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How musical fountains work-part-3 So now you know we have 21 pumps, and each one is independently speed variable, we have multiple RGB coloured lights, how do we make it all work? Simple, we connect each pump to a remote DMX dimmer.
What is DMX? DMX was a protocol invented for the theatre. Normally to control a stage light you would have to run its cable to a dimmer which is back stage. That is fine for one light, but theatres often have lots of lights (lets say 50) so That means you would need 50 cables coming to the dimmer (As shown in the picture below)
A "decoder" was invented that can dim a single light, this "decoder" was so small it could fit in the light housing. Each light is then given its own address, anything from 1 - 512 The light is also connected to a "communal mains supply" Also a small DMX control cable is connected to each light, it loops from one light to the next. Information is sent down two small wires. A bit like a post man delivering letters, he walks down the road, and drops letters off at the right address, if you get no letter you do not change what you are doing. DMX can control upto 512 single lights from each pair of cables. In terms of cost it saves a fortune because you still need an electronic dimmer, but you can shorten the cable length considerably as it only needs to go to the DMX dimmer, but the computer controlling it can be up to 500m away.
The computer we have running our musical fountain uses "ACCESS" ACCESS is a custom written programme for fountain control, because unlike a DMX desk, ACCESS also controls the music, when it should start, so once ACCESS has been taught what to do and when to do it, it can repeat it without fault as and when required, so giving a faultless combination of fountains, lights and music every time, which make up a musical fountain show.
Below is a video clip of our musical fountain
Click here to return to the musical fountain home page If you have any questions please ask.
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