AI LED Fixtures and RS232

[jdjeff58]

When using a 48" AI fixture there are 4 lighting modules. I'm being told I will need an adapter cable for the profilux. Couple of questions with this:

1. How many adapter cables do you need for multiple lighting modules, in my case there will be 4 modules for the 48" fixture. Is there an interconnect between light modules...like a daisy chain?

2. The manual says that removing the RS232 cable will result in a loss of communication to the AI lights. Will removing the RS232 cable, say during a firmware upgrade, change the state of the lights? In other words, If the lights are on and I remove the RS232, will the lights go off? Or if the lights are off will they come on? Or will the lights remain in their present state until you reconnect and re-establish communcation.

3. I am currently running 2 light sticks (4 Illumination channels). It appears that the AI fixture can run independent from the light sticks. But it also looks like thunderstorm mode can not be run independent. Is this an accurate statement?

4. Assuming I am running 4 modules on the 48" AI fixture, how many illumination channels will be needed, 2 or 4?

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

 

[wesheltonj]

I will try to help. I have a 48" AI light.

(1) You need one adapter cable. It plugs into the first light, then other lights are daisy chained just like if you were using the AI controller. My cables came with the the AI light and not the adapter
(2) I use USB so as to not have that problem, but when I have disconnected I have just plugged back in the AI controller. I believe the light themself are either full on or off.
(3)You do not need the light sticks, the AI can create your storm. Not sure if the sticks can be run independant for storms only or not, someone else will have to answer that.
(4) AI runs on 2 channels - 1 white, 1 blue.

 

[jdjeff58]

wesheltonj:

(1) Thanks for clearing that up
(2) So then it might be wise to unplug the lights when doing a firmware upgrade through the RS232?
(3) The light sticks do add some different colors ie red/orange and should be independent from the AI since it's seperate channels. But the way it looks, thunderstorm mode will be happening with all the lights. Which I guess isn't really a bad thing. Just don't want too much lightning freaking out my fish.
(4) Also thanks for making that clear as well.

 

[wesheltonj]

(2), yes, unless you are going to invest in a USB card

 

[AQD_ottawa]

If you jump for the SMS module this gives you the extra RS232 cable port so you do not have to disconnect.

 

[Matthias Gross]

sorry Michael, but you could not know this (it is a very special topic):
the SMS module is not able to route communication between AI and ProfiLux, AI must be connected directly
the problem is the different communication protocol of AI and GHL, the SMS unit can only support one of them

 

[AQD_ottawa]

No problem always good to learn new things

 

[chiefzod]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14308572#post14308572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Matthias Gross
sorry Michael, but you could not know this (it is a very special topic):
the SMS module is not able to route communication between AI and ProfiLux, AI must be connected directly
the problem is the different communication protocol of AI and GHL, the SMS unit can only support one of them

Oh bugger!

I just posted this question in the SMS support thread. So that means my AI light is now useless as far as connection to the Profilux goes?

Can you make and expansion card that has the RS232 on it so we can still use the AI Light and profilux?

 

[subshop]

COULD ONE USE A USB TO RS232 adapter and plug the AI LEDS into the USB to control the Lights? neil

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14414842#post14414842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by subshop
COULD ONE USE A USB TO RS232 adapter and plug the AI LEDS into the USB to control the Lights? neil

Not a good idea.

The USB is very unstable. I can't even keep my PC connected for longer than 10mins.

 

[subshop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14415270#post14415270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Not a good idea.

The USB is very unstable. I can't even keep my PC connected for longer than 10mins.

any explanation on why it is so unstable? are you using mac or pc? neil

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14415835#post14415835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by subshop
any explanation on why it is so unstable? are you using mac or pc? neil

I am not sure.

I was asked to move the USB card to a different slot in the controller to see if that will solve my issues. *fingers crossed*

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Dan seems to have abit of a unique USB case, we are working our way through the reasons as we dont have nay other reports of his drop outs.

We will get to the bottom of it for you Dan dont worry.

 

[wesheltonj]

I do not keep my USB card connected all the time, but I did have problems when I was upgrading to the eX. My PC using XP Pro could not find the card, Once I connect to the 232 was able to upgrade and then USB worked. I had another problem with XP not finding the USB card. I suspect its not the card or the Proflilux II, but the software driver. Just my two cents.