 2Ө½-intensity, 130° total
1% - 100%
White Mode - Two: Daylight, Tungsten
Gel Mode - 2500°K ↔9000°K in 50°K steps, ±GREEN
Color Mode - Two: User defined
50,000 Hrs. min. before factory re-calibration
Z90 SPECIFICATIONS
THE ZYLIGHT Z90 IS PROTECTED BY THE FOLLOWING U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS
WITH OTHER U.S. AND FOREIGN PATENTS PENDING: US 6,340,868
US 6,806,659
CA 2,302,227
EP 1 016 062 B1
AU 757000 B2
HK 1025416
DE 698 07 092 C0
Zylight LLC
PO Box 54
Chelmsford, MA 01824
[phone]
www.zylight.com
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1)
This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation. Changes or modifications not expressly approved
by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Per FCC 15.105(a), Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accor-
dance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of
this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own expense.
US 6,608,453
US 6,777,891
US 6,016,038
US 6,150,774
US 6,211,626
US 6,788,011
© Copyright 2003-2007 Zylight LLC. All rights reserved. 24-07002 Rev. 1
Z90
Intelligent LED Light
USER GUIDE

2
Thank you for choosing Zylight.
We at Zylight are happy that you chose the Z90. There
are many lighting systems out there to choose from,
and we think you will agree that what you hold in your
hands is the most versatile production light instrument
on the planet.
At Zylight our mission is to bring truly intelligent lighting
to your shoots. With its small size and weight, the
amazing HD-led™ module, and ZyLink™ technology,
the Z90 represents the most advanced lighting instru-
ment for film and video production today.
The people who engineered and built your Z90 are the
same folks who will answer any questions you may
have about it. We use our lights everyday, and would
love to hear any comments or suggestions you may
have about how we can improve our products.
The Z90 may be small, but what it will do for your
shoots is big news!
Enjoy,
- The Zylight Team
[email protected]
www.zylight.com
7
Using the Accessory Adapter
Overview
The Z90’s Accessory Adapter allows you to mount most standard lighting
accessories with a 3-inch [76mm] mounting flange, such as a soft box or
barndoors. Accessories with a mounting flange up to 0.075” [1.9mm] thick can
be mounted.
Mounting the Accessory Adapter
The Accessory adapter slides onto the Z90 from either side of the light.
1. Position the Accessory Adapter parallel with the front of the
Z90 with the locking tab resting on the front window. Position
the two spring clips so that they are touching the rounded
corners on the short side of the heatsink.
2. Slide the Adapter onto the light, expanding the two spring clips
as the heatsink rails slide between the heatsink fins.
Mounting the Accessory
To mount the accessory, slide its flange over the locking tab and under the two
accessory flanges.
Removing the Accessory
To remove the accessory, gently depress the locking tab and slide the
accessory out of the flanges.
Removing the Accessory Adapter
To remove the Accessory Adapter, slide the Adapter off of the light in the
opposite direction as it was installed.
SPRING CLIPS
LOCKING TAB
HEATSINK
RAILS
ACCESSORY
FLANGES

6
Using ZyLink™(patent pending)
Overview
Every Z90 can be wirelessly linked to other Zylights (Z50 or Z90), creating a
group of lights that operate in concert as if they were one larger light. The group
can contain as many Zylights as you need. Adjusting the controls on one Zylight
in the group will change all of the other lights in the group.
You can have Zylights operating independently at the same time you have
linked Zylights. Any independent Zylight can be added to an existing group, and
any linked Zylight can be removed from a group.
ZyLink™settings are saved even if power is removed from the Z90. This allows
you to remove power from your lights during down-time, and resume lighting
later without having to re-group the lights.
ZyLink™QuickStart
1. Plug in at least two Z90s.
2. On one Z90, push in and hold the bottom thumbwheel until the ZYLINK
indicator glows.
3. Select the desired ZyLink™channel by pushing and releasing bottom
thumbwheel until the correct channel is displayed.
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 with other Z90s you wish to link together.
5. That’s it! When the controls are adjusted on one of the Z90s on the same
channel, all of the lights on that channel will change.
Enabling & Disabling ZyLink™
To turn ZyLink™on or off, push in and hold the bottom thumbwheel for ~1
second. The ZYLINK indicator will glow whenever ZyLink™is enabled.
Changing the ZyLink™Channel
The Z90 has ten available ZyLink™channels. With ZyLink™enabled, change
channels by pushing and releasing the bottom thumbwheel until the desired
channel is displayed.
ZyLink™between the Z90 and Z50
The Z90’s ZyLink™channel 1 is compatible with Z50 lights. If you wish to
control a Z50 with a Z90 (or vice-versa) be sure your Z90 is set to channel 1.
NOTE: Since the Z50 does not have a GEL mode, the Z90 must be in either
WHITE or COLOR modes to use ZyLink™with a Z50.
— Note: Removing power from any linked Z50 will also un-link it. Do not
remove power from any Z50 or group of Z50s you wish to remain linked.
You will then have to re-enable ZyLink™on the Z50(s) that had their
power removed. See the Z50 User Guide for more information.
3
Z90 Overview
DAY / P1
BUTTON &INDICATOR
POWER BUTTON
&INDICATOR
DIGITAL
DISPLAY
TUNGSTEN / P2
BUTTON &INDICATOR
INTENSITY
KNOB
1/4”-20 MOUNT
(TOP &BOTTOM)
BOTTOM
THUMBWHEEL
TOP
THUMBWHEEL
MODE
INDICATORS:
WHITE MODE
GEL MODE
COLOR MODE
ZYLINK
INDICATOR
SATURATION
INDICATOR

4
Powering the Z90
Power Cables
The Z90 should be powered only from a battery cable or AC adapter supplied
and approved by Zylight for use with the Z90.
Input Voltage
The Z90’s input voltage is 7-24 Volts DC. Most types of professional batteries
used in the production industry fall into this range, including those rated at 12V,
13.2V, and 14.4V nominal output voltage.
Power Consumption
The powerful Z90 can draw up to 30 Watts at full power (2.5 Amps @ 12 Volts,
or 2.1 Amps @ 14.4 Volts). When powering the Z90 from a battery, be sure
your battery is rated to supply up to 30 Watts continuously.
Important Camera Power Note: Always use the battery power socket closest
to your battery, i.e. the D-Tap socket found on an Anton Bauer Gold Mount.
Many professional cameras have an on-board socket for powering a camera
light. These connectors are often rated for less than 30W, and do not deliver the
power required for normal Z90 operation.
Z90 Orientation
To ensure adequate heat dissipation, avoid operating the Z90 in a lens-down
position (below left). An angle of at least 30-degrees away from vertical is
necessary to effectively dissipate heat (below right).
!!! WARNING: The input voltage to the Z90 must remain below 24
Volts. Application of excessive voltage, or reverse polarity voltage, will
void the factory warranty and possibly cause damage to the Z90.
>30° 5
Using the Z90
Power
The Z90 accepts 7-24 Volts DC from either the supplied battery cables or AC
adapter. The POWER indicator will glow steadily when the light is powered on,
and flash when the light is powered off.
Turning the Z90 On and Off
Push and release the Z90’s POWER button to turn the light on and off.
Dimming
Turn the intensity knob clockwise to increase the Z90’s intensity, counter-
clockwise to decrease intensity. At full intensity the ‘Z’ logo will be upright.
Operating Modes
The Z90 operates in one of three modes: WHITE, GEL, and COLOR. To switch
between modes push in and hold the top thumbwheel for ~1 second. The mode
indicators will show the current operating mode.
WHITE Mode
In WHITE mode the Z90 outputs daylight or tungsten white light. Push
the DAY or TUNGSTEN buttons to change the output.
GEL Mode
In GEL mode the Z90 outputs adjustable white light from 2500°K -
9000°K with ±GREEN color correction. Rotate the top thumbwheel to
adjust the color temperature in 50°K steps. Rotate the bottom
thumbwheel to adjust color correction. The SAT indicator will glow
whenever color correction is being used.
COLOR Mode
COLOR mode lets you adjust the color hue and saturation of the Z90’s
output. Rotate the top thumbwheel and the output will cycle
continuously through red, green, blue, and every color combination in
between. Rotate the bottom thumbwheel to increase or decrease the
saturation of the current hue. The digital display will indicate the
percentage of saturation, and the SAT indicator will glow when any
color is less than fully saturated.
Presets
In GEL and COLOR modes you can save two of your favorite settings as presets.
The preset buttons P1and P2work like those on a car radio: To save a setting
push and hold the button for ~2 seconds. The button’s indicator light will flash to
show the current setting has been saved. To recall a saved setting push and
release the appropriate preset button.
Preset settings are retained even after you remove power from the Z90.
In WHITE mode the preset buttons are factory-set at daylight and tungsten.