CITY THEATRICAL 5809 QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer User Guide

: June 12, 2024
: City Theatrical

Table of Contents

CITY THEATRICAL 5809 QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
FEATURES & COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
Quick Start Instructions
Device DMX Profiles
Stand Alone Mode Chases
Documents / Resources

CITY THEATRICAL 5809 QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer

CITY-THEATRICAL-5809-QolorFLEX-5x8A-Dimmer-product-
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Product Information

Feature	Description
Product Name	QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer
Manufacturer	City Theatrical
Address	475 BARELL AVE, CARLSTADT, NJ 07072
Contact	800/230/9497, 201/549/1160
Website	www.citytheatrical.com
Features	The QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer can control a full 40A of LED tape

spread over five output channels of 8A each. It uses constant
voltage technology for consistent full range dimming. The dimmer is
also RDM capable.
User Controls| The dimmer features an easy to read onboard display and four
button user interface for selecting and controlling various
functions.
Power Supply| The unit requires a separate power supply providing input
voltage of 12-24VDC. The maximum current load per channel is 8A
with a maximum device output of 40A.
Compatibility| The QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer is designed to operate perfectly with
City Theatrical’s QolorFLEX LED tape.

Product Usage Instructions

Connect the QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer to your DMX controller using one of the following methods:
- DMX five pin XLRM input
- RJ-45 DMX input/output
- DMX input/output terminal block
Connect the appropriate power supply providing 12-24VDC to the power input screw terminals. Ensure that the power supply matches the tape being used in terms of voltage and watts. Do not exceed the 20A maximum rating on any one screw terminal.
To set the dimmer for DMX mode:
- Power up the unit.
- The address screen (Axxx) will be showing in DMX Mode (run1).
- In DMX Mode, you can set the following parameters:
- Axxx: DMX Address
- CH0x: Quantity of channels controlled
- Btxx: 8 or 16 bit dimming
- PFxx: PWM frequency (00 to 30)
- gAxx: Dimming Curve (0.1 to 9.9)
- dPxx: DMX Profiles (Set DMX profile to 2.1 for 16 bit two channel dimming)
To set the dimmer for Stand Alone mode:
- Set the dimmer to Stand Alone Mode by pushing the Up button until “run1” is shown (denotes DMX mode).
- Press the Enter button, and use the Up button to select “run2” (denotes Stand Alone Mode).
- Cycle power to the unit.
- In Stand Alone Mode, you can set the following parameters:
- Run2: Stand Alone Mode
- Pxxx: Programs 1 to 31
- b-xx: Brightness levels 1 to 8
- SPxx: Speed Levels 1 to 16
- x-xx: Individual channels @ levels
To change back to DMX Mode, select “run1” and cycle power.
The dimmer’s DMX Start Address can be set by changing the factory default value of 001. This sets the DMX address for the dimmer.

FEATURES & COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION

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The QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer can control a full 40A of LED tape spread over five output channels of 8A each. This allows the control of unique combinations such as RGB tape (three channels) and bi-color tape (two channels), or RGBX tape (four channels) and a single color tape (one channel) together in one unit. The QolorFLEX 5x8A uses constant voltage technology which ensures consistent full range dimming that is especially important at low end light levels.
An easy to read onboard display and four button user interface allows selection and control of six functions: setting DMX addresses, setting quantity of DMX channels, selecting 8 or 16 bit output resolution, setting PWM frequency (500Hz to 30KHz), setting output dimming curve values for matching the dimming curves of other dimmers in use, setting the device’s operating profile, and setting standalone modes. The QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer is also RDM capable.
The unit requires a separate power supply providing input voltage of 12-24VDC. The maximum current load per channel is 8A with a maximum device output of 40A.
The QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer is designed to operate perfectly with City Theatrical’s QolorFLEX LED tape, the LED tape of professionals on Broadway, network television, and architectural lighting installations.

Quick Start Instructions

Connect the QolorFLEX 5x8A Dimmer to your DMX controller by using either the DMX five pin XLRM input, an RJ-45 DMX input/output, or the DMX input/output terminal block. DMX out can be either five pin XLRF output, the RJ-45 input/output or the DMX input/output terminal block.
Connect your load to the output channels using the screw terminals. For single color LED tape with two connection wires, connect the V- (black) wire to any one of the four output channel terminals and the V+ (red) wire to its corresponding terminal. When using multi-color LED Tape, connect as follows: CH1-red, CH2 green, CH3 blue, CH4 fourth, CH5 fifth, color. Note*- The V+ (common) circuit for multicolor tape will be connected to either a black or white wire. To determine which is correct, look at one of the sets of contacts on the tape itself and note which color wire is connected to the one labeled (+). Do not exceed the maximum load capacity of 8A per channel.
Connect the appropriate power supply providing 12-24VDC to the power input screw terminals. Be sure not to exceed the 20A maximum rating on any one screw terminal. Note*-The size of the power supply must match the tape being used in both voltage and watts. The QolorFLEX 5x8A’s maximum output power rating is: 480W (12V), and 960W (24V).

To Set for DMX
Power up unit. Address screen (Axxx) will be showing in DMX Mode (“run1”).

In DMX Mode:

Axxx = DMX Address
CH0x = Quantity of channels controlled
Btxx = 8 or 16 bit dimming
PFxx = PWM frequency 00 to 30
gAxx = Dimming Curve 0.1 to 9.9
dPxx = DMX Profiles Note: Set DMX profile to “2.1” for 16 bit two channel dimming)

To Set for Stand Alone
Set to Stand Alone Mode by pushing “Up” button until “run1” is shown. “run1” denotes DMX mode. Hit “Enter” button, and “Up” button to select “run2”, which denotes Stand Alone Mode. Cycle power to unit.

In Stand Alone Mode:

Run2 = Stand Alone Mode
Pxxx = Programs 1 to 31
b-xx = Brightness levels 1 to 8
SPxx = Speed Levels 1 to 16
x-xx = Individual channels @ levels

To change back to DMX Mode, select “run1” and cycle power.

DMX Start Address (Factory default is 001)
Sets the DMX address for the dimmer.

DMX Channel Qty (Factory default is 05)

SETTINGS:
- CH01: DMX addresses 1,2,3,4,5 = 001
- CH02: DMX addresses, 1,3 =001, 2,4,5 =002
- CH03: DMX addresses, 1 =001, 2 =002, 3,4,5 =003
- CH04: DMX addresses, 1 =001, 2 =002, 3 =003, 4,5 =004
- CH05: DMX addresses, 1 =001, 2 =002, 3 =003, 4 =004, 5 =005

Output Resolution- (Factory default is 16)
Resolution determines the smoothness of the dimming. 8 bit uses 1 DMX channel, while 16 bit uses 2. Note: also change DMX profile to dp2.1

AVAILABLE SETTINGS : 08 or 16

PWM Frequency (Factory default is 05)
PWM Frequency is used to tune the dimmer for flicker free operation when used with high speed camera. A high PWM value produces the least amount of flicker. A low PWM value produces better dimming quality. Always perform a camera test to con rm optimal results.

AVAILABLE SETTINGS: 00 thru 30
Values: 00 = 500Hz
- 01 to 30 = 1kHz to 30kHz

Dimming Curve (Factory default is 1.5)
The Dimming Curve may be adjusted to affect the rate of rise and fall of the dimmer. Values less than 1.0 increase the rate, while values greater than 1.0 decrease the rate. (1.0 is linear)

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AVAILABLE SETTINGS : 0.1 thru 9.9

Device DMX Profiles

(Factory default is 11)

DMX Address is 001,CH01

dp1.1 dp2.1

| Note: To restore factory defaults, press and hold both “Enter” and “Back” for 5 seconds until display goes out
---|---
Channel 1| For all output dimming| For all output dimming
Channel 2| | For all output Fine dimming
DMX Address is 001,CH02 dp1.1| dp2.1| | dp3.2|
Channel 1| For output 1&3 dimming| For output 1&3 dimming| For output 1&3 dimming
Channel 2| For output 2,4&5 dimming| For output 1&3 Fine dimming| For output 2,4&5 dimming
Channel 3| | For output 2,4&5 dimming| For all output dimming
Channel 4| | For output 2,4&5

Fine dimming

dimming

dimming

| For output 2

Fine dimming

| For output 4&5

dimming

| For output 4&5

dimming

Stand Alone Mode Chases

Default is RUN1 for DMX mode.
Arrow to RUN1. Hit Enter.
When Blinking, Arrow to RUN2. Hit Enter. Hit Back. Power Cycle. Once you are set to RUN2:
You can set a channel (1-5) at a level 0-FL. Hit Enter and Back.
You can also set a Chase with the P-00. The 1-5 Channel Levels will override the chase.

P-00 is Program (Hit Enter Arrow up/down)

P-01 Red
P-02 Green
P-03 Blue
P-04 Lime Green Mix P-05 Amber Mix
P-06 Cyan Mix
P-07 Purple Mix
P-08 All Full
P-09 Rainbow Chase P-10 Random Chase P-11 Random Chase P-12 Random Chase P-13 Snap RGB
P-14 Bounce RGB P-15 Blink RGB
P-16 Blink RGB
P-17 Pulse R A LtG G Cyan Blue
P-18 Bounce R A LtG G Cyan Blue
P-19 Snap R A LtG G Cyan Blue
P-20 Static Red Chase G/B
P-21 Chase Red/Blue Static Green
P-22 Static Blue Chase Red/Green
P-23 Static Red Chase Green
P-24 Static Red Chase Blue
P-25 Chase Red Static Green
P-26 Chase Blue Static Green
P-27 Chase Red Static Blue
P-28 Chase Green Static Blue
P-29 Chase Red Static Green
P-30 Red/Blue chase
P-31 Green/Blue chase