System Overview

A good lighting control system enhances any space. A great system allows creativity to flow! Control Systems for any venue are comprised of similar components: user controls such as button, fader or LCD stations, and power controls such as dimmers or relays. Together, the components allow a user to shape the look of space, create moods, perform ideal task lighting according to time of day, save energy, and interact with other systems.

The difference between an “entertainment” control system and an “architectural” one is the user interaction. Entertainment systems allow live, detailed control of every element. Architectural systems start with detailed control, and then capture the elements for reuse over and over again.

Choose Your Environment

Architectural System Overview Entertainment System Overview
Entertainment
diagram
 

Fixtures
1 Spotlight A fixture that produces even, overall light with soft or hard edge, framing shutters and provisions for patterns
2 Moving Light A fixture where certain attributes such as pan, tilt, focus, beam, and color are motorized and remotely controlled
3 Wash Light A fixture that produces even, overall light with a soft edge
 

Distribution
4 Outlet/Pigtail Boxes Compact power distribution boxes that provide electricity from the dimmers to the fixtures, generally wall mount
5 Connector Strip A linear unit of power distribution that provides electricity from the dimmers to the fixtures, generally suspended on a pipe or catwalk
6 Network DMX Node Basically a translation box that receives commands via the network, translates them into DMX512 data and transmits that data to DMX devices
7 Ethernet Switch A network distribution device
8 ELTS Self-contained system that switches dimmed lights to emergency power if normal power fails
 

Dimming
9 Control Processor Main processor for the dimmer rack
10 Dimmer Device used to control the amount of light radiating from a fixture
11 Dimmer Rack An enclosure containing dimmer modules and a control processor
 

Controls
12 Architectural Controls Control devices for houselights, work lights, and lobby lights
13 Console An assembly of controls used to adjust and play back lighting looks
14 Control Accessories Control devices that provide remote access to the lighting console
15 Remote Software Computer with configuration, monitoring and remote control software programs