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3 Track Smart Chaser Product Manual (3TSC-10)

Table of Contents

Part 1: General Info about This Product

1. About the 3 Track Smart Chaser and our Services (p2)

a. About the 3 Track Smart Chaser

b. Standard Features Included with the 3 Track Smart Chaser

c. Services Automatically Included with all Purchases from Flash Track Lighting

2. Chase Light Controller Basics (p3)

a. What is a chase light controller?

b. Terms and Definitions: Patterns, Sequences, Settings, Modes, and Tracks

c. What makes this chase light controller a “smart chaser”?

3. Help Choosing the Right Controller for Your Display (p4)

a. What the 3 Track Smart Chaser Can Do

b. What the 3 Track Smart Chaser Cannot Do

c. Call or Email Flash Track Lighting for Help

4. Descriptions of the Sequence Patterns Already Pre-Programmed on the 3 Track Smart Chaser (p 5-6)

a. A Copy of the Sequence Label that shows each available pattern and the # of tracks it is available in

b. A Written Description of the effect that each available pattern creates

c. See www.FlashTrackLighting.com for animated examples of each pattern

Part 2: Directions for Using This Product

5. Parts of the 3 Track Smart Chaser (p7)

a. Front View (Speed Pot, Hanging Brackets, 3-Prong Plug, 3 Receptacles)

b. Inside View (Dip Switch to Select Pattern, Fuse)

c. Sequence Tag (A copy of the Tag and Explanation of How to Use It)

6. Setting Up and Using Your Smart Chaser (p 8-10)

a. Testing Your Lights FIRST (p8)

b. How to Set Your Chase Pattern (p9)

c. Plugging Your Lights In (p10)

d. How to Adjust Your Chase Pattern’s Speed (p10)

e. Mounting Your Controller (p10)

7. About Amperage and Troubleshooting (p 11-13)

a. What a Maximum Load of 10 amps ON AT ONE TIME means (p11)

b. How to Calculate Your Amperage (p 11-12)

c. Troubleshooting (p 12-13)

8. Product Warnings and Safety Precautions (p14)

Summary of content (14 pages)

PAGE 1
3 Track Smart Chaser Product Manual (3TSC-10) Table of Contents Part 1: General Info about This Product 1. About the 3 Track Smart Chaser and our Services (p2) a. About the 3 Track Smart Chaser b. Standard Features Included with the 3 Track Smart Chaser c. Services Automatically Included with all Purchases from Flash Track Lighting 2. Chase Light Controller Basics (p3) a. What is a chase light controller? b. Terms and Definitions: Patterns, Sequences, Settings, Modes, and Tracks c.
PAGE 2
About the 3 Track Smart Chaser Flash Track Lighting’s 3-Track Smart Chaser is the perfect choice for creating spectacular lighting effects both indoors and outdoors, no matter the application. Use this chase light controller and any of its 16 pre-programmed chase sequences to create stunning Christmas Light Displays, Chase Light Signs, Casino Displays, and animated light shows that use 2 or 3 tracks, and require no more than 10 amps on at one time.
PAGE 3
The Basics of the 3 Track Smart Chaser What is a chase light controller and how does it work? • Chase light controllers like this one run animated light displays by turning the power on or off to certain strands of lights at certain pre-programmed intervals, to simulate a specific motion. By having certain strands (aka “tracks”) of lights turn on and off at different intervals, it will look like a wheel is turning, a hand is waving, a word is being spelled out, etc..
PAGE 4
Is This the Right Controller for My Display? When choosing a controller, keep in mind that this 3 Track Smart Chaser can run 2 or 3 track displays, in the sequences listed on the sequence label, with a maximum of 10 amps on at one time. • If you need more than 3 tracks, more than 10 amps, or a different pattern, review the specs for our 4, 6, and 8 Track Smart Chasers. • If you need more than 18 amps or a custom sequence, check out our programmable controllers.
PAGE 5
Descriptions of the Sequence Patterns Already Pre-Programmed on the 3 Track Smart Chaser The 3-Track Smart Chaser comes with 16 different sequences to choose from, including 5 sequences for 2 track mode and 11 sequences for 3 track mode. The label below shows which sequences are included with the 3-Track Smart Chaser. Here are descriptions of each of the included base patterns. Visit our website at www.FlashTrackLighting.
PAGE 6
Description of the Multi-Sequence Pattern The multi-sequence pattern is available in 2 and 3 track modes on the 3 Track Smart Chaser. The pattern consists of a 20 second loop with 8 different, 1 to 3-second-long chase patterns. What Multi-Sequence Does: Multi-Sequence goes through all of the following patterns, in this order, in a total of about 20 seconds (approx. 1-3 seconds per pattern), on a continuous repeating loop.
PAGE 7
Setting Up and Using Your 3 Track Smart Chaser (3TSC-10) Always test your lights first, BEFORE plugging them into the controller! Sequence Tag Parts of the 3 Track Smart Chaser This green Sequence Tag is included with all of our smart chasers and comes zip-tied to the power cord. You can use this to tag to write down which display this controller goes with, what sequence you used, and which lights you plugged into which receptacles to achieve your desired effect.
PAGE 8
Using Your Smart Chaser: Testing the Lights First Always test your lights for shorts before plugging them into the controller. To do this, plug each set of lights into an outlet or extension cord other than the controller. If any lights cause the breaker to pop or produce significant sparks, make the necessary adjustments, then test the lights again. Once there are no issues or sparks, the lights may be plugged into the controller. This step is necessary to protect the controller.
PAGE 9
Using Your Smart Chaser: How to Set Your Chase Sequence *Important: Anytime that you change the sequence you MUST unplug the controller box and then plug it back in AFTER you have set the dip switch sliders to the new sequence code for the change to take effect.* 1. To set your chase sequence, first look at the chase sequence label (printed at the bottom of this page and on the top of your controller box) to see which pattern you would like to use.
PAGE 10
Using Your Smart Chaser: Plugging Lights In, Setting Speed, and Mounting the Controller Plugging your Lights in Always plug your lights into a separate outlet or extension cord first to test them, THEN, once you are sure that there are no shorts, plug the controller box in. Next, plug the lights into the receptacles on the bottom of the controller box.
PAGE 11
About Amperage About the Maximum Load: What 10 Amps ON AT ONE TIME Means The maximum load for the 3 track smart chaser is 10 amps ON AT ONE TIME, not necessarily per receptacle. This means that you have to pay attention to which pattern you choose when determining how many amps you can run per receptacle, since different patterns have different numbers of tracks on at one time, and 10 amps is the maximum load that this controller can handle at any one time.
PAGE 12
How to Estimate Your Amperage Continued To calculate a more exact estimate of your amperage, use the formula below. To calculate your amperage, use the maximum number of bulbs that will be on at 1 time as follows: (# of bulbs x bulb wattage) ÷ 110 = Amps Needed. Example: If 250, 7 watt bulbs will be on at 1 time, solve (250 x 7) ÷ 110 = 16 amps. This example would NOT be an acceptable load for the 3 Track Smart Chaser since it is only rated for 10 amps on at one time.
PAGE 13
Troubleshooting Continued • What to do if your controller stops working after it had started running: 1) First, determine whether or not the receptacle has power. • If the receptacle does NOT have power, you could have tripped the breaker in the fuse box OR you could have tripped the GFI receptacle. o First, check to see if you tripped a breaker in the fuse box. If you did, flip the breaker back on AND check the amperage load of EVERYTHING you have plugged into all of the outlets on that circuit.
PAGE 14
Product Warnings and Safety Precautions Keep in mind that this chase light controller runs on electricity, so you DO need to take all of the necessary safety precautions when handling this controller that you would when handling any electrical device. ➢ Always unplug the controller before removing the cover and before adjusting the dip switch settings. ➢ When using the controller outside, always mount it at least 12 inches off the ground. o This controller cannot sit in a puddle of water.