Description of Controller Components and Connections
Communication Channel Terminals
The StarFire Controller is capable of utilizing up to eight independent channels. These communication channel terminals connect to the modules with a duplex wire. Each communication channel is going to be able to control approximately thirty to forty modules depending on your wire length and distances and wire size.
Power Plug
For future release once the internal battery charger is complete.
Light Connection
The Light Connection provides power for an LED to illuminate the controller panel. The light itself contains red, white and a UV element. The UV portion will make the panel glow as the membrane panel contains a phosphorescent ink.
Time Code Inputs
StarFire supports both XLR and RCA inputs for time code. The right audio channel of your audio playback equipment should be connected to either of these connections. The connections are internally joined, so you could feed one connection and then use the other connection to feed a second StarFire Controller if you were using two controllers for the same display.
Network Connection
For future release, currently this port is used for the external battery charging connector.
Computer USB-B Input
The USB connection will allow you to connect to a PC computer and use computer based software to program a script into the StarFire Controller, to do advance system testing, or to monitor the script during the firing of the display.
USB-A for Flash Drive
This USB connector is so you can ultimately put your script on a memory stick and you plug into the StarFire Controller and from the on screen menu items you will be able to load a script out of like a USB memory drive or flash drive.
Display Softkeys
These softkeys are used to interact with menu options displayed on the monitor.
Color Display Monitor with Interactive Menu
StarFire uses an 800x600 resolution LCD color display which incorporates interactive menus through the use of soft keys. This full featured display will give you a lot of information right from the controller, without the need of connecting a PC to the system. Because the menus are software driven, we will be able to continue to enhance the system hardware simply by providing free software updates.
Master Power Switch
The master power switch turns the entire StarFire system on and off. At any time that the master power switch is on, the field modules that are connected to the controller are also powered.
Safe/Arm Key Switch & LED
This switch is used to arm the firing circuitry only when it is time to shoot the display and the field is safe. The red LED will be lit to show the StarFire is "Armed." If the switch is in the safe position, the firing circuit is not charged and firing commands cannot be sent. Only diagnostics commands are sent to the field modules such as continuity checks and module status.
Dead Man/StepFire Grip Connector
The Dead Man Switch is required to shoot displays other than manual fire displays. The Dead Man Switch must be connected, and the trigger must be held during the entire display. If the switch is released, the system will stop firing until the switch is pressed again, at which point, it will start firing again. If needed, you can extend the cable on the Dead Man Switch using a standard 3 pin XLR male to female cable.
The StepFire button on the grip may be used during a manually fired show as an alternate method of firing the cues.
Emergency Shut Off Switch
If the Emergency Shut Off Switch is pressed down, it will stop the firing of the display, disarm the modules and block nearly all StarFire Controller system functionality.
Cue Firing Softkeys & LEDs
The system was designed to both be a fully automated computer-fired system but also a manual firing system. Like most manual firing systems, the cue softkeys are used to fire the individual cues of the selected module. Up to 254 modules could be used in a manual show. The LEDs are lit to show continuity and after a cue is fired the LED will turn off.
Module Selector Keypad
The module keypad is use to program the module addresses. Also, during a manually fired show it is used to select a module by typing in the address number.
|
