American DJ DJ Scan 250 Intelligent Light

[Case]

hey, ive been looking at intelligent lights for a few weeks now came across the American DJ DJ Scan 250 intelligent lights. id like to buy either 2 or 4 of these but i would like to get some others opinions on these first. also, does anyone know of any good but reasonibly priced controllers to run these lights. thanks

[DJ Matrix]

Sure do, the DMX Operator from American DJ in a nice basic controller that I think will fill your needs. It’s what I started out with and still have now although I’m looking to upgrade. Also just another thing, the DJ scans are not all that powerful of a light, if you’re looking for long throw and to be used in conjunction with par cans or any other type of “fill” light you might want to pick something a little more powerful. The Concept 2 is a very very bright light by American DJ if you want something super bright, I have 2 and love them.

Matrix

[Case]

thanks for the advise matrix. the reason why i was wanting to go with the dj scan 250s was because i would like to buy 4 of them, and after a while they start to add up. i looked at the concept 1 and 2 lights, and they look awsome, but for me to buy 4 of them and a controller would be to expensive for me. i was trying to spend around a grand for 4 lights and a controller(which is hard to do with intellegent lights). if it would be possible could you give me a little more info on the dmx operator controller, cause im new with intellegent lights, and im not 100% sure of what to buy. thanks

[Designer]

The fixtures look OK for entry-level DMX lighting,

Personally I wouldn't go with the operator controller, looks like it lacks a lot of features such as a joysitck for positioning etc,

Check out this link

http://216.71.107.24/PDF/SUPPLIER%20MANUALS/BEGLEC/SCANMASTER_SM1612-USER_MANUAL.PDF

It's a budget controller with a few more features, or go for something like the Showtec Scanmaster 2/3. Or if you wanted to go for something a little more advanced Geni do a controller called the Mastermind 64 which already has lots of pre-programmed macro's you can add to your sequences.

[jamesnet]

AMDJ stuff is ok, but is specifically designed with the 10on/10off or the "Turn it on for 10 minutes, then turn it off for 10 minutes" or they won't last. They offer a pro series that is exempt from this, so you may want to check on this model and see if it falls in this catagory.

[DJNaviss]

I would never buy any light that has to have a duty cycle.... 10 on 10 off, I hate that..
I like to leave my light's on all night.

[Designer]

I'll second naviss on that, I'd be inclined to steer well clear of lights that can only be used for 10 minute intervals. That sounds like very poor fixture design to me. If your working to a tight buget have a look around for some secondhand scanners of better quality.

[jamesnet]

I forgot what it is called... the duty cycle :)
how about duty free!

[DJNaviss]

I forgot what it is called... the duty cycle :)
how about duty free!

Trust me, I remember VERY well, When your doing a gig, And people already have to LOOK at your light's just to see them, And then have to turn them off in 10 min's.

Plus DJ-ing, I couldn't do two thing's at once... So, Sometime's they we left on longer..

[jamesnet]

I have a broken one of those amdj fixtures with 5 rotating spheres all with a 150w bulb in each, at a gig it just stopped, and it spins, no lights and all the fuses are fine and bulbs are changed.. Who knows, all I know is it was friggin bright and 450$ and now doesn't work. I am keeping it for some rainy day to take it apart.

[Designer]

Is that just like a normal effects light james?

If so, get a test meter (assuming a mains powered bulb and the lamps supposed to be always on) test for continuity betwen the power plug and the bulb holder. Otherwise testing will be slighly more complicated. I've replaced those ceramic lamp holders many a time now where the pins have worked loose and have pushed back every time you put a lamp in.

[jamesnet]

it has 5 sockets and none of them light
http://www.americandj.com/product.asp?ProductIDNumber=1233&cat=Centerpiece
I knew it 400$ now I am mad :devil:

[Designer]

I just read the PDF manual for that fixture James, the only things could be wrong with it are 1. The 15A internal fuse has blown 2. A wire has come off on the mains inlet side, this could also lead to blowing fuses and would certainly mean taking the thing apart for checking it out.

One thing that I thought was funny was when reading the manual, it says product is for internal use only, now i'm hoping that means indoors rather than internal use otherwise rigging it could prove to be painful :D