Stage Lighting Equipment Failure Emergency Treatment Guide

I.Basic Factors

A. Symptoms: Screen is unresponsive/black, buttons are not working, push rods are invalid, output signals are interrupted

Emergency steps:
1. Restart immediately: unplug the power cord of the dimming console (important! Not the standby switch), wait at least 30 seconds (to release the internal capacitor), and replug it. This is the preferred solution to solve most "pseudo-death."
2. Check the power supply: confirm that the power plug is firmly inserted into the socket, the power cord is not damaged, and the power socket is normal (other equipment can be used to test).
3. Check the signal line: confirm that the DMX output line is firmly plugged into the dimming console and the first lamp/distributor. Try to shake the plug gently to see if there is poor contact.
4. Minimize the system: disconnect all DMX output lines and only keep the dimming console powered and restarted. If normal, the problem may be in the signal link.
5. Backup channel/scene: If there is a pre-stored backup scene or macro instruction, call it immediately and try to restore basic lighting.

B. Symptoms: Lights flicker irregularly, colors/brightness jump randomly, are out of control, and reset.

Emergency steps:
1. Check the power supply of the lamp: Confirm that the power cord of the lamp is firmly connected and the air switch is not tripped.
2. Check the DMX line:
3. Terminal resistance: Confirm that the DMX IN port of the lamp at the end of the signal chain is plugged with a terminal resistor (usually 120 Ω). The absence of a terminal resistor is a common cause of signal reflection and flickering!
4. Line sequence: Check whether the DMX line is connected in sequence (OUT -> IN -> OUT -> IN) to avoid loops.
5. Loose plugs: Check whether all DMX plugs are plugged in tightly, especially at the lamp interface.
6. Material quality/damage: Try to replace the suspected DMX cable (you can use a spare short line test in an emergency).
7. Check the address code of the lamp: Confirm that the DMX address code of the lamp is set correctly and there is no conflict. If there is a conflict, adjust the address code immediately.
8. Replace the spare lamp position: If a single lamp fails, quickly replace it with a spare lamp of the same type, or adjust other lamp positions to fill in the light.
9. Restart the faulty lamp: Turn off the power of the faulty lamp, wait for more than 10 seconds, and then turn the power back on (some lamps require a cold reset).

II.Software/Firmware Factors

A. Symptoms: Devices become collectively unstable, restart, or experience performance degradation, which may be accompanied by flickering lights or abnormal brightness.

Emergency steps:
1. Voltage monitoring: Use a multimeter or voltage monitor to check whether the power supply voltage is stable within the allowable range of the equipment (usually 220 V ± 10%). If the voltage is too low or too high:
2. Contact the site electrician to check the main power distribution.
3. If conditions permit, enable a voltage stabilizer or uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
4. Load reduction: Temporarily turn off non-critical lighting equipment to reduce the load.
5. Thermal protection: Touch the dimming console and the lamp housing (be careful!).
6. Enhance heat dissipation: Ensure that the equipment vents are unobstructed and clean up dust. Temporarily add fans to assist in heat dissipation.
7. Load reduction/rotation: Reduce brightness output, or rotate high-power lamps to let some equipment "rest."

B. Symptoms: The dimming console displays strange error messages, malfunctions, and freezes, and the problem persists after restart.

Emergency steps:
1. Factory restore/load backup: If the dimming console supports it and you have a recent reliable backup, try to restore the factory settings or load the backup configuration file (confirm the risk before operation!).
2. Firmware problem: If you suspect that it is caused by a known firmware bug, try to downgrade to a stable version (prepare in advance). Be careful when using the firmware flashing operation during the performance!
3. Enable the backup console: If there is a backup dimming console (even a small manual console), immediately switch the signal source and take over the control.
4. Manual hard operation: For lighting fixtures, if manual mode is supported (such as setting color/brightness through the panel), you can temporarily leave the console for manual operation.

III.Environmental Factors

A. Symptoms: unstable DMX signal, random flashing of lights, malfunctions in specific areas or during specific actions.

Emergency investigation:
1. Isolate the interference source: Check whether there are high-power wireless devices (walkie-talkies, microwave ovens), inverters, and strong cables in parallel with DMX lines nearby. Try to temporarily shut down suspicious devices.
2. Change the cable type: In an emergency, try to replace the suspected interfered line with a high-quality DMX line with a shielded layer.
3. Install an isolator: Insert a DMX signal isolator in the signal link (especially after long-distance transmission and between different power supply areas) to block interference and ground loops.
4. Optimize wiring: Keep DMX lines away from power lines, and try to cross them vertically when it cannot be avoided.
5. Ground loop "undercurrent."

B. Symptoms: Numbness on the device casing, humming sound, unstable lighting control with interference, and potential differences when touching different devices.

Emergency treatment (safety first!):
1. Unified grounding: Make sure all lighting equipment (dimmers, lamps, distributors) is connected to the same reliable grounding system through the ground terminal of the power cord. Check whether the ground wire is well connected.
2. Disconnect the "floating ground": Be especially careful with devices that use two-core power cords (no ground wire), as they may be a source of interference. If conditions permit, they should be replaced with three-core devices with ground wires.
3. Use an isolator: DMX signal isolators can also effectively block interference currents introduced by ground loops.
4. Temporary "grounding" (high risk!): On the premise of fully understanding the risks and ensuring that personal safety is absolutely prioritized, as a last resort, you can try to use a distributor or adapter with a ground lift function at one end of the signal link (usually the output end of the dimming console). This operation may violate safety regulations and is only used as a temporary measure when professionals assess that there is no risk of electric shock and interference seriously affects the performance. The grounding problem must be completely resolved afterwards.

IV.Daily Maintenance And Emergency Preparedness Regular Inspection And Maintenance

Clean the dust on the equipment, tighten the terminals, check the wear and aging of the cables, and test the spare equipment.

1. Backup of important files: Regularly back up the show files of the dimming console, the lighting library, etc., to a USB flash drive or the cloud.
2. Build an emergency toolbox:
• Spare DMX cables (both long and short), power cables
• Terminal resistors (multiple!)
• Multimeter
• Insulating tape, electrical tape, cable ties
• Basic tools (screwdriver, pliers)
• Spare bulbs (for traditional lamps)
• Portable fans (for heat dissipation)
• DMX signal distributor (with isolation function is better)
Small manual backup dimming console!
3. Familiar with the power distribution of the venue: understand the main switch, the location of the sub-switch, and the general voltage in advance.
4. Develop emergency procedures: The team clearly defines the communication method and division of labor in the event of a failure (such as who restarts the equipment, who notifies the stage manager, and who operates the backup plan).