martin robocolor disaster...

[Dragonfly]

Hi guys I really hope someone can help got some robocolors off ebay about a month ago ...(yes theres the first mistake) all went well for about 5 gigs .... then i noticed one fan wasnt working and the unit was overheating and another seemed to get hot quite quickly although the fan seemed ok ....

took them in to be fixed .... week and a half later picked them up all working did a gig ... no problems

then last night took them out set up all four of them .... plugged them into the martin controller that comes with them .....

no fans working at all ..... all four units the fan was just dormant??? ive looked in the controller as i thought this maybe the problem? clean as a whistle no fuse blown nothing , ive also taken a couple of the units to bits this morning again i cant see anything apparently wrong??

surely i cant have cream crackered 4 fans?? two of which have only done 1 gig??? iam currently tearing my hair out with these as they illuminate my centre piece mirrorball ??? i would really appreciate any help on this or any suggestions that may have caused the problem ....

many thanks ladies and gents.

[CRAZY K]

Hi guys I really hope someone can help got some robocolors off ebay about a month ago ...(yes theres the first mistake) all went well for about 5 gigs .... then i noticed one fan wasnt working and the unit was overheating and another seemed to get hot quite quickly although the fan seemed ok ....

took them in to be fixed .... week and a half later picked them up all working did a gig ... no problems

then last night took them out set up all four of them .... plugged them into the martin controller that comes with them .....

no fans working at all ..... all four units the fan was just dormant??? ive looked in the controller as i thought this maybe the problem? clean as a whistle no fuse blown nothing , ive also taken a couple of the units to bits this morning again i cant see anything apparently wrong??

surely i cant have cream crackered 4 fans?? two of which have only done 1 gig??? iam currently tearing my hair out with these as they illuminate my centre piece mirrorball ??? i would really appreciate any help on this or any suggestions that may have caused the problem ....

many thanks ladies and gents.

Dave, I know nothing about Martin units--but logic says you cant lose 4 fans at once, they only go around and around, not a lot to wear.

Is there a connecting wire to the units that operates the fans --if so thats where you start--otherwise--back to the repair shop.

CRAZY K

[spin mobile disco]

or maybe a power problem not enough for the fan and light maybe? Not likely I know but still possable.

[sleah]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Martin Robocolour:rolleyes:

I can only comment on mk1's........ power to the fans comes from the 5 pin din lead and ground from the 3 pin power lead. I found the dins can be a bit unreliable and have had to replace a couple.
It's worth checking inside the units, the fans are connected internally by one of those 2 pin PCB plug jobbies, which again can get dry joints, I've had to hard solder them before now.

This is just my experience with 2 sets of mk1's.
Hope it helps:)

[djsteve10]

And i was thinking of getting some robo colours to light a mirror ball up but i am just going to stick with some ACME LED Par cans i think :P

[Sam]

And i was thinking of getting some robo colours to light a mirror ball up but i am just going to stick with some ACME LED Par cans i think :P

good luck with lighting the mirror ball with led par cans.. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :whome:

[sleah]

good luck with lighting the mirror ball with led par cans.. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :whome:

:agree: They're just not focused enough, being several little light sources an'all. Why not go back to basics and get a couple of good 'ole PAR36 pinspots and coloured (or not?) gels?:D

[djsteve10]

Well what my plan was getting 8 LED Par64 and using them as mood lighting around the venue and light the walls up and put them on a colourfade every 20 seconds... and hanging 2 on the rig one either side of the mirror ball to light it.

[Sam]

Well what my plan was getting 8 LED Par64 and using them as mood lighting around the venue and light the walls up and put them on a colourfade every 20 seconds... and hanging 2 on the rig one either side of the mirror ball to light it.

I would be very suprised if that works.
Like sleah said.. they are not focused enough.
You need to get something like a narrow beam Par or a moving head spot on them.

Otherwise the light is just going to spill around everywhere.

[Dragonfly]

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Martin Robocolour:rolleyes:

I can only comment on mk1's........ power to the fans comes from the 5 pin din lead and ground from the 3 pin power lead. I found the dins can be a bit unreliable and have had to replace a couple.
It's worth checking inside the units, the fans are connected internally by one of those 2 pin PCB plug jobbies, which again can get dry joints, I've had to hard solder them before now.

This is just my experience with 2 sets of mk1's.
Hope it helps:)

thanks for that .... knew i couldnt be going mad it really is doing my tree in ... didnt think i could wreck 4 fans in one go.

[CRAZY K]

thanks for that .... knew i couldnt be going mad it really is doing my tree in ... didnt think i could wreck 4 fans in one go.

GET OUT THE SOLDERING IRON DAVE--THERES WORK TO DO:D

CRAZY K

[sleah]

thanks for that .... knew i couldnt be going mad it really is doing my tree in ... didnt think i could wreck 4 fans in one go.

No problem mate. Like Crazy says... better get the soldering iron out:D

[Dragonfly]

ok .... just to conclude this thread ......I dont have a soldering iron and wouldnt trust myself with one if i did (sure fire way to set fire to everything and melt what i shouldnt)

so the question is ..... the lights cost £150 i paid out £90 2 weeks ago to get them what has turned out to be temporarily fixed ...

I am now obviously going to have to take them back in ... what would people advise am i throwing good money after bad if i get them fixed again .....

or do i just put them back from whence they came and try and fund a new alternative?? i have seen some 250w on the thomman site and also terralec site.

this is really not what you need when you cant work much at the moment , and just before christmas ...:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

[CRAZY K]

ok .... just to conclude this thread ......I dont have a soldering iron and wouldnt trust myself with one if i did (sure fire way to set fire to everything and melt what i shouldnt)

so the question is ..... the lights cost £150 i paid out £90 2 weeks ago to get them what has turned out to be temporarily fixed ...

I am now obviously going to have to take them back in ... what would people advise am i throwing good money after bad if i get them fixed again .....

or do i just put them back from whence they came and try and fund a new alternative?? i have seen some 250w on the thomman site and also terralec site.

this is really not what you need when you cant work much at the moment , and just before christmas ...:bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:

I would phone the "repair shop" and complain !!!!!!!!!!!

Dont know how sale of goods act applies to "services" might be worth phoning Trading Standards to start with---then drop their name in the conversation if theres a negative attitude from the repairer--in any case this isnt fair wear and tear--you would expect a "repair" to last a few months at least.

They should point out if the equipment isnt worth spending money on--if they are a decent professional company:eek:


CRAZY K

[sleah]

I would phone the "repair shop" and complain !!!!!!!!!!!

Dont know how sale of goods act applies to "services" might be worth phoning Trading Standards to start with---then drop their name in the conversation if theres a negative attitude from the repairer--in any case this isnt fair wear and tear--you would expect a "repair" to last a few months at least.

They should point out if the equipment isnt worth spending money on--if they are a decent professional company:eek:


CRAZY K

Crazy, although you are right, it's a difficult area, especially with something as unreliable as robocolours:rolleyes:
You fix one connection, and another goes soon after and so on.
Dragonfly needs to be careful not to go blasting out the repairer straight away, he could end up with the proverbial egg:eek:
The only legal protection you could have is to the actual specific repair, i.e. if he soldered a wire on, only that joint would be covered, if the wire broke further along, then you can't hold the repairer responsible, unless he was stoopid enough to guarentee the cable would be OK.

[CRAZY K]

Crazy, although you are right, it's a difficult area, especially with something as unreliable as robocolours:rolleyes:
You fix one connection, and another goes soon after and so on.
Dragonfly needs to be careful not to go blasting out the repairer straight away, he could end up with the proverbial egg:eek:
The only legal protection you could have is to the actual specific repair, i.e. if he soldered a wire on, only that joint would be covered, if the wire broke further along, then you can't hold the repairer responsible, unless he was stoopid enough to guarentee the cable would be OK.

Fair enough--I find this remark a bit worrying---
something as unreliable as robocolours

I thought that Martin was a top make--

Also cables shouldnt break down that much surely?

Ive got speaker leads, light leads etc. that have lasted longer than I can remember. Thats a long long time:D

CRAZY K

[Dragonfly]

thanks for the replies chaps looks like im on to a loser .... i really dont want to pay to have the repaired again not twice in 2 weeks.... i too thought martin was a top name i know these are second hand but just my luck the only lighting manufacturers ive had problems with is abstract and martin??? looks like they will be going back on ebay then ..... try and find the funds for 2 new ones and get them before my next gig in 2 weeks.

[Dragonfly]

the candidates for replacement are .....

http://www.thomann.de/gb/eurolite_tc5_dmxfarbwechsler.htm

http://www.terralec.co.uk/jb_dmx/mojo_colour_colour_changer_250_watt/17777_p.html

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DMX-COLOUR-CHANGERS-4-HEAD-PACKAGE-disco-dj-band-martin_W0QQitemZ330151888019QQihZ014QQcategoryZ149 84QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

any other ideas welcome .... must be 250w and just after colour with no gobos as they will be used to illuminate a mirrorball.

or if anyone knows a uk retailer for these ??

http://www.americandj.com/product.asp?ProductIDNumber=1481

thanks

[sleah]

Fair enough--I find this remark a bit worrying---
something as unreliable as robocolours

I thought that Martin was a top make--

Also cables shouldnt break down that much surely?

Ive got speaker leads, light leads etc. that have lasted longer than I can remember. Thats a long long time:D

CRAZY K

:lol: Martin is a top make, but have had their bad patches......

Again only speaking of MK1 robocolours..... they are probably the biggest pile of unreliable junk ever made.... but I love the little buggers:D

The DINs get knackered 'cause the cables are really thin, the mains plugs are some weired euro plug you'll struggle to replace, the internal wiring comes apart, the internal PCB joints suffer dry joints, they blow lamps like mad, the steppers get hopelessly out of, or just stop working, they clatter like hell, the fans wear out, when the fans are knackered they over heat and go off, then come back on when you least expect it!, they are sods to get in and out of, the lenses can fall to bits and need glueing back in, they get stoopidly hot to touch even when the fans are working, the tilt adjustment knobs loosen and the head drops down (or up) unless you put your entire weight behind them to tighten them.........
Can't think of anything else just now.....:rolleyes:

But I get all broody about mine and no matter how much they irritate and annoy me I'll always spend hours carefully patching them back up:Kiss 3:

Couldn't bare to part with them:cry:

[Dragonfly]

i loved them when they were working really bright nice lights ..... just cant afford to get them fixed every week lol so hopefully they will be leaving the building ...

[CRAZY K]

:lol: Martin is a top make, but have had their bad patches......

Again only speaking of MK1 robocolours..... they are probably the biggest pile of unreliable junk ever made.... but I love the little buggers:D

The DINs get knackered 'cause the cables are really thin, the mains plugs are some weired euro plug you'll struggle to replace, the internal wiring comes apart, the internal PCB joints suffer dry joints, they blow lamps like mad, the steppers get hopelessly out of, or just stop working, they clatter like hell, the fans wear out, when the fans are knackered they over heat and go off, then come back on when you least expect it!, they are sods to get in and out of, the lenses can fall to bits and need glueing back in, they get stoopidly hot to touch even when the fans are working, the tilt adjustment knobs loosen and the head drops down (or up) unless you put your entire weight behind them to tighten them.........
Can't think of anything else just now.....:rolleyes:

But I get all broody about mine and no matter how much they irritate and annoy me I'll always spend hours carefully patching them back up:Kiss 3:

Couldn't bare to part with them:cry:

Crikey that good eh?

Pity you and Dave didnt speak before he bought them:eek:

Well he wouldnt of course :(

CRAZY K

[Dragonfly]

ok another couple of competitors enter the frame .....

http://www.lifeismusic.co.uk/lights/Skytronic-2-Channel-DMX-Colour-270.aspx

and

http://www.soundmastersdirect.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_DMX500

the first i like the look of but it is bigger and heavier than the others.

[Arnold_disco]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DMX-COLOUR-CHANGERS-4-HEAD-PACKAGE-disco-dj-band-martin_W0QQitemZ330151888019QQihZ014QQcategoryZ149 84QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem


As for those: http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_mobile_color_set.htm

[Corabar Entertainment]

...the only lighting manufacturers ive had problems with is abstract and martin???SNAP!!! :eek:

[Dragonfly]

well ..... the troublesome beasties have left the building ..... 2 replacememts on order ...... not martin lol

[Dragonfly]

new toys just arrived went for two mojo colour 250s ... how impressed am i ... wow great lights that will create a great effect with the mirrorball but .... this is what really impressed me..... got the conformation email through from Terralec yesterday at 3.05pm for my order paid for standard 3-5 day delivery

6.30pm tonight here they are set up illuminating my living room...

well im impressed.