![RC4 Launches New Website]()
by James David Smith | Feb 6, 2011 | Articles, Press Release
Toronto – RC4 Wireless, manufacturer of wireless lighting and motion technology for theatre, film, and television, has launched a completely redesigned website at https://rc4wireless.com.
If you’ve been thinking about wireless dimming and DMX, or wireless motion control, for your next theatre, film, or television production, have a look at https://rc4wireless.com. The new site is full of useful information, and not just about RC4 products. “Getting into wireless and making the most of it really demands a bit of general knowledge about different kinds of batteries, about the various rf bands and frequencies being used, about what’s involved in getting DMX and other kinds of control information into the air and back again. Without facts it’s difficult to make an informed decision about which product is right for a particular application,” says James David Smith, president and chief product designer at RC4. “We’re not the only manufacturer out there. Our equipment is excellent for numerous applications. But I’m also the first to admit that others have focussed on different niches and make products that may be more ideal for specific uses. At the core of all this — of finding the stuff you need — is knowledge. I’m putting straight-up unbranded information out there. Keep an eye on the Learn More About section of rc4wireless.com. Post questions. Watch this area continue to grow well into the future.”
The new RC4 site also makes it quick and easy to purchase RC4 products, and they ship everything by Fedex Priority. Place your order before 4pm EST and receive it the next business day (some exceptions apply).
Prefer to see and test-drive before you buy? The new RC4 website provides contact information for a growing family of RC4 Partners around the world — select dealers with extensive product knowledge and stock on hand when you need it.
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Contact:
James David Smith, President
RC4 Wireless
13604 Heathwood Court
Raleigh, NC, 27615
USA
Toll-Free North America: 1-866-258-4577
London, UK: +44 020 3289 8765
Skype: theatrewireless
email: moreinfo@theatrewireless.com
[contact information updated Feb-2012]
by James David Smith | Feb 1, 2011 | FAQ, Special FX, Fog, Misc., Wireless Dimming
Look closely at this image.
Although it shows the original yellow-label RC4Magic, newer units connect exactly the same way.
This configuration powers the DMX2dim dimmer from the Tiny Fogger battery. The 1/8-inch miniplug remote control port on the Tiny Fogger provides ground on the sleeve (braid), and power on the tip (red). The trigger input (white) causes the fogger to run when it is shorted to ground. The DMX2dim dimmer switches on the negative side: when the dimmer is turned on, the negative output terminal connects to ground. Thus, it can be directly connected to the trigger input of the fogger. Again, that’s the *negative* side of the dimmer output, marked DimA- (or DimB-) in black.
We bought a 1/8-inch stereo miniplug-to-miniplug cable at a local electronics store and cut it in half, yielding *two* Tiny Fogger hookup cables. Every miniplug cable I’ve ever seen had red on the tip contact, but you might find a cable that puts white on the tip, or uses different colors. Thus, I recommend testing with a meter to find the two power lines (ground and +12V), then short the remaining line to ground to confirm that it triggers the fogger.
Word of caution: DO NOT ALLOW THE POWER SUPPLY LEADS TO SHORT TOGETHER. The Tiny Fogger battery is quite powerful and a dangerous situation could result.
Summary:
1/8-inch Tiny Fogger miniplug —-> DMX2dim dimmer screw terminals:
sleeve —-> negative power input (ground)
ring —-> negative (Dim-) output of dimmer (channel A or B, you choose)
tip —-> positive power input (+12V from Tiny Fogger battery)
Check out this recent YouTube video for a step-by-step guide on how to take a low-cost fogger and convert it to wireless DMX control using RC4 Wireless Dimmers!
by James David Smith | Feb 1, 2011 | FAQ, Radio, Wireless DMX
Question:
We will be doing a show outdoors where there will be no control over Cell Phone use, and several Marine bands are in use. What problems could arise from the use of the RC4 System? Do I have to worry about any interference? Also, I am planning on using the DMX Transceiver to start a DMX chain that will run for about 280 feet. Can the Transceiver handle that distance, and will I need a terminator at the end of the run? I am exploring the use of the RC4’s as opposed to a Long and winding run of DMX that I might have to put an Opto/Iso on. Thanks for any help you can give!
Answer:
Presuming you are using one of our 2.4GHz systems (RC4Magic, or a legacy RC4 system that has been upgraded), you will not suffer any problems from cellphones or marine radio. Although Bluetooth operates in the 2.4GHz band, so far we are unaware of any issues arising from this, either indoors or out. The RC4Magic system detects other rf traffic, and automatically avoids other devices that might be operating nearby.
RC4 DMX outputs are fully capable of driving a 4000-foot terminated line. There is no significant difference between our output and the output of a good quality lighting console. Regarding termination, all the usual rules apply. In general, a terminator is required at the end of any long run.
Wireless DMX provides ideal isolation. All the same benefits you get from using opto splitters are also obtained when you put a wireless link in the chain.
The maximum outdoor rf range of our regular RC4Magic system is somewhere between 200 and 300 feet — that’s real-world useable range, not exagerated “sales range”. If you need more, start by putting the units up high. The next step is to use external antennas (which requires a hardware upgrade). Directional high-gain antennas aimed at each other can get you to 600 feet easily, and thousands of feet with line-of-sight and careful aiming.
Hope that helps!
Jim
RC4
by James David Smith | Feb 1, 2011 | Batteries & Chargers, FAQ, LEDs, Wireless Dimming
Question:
What is the best battery solution for a portable dimming situation? We are using a 4 watt LED lamp and need it to run for 10 minutes and have 4 hours of standby time.
Thanks for your Help
Andrew
Answer:
Hey Andrew,
We must calculate the battery requirement for the load (4W for 10 minutes), then add the standby current for the receiver and dimmer. An RC4Magic DMX2dim draws approximately 200mA.
First, we need to choose a working voltage. If you are using LED devices with built-in current limiting, they are probably designed to operate at 12V. In that case, 4W / 12V = 333mA. Thus, the running load is 333mA + 200mA for the receiver electronics = 533mA.
A very common small 12V sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery is rated at 1.2Amp-hours. This A/h rating is based on a 20 hour discharge rate. On other words, it can deliver 60mA per hour, for 20 hours. But battery chemistry gets less efficient when the load is higher. In fact, if you put a 1.2A load on that battery, it will work for only 30 minutes (or perhaps slightly less) before discharging to the lower limit recommended by battery manufacturers. The efficiency curve is non-linear.
1.2A / 533mA = 2.25. If the battery efficiency curve were linear, a 1.2A/h battery would drive the dimmer with 4W load for over 2 hours. Worst case, you will get better than 1 hour. That’s a whole lot more than the required 10 minutes.
1.2A / 200mA = 6. If the battery efficiency curve were linear, a 1.2A/h battery would drive the RC4Magic DMX2dim receiver, with the load turned off, for 6 hours. In fact, it will be less — approximately 4 – 5 hours. That meets the specified requirements.
Thus, I recommend using a 1.2A/h SLA battery. It’s small, readily available, and quite inexpensive.
However, these current requirements are low enough that NiMH batteries could also be considered. This is particularly viable if you are using an LED component, without built-in current limiting. Then you can choose a low operating voltage, and use a simple resistor for current limiting. In that case, I recommend using a pack of 4 AA cells. Each cell produces 1.25V, for a total of 5V. Although this is less than the 6V specified as the minimum voltage for the DMX2dim, it does work. Just remember that you don’t have much room for the battery voltage to drop further, before the dimmer electronics will cease to function.
At lower voltage, 4W demands higher current. 4W / 5V = 800mA. The standby current for the dimmer-receiver is unchanged at 200mA. So you need to deliver 1A for 10 minutes, 200mA for 4 hours.
Capacities of AA cells vary, but a common mid-range value is 2000mA/h, which is 2A/h. This means you will get longer running times than noted above for a 1.2A/h battery. Just be sure to calculate the current-limiting resistor value properly. You’ll find a useful calculator for this at http://ledcalc.com/.
I hope this helps!
Jim
RC4
