[SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?

Wed May 24 19:45:04 UTC 2017

Hi Joe

This will be short as we are loading out the C.O.C. right now at the
Four Seasons Centre.

I don't know if the current C21 are similar to the ones from 11 years ago.

My gut feeling is avoid them. Too many have gone out for service.

I will ask the previous head electrician if she is willing to share her
experiences with them.

A couple of years ago we switched to ETC controls, and it is a matter of
time to find money to replace the dimmers.

Regards,

Villem Teder

Local 58
Toronto

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1.  Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers? (Joe Wilson)
>    2. Re:  Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers? (Riter, Andrew)
>    3. Re:  Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers? (Sean McCarthy)
>    4. Re:  Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers? (Jon Ares)
>    5. Re:  Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers? (Riter, Andrew)
>    6. Re:  Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers? (Stuart Baulch)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 19:29:39 +0000
> From: Joe Wilson <faderjockey at gmail.com>
> To: Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CALPCkUpF6h_4mdk-nW-2GRKAostu=1XiNABb2M=PzMORt+5R5A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi gang!
>
> Anyone have experience with the C21 line of dimmers from Strand?  They are
> being suggested by the engineering consultants our college has hired to
> spec out an overhaul of our lighting system.
>
> We've never used them, and are looking for opinions / experiences.
>
> Thanks!
> ~joe
> --
> _________________________
> Joe Wilson, ATD/Sound
> Indian River State College
>
> Adding one more "me too" to the
> collective internet consciousness.
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 19:56:30 +0000
> From: "Riter, Andrew" <andrew.riter at ubc.ca>
> To: "'Stagecraft Mailing List'" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CDA2D7D5EFA985449F3A46B4059F7CDED2C2DF17 at exch-mbx04p.ead.ubc.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> My venue (3 spaces, 3 dimmer rooms, 6 racks total, 1997 install)  
> came with Strand CD 80 Supervisor racks.
>
> 5+ years ago we replaced all the brains to the C21 system.
>
> We bought 7 (6 plus 1 spare processor and full drawer unit).
>
> Once installed, the processors have been solid. That being said, of  
> the 7 units, 2 or 3 units shipped from the factory in a failed  
> state.  Units replaced quickly, but wasn?t encouraging.  But again,  
> once they got working they?ve been fine.
>
> I choose these over the Johnson system retrofit kits due to the  
> programming options which I wanted (not all of which were supported  
> by Johnson).
>
> I can?t speak for the quality of the dimmer modules, since I?m still  
> running (happily) the 20year modules of the CD80 variety.  But  
> generally the Strand Dimmers are bullet proof.
>
> But I will say, buy more modules than you need, of every flavour.  I  
> have a few non-dim contactors left, and am looking to expanding my  
> LED collection, but need to consider the non-dim inventory.
>
> Whatever brand you do buy, buy an extra of everything.  While ETC  
> may keep a stock of parts to service their electronics for decades,  
> Strand hasn?t.  That?s why I was forced to upgrade:  fear of losing  
> a rack due a (reasonable) component failure, and that component not  
> being manufactured by _______ anymore.  (Strand couldn?t supply  
> parts anymore).  Electronics have come a long way since then, and  
> will continue to go a long way in the future.
>
> Good Luck.
>
> Andrew M. Riter
> Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
> Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
>
> 604-822-2372
> andrew.riter at ubc.ca<mailto:andrew.riter at ubc.ca>
>
> From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net] On  
> Behalf Of Joe Wilson via Stagecraft
> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 12:30 PM
> To: Stagecraft
> Cc: Joe Wilson
> Subject: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
>
> Hi gang!
>
> Anyone have experience with the C21 line of dimmers from Strand?   
> They are being suggested by the engineering consultants our college  
> has hired to spec out an overhaul of our lighting system.
>
> We've never used them, and are looking for opinions / experiences.
>
> Thanks!
> ~joe
> --
> _________________________
> Joe Wilson, ATD/Sound
> Indian River State College
>
> Adding one more "me too" to the
> collective internet consciousness.
> -------------- next part --------------
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 16:07:39 -0400
> From: Sean McCarthy <seanrmccarthy at gmail.com>
> To: Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAPnxH6F++GM_OjnBC0xZt3bAe2bDjHzuPYr+4CiDc-EXrcjErA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> If anyone has a contact there, I'd suggest checking with Toronto Opera
> House.  I believe they had C21 dimmers installed ~10-11 years ago
>
> On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, Joe Wilson via Stagecraft <
> stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi gang!
>>
>> Anyone have experience with the C21 line of dimmers from Strand?  They are
>> being suggested by the engineering consultants our college has hired to
>> spec out an overhaul of our lighting system.
>>
>> We've never used them, and are looking for opinions / experiences.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> ~joe
>> --
>> _________________________
>> Joe Wilson, ATD/Sound
>> Indian River State College
>>
>> Adding one more "me too" to the
>> collective internet consciousness.
>>
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
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> <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20170523/05b1ad49/attachment-0001.html>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 14:08:16 -0700
> From: Jon Ares <jonares at arescreative.com>
> To: Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAN1Z+zaWV11VOUe8bPmO=rG2EQm4O+oDOEOBToy6dYwzZN4qvQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> On Tue, May 23, 2017 at 1:07 PM, Sean McCarthy via Stagecraft
> <stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>> If anyone has a contact there, I'd suggest checking with Toronto Opera
>> House.  I believe they had C21 dimmers installed ~10-11 years ago
>
> Like Andrew, I have racks of CD80s, with C21 controllers.  We got the
> last of the CD80s rolling off the assembly line when my space was
> built in 2006. (Hence the C21 controllers - no more CD80 controllers.)
>
> Then Strand was swallowed.... they canned our field rep/programmer....
> fingers crossed, everything has been working fine all these years
> (except for the PoS Premiere architectural system).
>
>
> --
> Jon Ares
> www.arescreative.com
> http://backstagethreads.com
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 21:21:43 +0000
> From: "Riter, Andrew" <andrew.riter at ubc.ca>
> To: "'Stagecraft Mailing List'" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CDA2D7D5EFA985449F3A46B4059F7CDED2C2E058 at exch-mbx04p.ead.ubc.ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Premiere is OK (we have it too) until you come to program it on an  
> 1980s DOS style screen layout; a program that won't run on modern  
> Windows architecture (I need to down grade and run a virtual Win 97  
> (?) box . . . .
>
> Circuitous method of programming to say the least.
>
> Andrew?M.?Riter?
> Assistant Technical Director,?Head Lighting Technician
> Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
>
> 604-822-2372
> andrew.riter at ubc.ca
>
>>
>> Then Strand was swallowed.... they canned our field rep/programmer....
>> fingers crossed, everything has been working fine all these years  
>> (except for
>> the PoS Premiere architectural system).
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jon Ares
>> www.arescreative.com
>> http://backstagethreads.com
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 17:32:16 -0400
> From: Stuart Baulch <stuart.baulch at gmail.com>
> To: Stagecraft Mailing List <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Subject: Re: [SML] Opinions on Strand C21 dimmers?
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAJON0yvSgWBpHToOj55xDreL6hT_P+j1PtqZYhPdUP0830MX=A at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> I can put you in touch with the technical directors at the
> aforementioned Four Season Opera House in Toronto.
> Send me a private message and I'll send you a contact.
>
> Stuart B
>
> On 23 May 2017 at 17:21, Riter, Andrew via Stagecraft
> <stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>> Premiere is OK (we have it too) until you come to program it on an  
>> 1980s DOS style screen layout; a program that won't run on modern  
>> Windows architecture (I need to down grade and run a virtual Win 97  
>> (?) box . . . .
>>
>> Circuitous method of programming to say the least.
>>
>> Andrew M. Riter
>> Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
>> Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
>>
>> 604-822-2372
>> andrew.riter at ubc.ca
>>
>>>
>>> Then Strand was swallowed.... they canned our field rep/programmer....
>>> fingers crossed, everything has been working fine all these years  
>>> (except for
>>> the PoS Premiere architectural system).
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Jon Ares
>>> www.arescreative.com
>>> http://backstagethreads.com
>>
>>
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