CHAUVET COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ User Manual

1. BEFORE YOU BEGIN

What is Included

• 1 x COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ
• 1 x Power Cable
• 2 x Mounting Bracket Kit
• 1 x Warranty Card
• 1 x User Manual

Unpacking Instructions

Immediately upon receiving a fixture, carefully unpack the carton, check the contents to ensure that all parts are present and have been received in good condition. Notify the shipper immediately and retain packing material for inspection if any parts appear damaged from shipping or the carton itself shows signs of mishandling. Save the carton and all packing materials. In the event that a fixture must be returned to the factory, it is important that the fixture be returned in the original factory box and packing.

Manual Conventions

CHAUVET manuals use the following conventions to differentiate certain types of information from the regular text.

Icons

Safety Instructions

⚠️ Please read these instructions carefully. It includes important information about the installation, usage and maintenance of this product.

• Please keep this User Manual for future consultation. If you sell the unit to another user, be sure that they also receive this instruction booklet.
• Always make sure that you are connecting to the proper voltage, and that the line voltage you are connecting to is not higher than that stated on the decal or rear panel of the fixture.
• This product is intended for indoor use only! To prevent risk of fire or shock, do not expose fixture to rain or moisture.
• Make sure there are no flammable materials close to the unit while operating.
• The unit must be installed in a location with adequate ventilation, at least 20 in (50 cm) from adjacent surfaces. Be sure that no ventilation slots are blocked.
• Always disconnect from power source before servicing or replacing fuse and be sure to replace with same fuse source.
• Secure fixture to fastening device using a safety chain.
• Maximum ambient temperature (Ta) is 104° F (40° C). Do not operate fixture at temperatures higher than this.
• In the event of a serious operating problem, stop using the unit immediately. Never try to repair the unit by yourself. Repairs carried out by unskilled people can lead to damage or malfunction. Please contact the nearest authorized technical assistance center.
• Never connect the device to a dimmer pack.
• Make sure the power cord is never crimped or damaged.
• Never disconnect the power cord by pulling or tugging on the cord.
• Avoid direct eye exposure to the light source while it is on.

2. INTRODUCTION

Features

• 7 user-selectable static colors plus blackout via master/slave
• 36 user-selectable automated programs with variable speeds via master/slave or optional controller
• 15 user-selectable EQ modes via master/slave
• 36 user-selectable EQ modes via optional controller
• Additional power output: max 32 units
• 100 ft max distance between each tube
• Includes 2 rail-mounted, sliding brackets
• Mount flush to ceiling/wall or to truss with clamps
• Center point and balance point marks
• For best results, use the optional CT3EQ Controller

Options

• CT3EQ Controller
• 5 ft (1.5 m) signal extension cable (LED-SIG5A)
• 15 ft (4.6 m) signal extension cable (LED-SIG15A)

CT3EQ Controller (Optional)

Features

• 6-channel DMX-COLORtube ™ 3.0 EQ controller
• RGB color mixing with variable strobe rate via stand-alone or DMX
• 7 selectable preset colors (plus blackout) with variable strobe speeds
• Built-in RGB color fading with variable speeds
• Built-in automatic programs via DMX (most with variable speed and/or strobe rates)
• Built-in sound activated programs via DMX (36 different color combinations)

Additional Features

• Controls up to 225 tubes
• Addresses each tube automatically

Product Overview (CT3EQ Controller)

A diagram shows the front panel of the CT3EQ Controller with labels for Microphone, DMX LED indicator, MODE button, UP button, DOWN button, and ENTER button. The rear panel shows labels for Power Switch, Sound Sensitivity, DC Power Input, SENSITIVITY knob, DC INPUT, OUTPUT, Signal Output to Tubes, DMX Out, and DMX In.

Product Overview (COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ)

Diagrams show the front and back sides of the COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ. The front side indicates Signal In and Power In. The back side indicates Power Out and Signal Out. Labels point to Power Indicator, DIP Switches, Sound Sensitivity, and Microphone.

3. SETUP

AC Power

This fixture runs on 100~240 VAC, 50/60 Hz. Before powering on the unit, make sure the line voltage to which you are connecting it is within the range of accepted voltages.

⚠️ Always connect the fixture to a switched circuit. Never connect the fixture to a rheostat (variable resistor) or dimmer circuit, even if the rheostat or dimmer channel is used only as a 0 to 100% switch.

To determine the power requirements for a particular fixture, see the label affixed to the back plate of the fixture or refer to the fixture's specifications chart. A fixture's listed current rating indicates its average current draw under normal conditions.

⚠️ Always connect the fixture to a circuit with a suitable electrical ground.

Fixture Linking (COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ)

The COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ has both signal and power linking. A diagram illustrates linking multiple fixtures using the CT3EQ Controller, with Signal In/Out and Power In/Out connections.

Mounting

Orientation

The COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ may be mounted in any safe position.

Rigging

Mount the fixture securely. This may be done with a screw, nut and bolt, or a hanging clamp. The hole in each bracket is 13 mm in size. When rigging consider routine maintenance and DIP switch access. Please see the following steps for installation.

1. Attach the bracket (1 or 2) to the mounting point.
2. Slide the bottom ridge of the tubes into place, as shown in the first diagram below.
3. Attach the pressure plate by using the bolt and lock washer that are included. This is done with a #5 Allen wrench.

Diagrams illustrate the rigging process, showing the mounting bracket, pressure plate, and bolt and lock washer.

Fixture Linking

You will need a serial data link to run light shows of one or more fixtures using a DMX-512 controller or to run synchronized shows on two or more fixtures set to a master/slave operating mode. The combined number of channels required by all the fixtures on a serial data link determines the number of fixtures the data link can support.

ℹ️ Fixtures on a serial data link must be daisy chained in one single line. To comply with the EIA-485 standard, no more than 32 fixtures should be connected on one data link. Connecting more than 32 fixtures on one serial data link without the use of a DMX optically-isolated splitter may result in deterioration of the digital DMX signal.

Maximum recommended serial data link distance: 500 m (1640 ft)
Maximum recommended number of fixtures on a serial data link: 32

Data Cabling

To link fixtures together you must obtain data cables. You can purchase CHAUVET-certified DMX cables directly from a dealer/distributor or construct your own cable. If you choose to create your own cable please use data-grade cables that can carry a high quality signal and are less prone to electromagnetic interference.

DMX Data Cable

Use a Belden© 9841 or equivalent cable which meets the specifications for EIA RS-485 applications. Standard microphone cables cannot transmit DMX data reliably over long distances. The cable must have the following characteristics:

Cable Connectors

Cabling must have a male XLR connector on one end and a female XLR connector on the other end.

A diagram shows the DMX connector configuration for input and output, detailing pin assignments and the recommended 120 ohm 1/4 W resistor between pin 2 (DMX -) and pin 3 (DMX +) on the output of the last fixture. It also advises connecting a DMX signal terminator to avoid signal transmission problems and interference.

ℹ️ Do not allow contact between the common and the fixture's chassis ground. Grounding the common can cause a ground loop, and your fixture may perform erratically. Test cables with an ohm meter to verify correct polarity and to make sure the pins are not grounded or shorted to the shield or each other.

3-Pin to 5-Pin Conversion Chart

If you use a controller with a 5-pin DMX output connector, you will need to use a 5-pin to 3-pin adapter. CHAUVET Model No: DMX5M, or DMX5F. The chart below details a proper cable conversion:

Setting up a DMX Serial Data Link

1. Connect the (male) 3-pin connector side of the DMX cable to the output (female) 3-pin connector of the controller.
2. Connect the end of the cable coming from the controller which will have a (female) 3-pin connector to the input connector of the next fixture consisting of a (male) 3-pin connector.
3. Then, proceed to connect from the output as stated above to the input of the following fixture and so on.

A diagram shows a Universal DMX Controller and how to connect DMX cables to fixtures.

CHAUVET Certified DMX Data Cables

4. OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Configuring the Starting Address

Each fixture requires a starting address from 1~512. A fixture requiring one or more channels for control begins to read the data on the channel indicated by the starting address. For example, a fixture that uses seven DMX channels and is addressed to start on DMX channel 100, will read data from channels: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106. Choose the starting addresses for each fixture so that the channels used do not overlap. In addition, you should note the starting address selected for future reference.

The COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ fixture uses six DMX channels. If this is your first time using DMX, we recommend reading the "DMX Primer" section in the "Appendix".

Control Panel Functions

Access control panel functions using the four buttons located directly underneath the LCD Display on the included wired remote.

A diagram shows the CT3EQ Controller with its control panel buttons labeled.

The Control Panel shows the current state of the unit. It is used to select the operating mode, as well as the sub-features. For a detailed layout of the control panel functions, please see the "menu map" section on the following page.

Menu Map

ℹ️ For best results, first power on all of the tubes at the same time (simultaneously), and then power on the controller.

OPERATION

DMX

This is the operating mode which will allow for control with an external DMX controller. You must set the starting address for this mode. If this is your first time using DMX, then it is recommended that you refer to the "DMX Primer" section in the "Appendix" of this manual.

1. Press <MODE> until DMX-512 appears on the LCD screen.
2. Press <ENTER>.
3. Using <UP> and <DOWN>, select the desired DMX address.

DMX Channel Values

A table details the DMX channel values for Dimmer, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Cyan, Purple, White, Mode 1-4, Mode 5-21, Mode 22-34, and Sound, including their respective value ranges and functions.

Mode Channel DMX Details

A table lists various color modes and their corresponding DMX channel values (048-249).

Sound-Active Mode Channel 2 Values

A table lists Sound-Active Mode Channel 2 values (when Channel 1 Mode values are 250-255), detailing various active color and background color combinations.

Standalone Automatic and Sound-Active

DIP Switch Settings

Tables show the DIP Switch settings for various PROGRAM MODES (Active Mode, Active Color, Run Speed, Mode) and SOUND MODE EQ ACTIVE (Sound Mode, Back Color, Active Color).

Setting the Starting Address

This DMX mode enables the use of a universal DMX controller device. Each fixture requires a start address from 1~512. A fixture requiring one or more channels for control begins to read the data on the channel indicated by the start address. For example, a fixture that uses six DMX channels and was addressed to start on DMX channel 100, would read data from channels: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105. Choose start addresses so that the channels used do not overlap, and note the start address selected for future reference.

If this is your first time addressing a fixture using the DMX control protocol, we suggest jumping to the "Appendix" section and reading the heading "DMX Primer". It contains very useful information that will help you understand its use.

General Troubleshooting

ℹ️ If you still have a problem after trying the above solutions, please contact CHAUVET Technical Support.

Contact Us

World Headquarters

CHAUVET®
General Information
Address: 5200 NW 108th Avenue, Sunrise, FL 33351
Voice: (954) 577-4455
Fax: (954) 929-5560
Toll free: (800) 762-1084

Technical Support
Voice: (954) 577-4455 (Press 4)
Fax: (954) 756-8015
Email: tech@chauvetlighting.com

World Wide Web: www.chauvetlighting.com

United Kingdom & Ireland

CHAUVET® Europe Ltd.
General Information
Address: Unit 1C, Brookhill Road Industrial Estate, Pinxton, Nottingham, UK NG16 6NT
Voice: +44 (0)1773 511115
Fax: +44 (0)1773 511110
Email: uktech@chauvetlighting.com

World Wide Web: www.chauvetlighting.co.uk

5. APPENDIX

DMX Primer

There are 512 channels in a DMX connection. Channels may be assigned in any manner. A fixture capable of receiving DMX will require one or a number of sequential channels. The user must assign a starting address on the fixture that indicates the first channel reserved in the controller. There are many different types of DMX controllable fixtures and they all may vary in the total number of channels required. Choosing a start address should be planned in advance. Channels should never overlap. If they do, this will result in erratic operation of the fixtures whose starting address is set incorrectly. You can however, control multiple fixtures of the same type using the same starting address as long as the intended result is that of unison movement or operation. In other words, the fixtures will be slaved together and all respond exactly the same.

DMX fixtures are designed to receive data through a serial Daisy Chain. A Daisy Chain connection is where the DATA OUT of one fixture connects to the DATA IN of the next fixture. The order in which the fixtures are connected is not important and has no effect on how a controller communicates to each fixture. Use an order that provides for the easiest and most direct cabling. Connect fixtures using shielded two conductor twisted pair cable with three pin XLR male to female connectors. The shield connection is pin 1, while pin 2 is Data Negative (S-) and pin 3 is Data positive (S+). CHAUVET carries 3-pin XLR DMX compliant cables, DMX-10 (33'), DMX-4.5 (15') and DMX-1.5 (5')

General Maintenance

To maintain optimum performance and minimize wear, fixtures should be cleaned frequently. Usage and environment are contributing factors in determining frequency. As a general rule, fixtures should be cleaned at least twice a month. Dust build up reduces light output performance and can cause overheating. This can lead to reduced lamp life and increased mechanical wear. Be sure to power off fixture before conducting maintenance.

• Unplug fixture from power.
• Use a vacuum or air compressor and a soft brush to remove dust collected on external vents.
• Clean all glass when the fixture is cold with a mild solution of glass cleaner or Isopropyl Alcohol and a soft lint free cotton cloth or lens tissue.
• Apply solution to the cloth or tissue and drag dirt and grime to the outside of the lens.
• Gently polish optical surfaces until they are free of haze and lint.

The cleaning of external optical lenses and/or mirrors must be carried out periodically to optimize light output. Cleaning frequency depends on the environment in which the fixture operates. Damp, smoky or particularly dirty surroundings can cause greater accumulation of dirt on the unit's optics. Clean with soft cloth using normal glass cleaning fluid. Clean the external optics at least every 20 days. Clean the fixture at least every 30/60 days.

ℹ️ Always dry the parts carefully after cleaning them.

⚠️ Never spin a fan using compressed air.

Returns Procedure

Returned merchandise must be sent prepaid and in the original packing; call tags will not be issued. Package must be clearly labeled with a Return Merchandize Authorization Number (RMA #). Products returned without the RMA # will be refused. Call CHAUVET and request an RMA # prior to shipping the fixture. Be prepared to provide the model number, serial number and a brief description of the cause for the return. Be sure to pack fixture properly; any shipping damage resulting from inadequate packaging is the customer's responsibility. As a suggestion, proper UPS packing or double-boxing is always a safe method to use.

CHAUVET reserves the right to use its own discretion to repair or replace product(s).

If you are given an RMA #, please include the following information on a piece of paper inside the box:

1. Your name
2. Your address
3. Your phone number
4. RMA #
5. A brief description of the symptoms

Claims

Damage incurred in shipping is the responsibility of the shipper; therefore, the damage must be reported to the carrier upon receipt of merchandise. It is the customer's responsibility to notify and submit claims with the shipper in the event that a fixture is damaged due to shipping. Any other claim for items such as missing component/part, damage not related to shipping, and concealed damage, must be made within seven (7) days of receiving merchandise.

Technical Specifications

COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ

WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS

• Length: 39.2 in (995 mm)
• Width: 4.5 in (114 mm)
• Height: 2.9 in (75 mm)
• Weight: 4 lbs (1.8 kg)

POWER

• Autoswitching Power Supply: 100~240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
• Power Consumption @ 120 V: 22 W (0.3 A) max
• Power Consumption @ 230 V: 24 W (0.1 A) max

THERMAL

• Maximum ambient temperature: 104° F (40° C)

ORDERING INFORMATION

• COLORtube™ 3.0 EQ: COLORTUBE3.0EQ

WARRANTY INFORMATION

• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

CT3EQ Controller (Optional)

WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS

• Length: 8.4 in (214 mm)
• Width: 4.6 in (116 mm)
• Height: 1.8 in (47 mm)
• Weight: 0.6 lbs (0.3 kg)

POWER

• External Autoswitching Power Supply (100~240 VAC, 50/60 Hz)
• Power Consumption @ 120 V: 12 VDC, 500 mA
• Power Consumption @ 230 V: 12 W (0.1 A) max
• Power Consumption: 24 W (<0.1 A) max

THERMAL

• Maximum ambient temperature: 104° F (40° C)

CONTROL & PROGRAMMING

• Data input: locking 3-pin XLR male socket
• Data output: locking 3-pin XLR female socket
• Data pin configuration: pin 1 shield, pin 2 (-), pin 3 (+)
• Protocols: USITT DMX512-A
• DMX Channels: 6

ORDERING INFORMATION

• CT3EQ Controller: CT3EQCONTROLLER

WARRANTY INFORMATION

• Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

Certifications: CE, RoHS, Intertek