Owner manual

Page 7 of 13
RD - 121 RACK MOUNT DIMMER
Version 1.2 OWNERS MANUAL 02/28/2005
www.lightronics.com
Lightronics Inc. 509 Central Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23454 [phone]
NOTES ABOUT INTERNAL SCENE:
The RD-121 continues to respond to control console signals when the internal scene is activated. The intensity of
any given channel will be the "greatest of" or "pile on" result of the internal scene and console level setting.
If multiple Lightronics RD series dimmers are connected as a system (See CONTROL SIGNAL CONNECTIONS),
then a remote switch connected to the system can activate system wide scenes or only scenes in specific
dimmers depending on how the remote switch function is set in each dimmer. These scene features give you the
ability to use the dimmer for house lights and other applications where is is not practical to operate a control
console.
CHASER OPERATION
The RD-121 can operate chaser functions as a "stand alone" unit with no control console present. There are 7
factory set chase patterns embedded in the unit software. There is also one pattern which may be programmed
by the user. The chase step rate, chase step fade rate, and chase intensity can be set by the user for all chaser
functions. Chaser functions may be set to run continuously or as a single occurance. The number of steps (up to
32) can be set for the programmable chase. The RD-121 may be set to begin chaser functions at "power up" or
in response to a remote switch. A bounce option can be imposed on a chase pattern. This results in a pattern
which runs in its normal sequence then runs the same sequence backwards.
ACTIVATING A CHASE PATTERN
A chase stored in the RD-121 is activated by connecting together pins 5 and 9 of either DB9 connector. The DB9
connectors are on the rear of the dimmer. This may be done via a remotely located switch. The activated chase
will remain active as long as pins 5 and 9 on the DB9 connectors remain connected together.
In addition to activating a chase, the RD-121 can be set to ignore the remote switch or use it to activate a scene.
In order to use the remote switch to activate chase patterns you must enable that function as follows:
1. Push MENU 3 times. The display will show the message "MENU" on the bottom row.
2. Push SELECT. The LCD will display one of messages shown below.
Input1 ×
Chaser
Input1 ×
Scene
Input1 ×
Not Used
3. If "Not Used" or "Scene" appears on the bottom row, push the UP or DOWN arrow buttons until "Chaser"
appears.
4. Push SELECT to return the unit to normal operation.
The Front panel display shows a "C" on the bottom row as an indication that an internal chase is active.
SELECTING A CHASE PATTERN
You can select any of the 7 factory preset chase patterns to run or create and run your own custom pattern.
Instructions for creating a custom chase pattern are given further on in this manual.
A chase pattern is selected using the RD-121 menu system as follows: