Abstract Twister 4 problem.

[super-hero]

Ok, I have 4x twister 4 lights and all seemed to be working perfectly. Today I was programming a lightshow with them and I notices one does not blackout completely.

On closer inspection I have found that when the light is powered up for the fist time, it goes through its setup sequence, and the gobo/colour wheel moves round to its stop. Then, and heres the problem, just before the light goes active, the gobo/colour wheel rotates back a couple of mm. This takes the light from blackout and just exposes a bit of the next gobo.

So from then on, you cant get complete blackout.


To try and solve the problem I have swapped the gobo/colour motor and the circuit boards, but the problem still persists. I thought it might be the lamp lighting up causing a drop in voltage, but ran it without the lamp and the problem is still there. The only thing I have not replaced is the transformer, but I can't see how thiis could be the problem. I have checked its output and it seems fine.

It's one of those things that no-one else will probably ever notice. But it's bugging me. Any ideaa on what else I can check or how I can fix this will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[One Vision]

Hya mate I don't have any info for you sadly; but how much are the lights to buy new now?
I have seen some for sale on ebay recently too, may be worth considering buying a second hand one and putting the new parts in that, that's assuming you still have trouble solving the problem and as a last resort.

The best of luck

[groovy-nights]

Switch the unit on let it reset.Then on the colour/gobo wheel there is a little allen key grub screw loosen this and move the wheel so its in blackout then tighten the screw back up.

[super-hero]

I will try the allen key, but like I said I have replaced the wheel and motor with a working one and it still does it.


The problem itself is not too noticable to the public, but it will cause me sleepless nights.

Cheers for the replys so far.

[super-hero]

@ groovy-nights, that's only gone and fixed it. But how?

When you suggested this, I thought I would have to do it every gig, which is a bit impracticle to say the least. But I have powered the light up 10 times and it seems to be cured.

Previously I had rotated the gobo wheel on the shaft while the light was unplugged, just in case there was a flat spot, then replaced the whole wheel and motor assembley.

So do you know what the fault was or is it going to be one of lifes mysteries.

Thanks for the help.

[spin mobile disco]

It is just caused by the gobos wheel slipping a little on its spindle. This happens on most lights at some time or another. You may find it slips again aftre some time but as you have done this will fix it every time. If It continues to slip you could try a little threadlock on the spindle and retighten.

[super-hero]

But it still did it with a different motor and gobo wheel, so that's what I don't understand.

[One Vision]

Glad you got it sorted, maybe put a bit of lock tight on so its harder to move in future

[super-hero]

I hear what you are saying, but the problem was not caused by the gobo wheel having slipped. When the wheel had positioned itself against its stop, the motor then rotated it back a few degrees. As if the circuit board was telling it to do it.

Like I said, I replaced the circuit board and motor and gobo wheel, and it still did it. So it can't be the wheel slipping.

It's not a problem, as it is now fixed. I am just curious as to what caused it to behave like this.

Thanks again everyone. It would have driven me mad not getting it sorted.

[spin mobile disco]

The motors are stepped. The stepping is in place on certain points of its rotational spin. When the unit takes it to the first stop that just tells it where the maximum adjustment is. Not where the first gobo is. The gobos have to be turned to fall where the stepper motor rests in its first rest point. And depending on how many gobos are on the wheel depends how many rest points the motor has.