FAQs for specific products, MBT Lighting and Sound

• Which is more important for a good "wash" -- the number of led' or  the number of watts?   I have noticed that prices go up more with higher watts than with more led's.  Also, the led "strips", "square", and par-can lights, -- how many "regular" par-can lights are they equal to in terms of brightness and "wash" area?
• Is it possible to connect an led light to an older MBT analog (8 pin) system? Is there some sort of an adaptor that would do this?
• Is there any chance of modifying the 100 to DMX capability?
• MBM2 Mirror Ball Motor - I was wondering what the wattage pull on this product is. If you could get back to me that'd be great.
• ME2150-1 can I use this without a controller and leave it on the blue setting?
• I was thinking about par cans kits, I need to know how many feet--apart from platform to spotlight racks--hang up from ceiling (I do not want to using the stand).....do you think that par can isn't good stuff?
• I have 4 par 64 cans, 4 pin spots, 1 shimmer, 1 mushroom, 2 high intensity beacons, 1000 watt fog machine, 2 750 watt dmx strobe lights a Controllers for light rig: rsp 844, chase 8, K401.  Wondering what the power requirements will be for this light rig as far as the breaker? How many amps required to safely run this without kicking breaker?
• I recently purchased two MBT par56 led fixtures. I am trying to eventually hook up four together & make them a master with three slaves. I would like them all to change color & change at the same speed without using a controller. Can you tell me if this is possible? If so, How would I set the dip switches.
• I wanted know if it was safe to use a 1000w OSI FFR MFL lamp in your P64LBUL par can.
• I need to know if I can have 4 individual colors at once with the LEDPROPACK controller.
  
• We are working with LEDPAR96 and are having trouble getting out lights to go on. Any troubleshooting guides available?
  
• I have a Fogzilla FM860 700 watt and was wondering if you had a wireless remote for it?
  
• I bought the TraveLED Pro Pack 4-light system with controller. My band is too loud to use the sound activation. The lights just go crazy. Is there some way to decrease the sound sensitivity?
  
• In general, how far can the lighting systems "throw" the lights...what sort of range is recommended? What special cords are needed for the systems?
  
• We recently purchased 8 of your LED64 lights. They are replacing Par64s that we had.
  We are having problems figuring out the address sequences for the dipswitches. Do you have clearer instructions for setting the adresses for the DMX controller?
• I am looking for a foot operated light show that can do scenes and also chase those scenes by means of audio input. I want to set scenes for ballads, fast songs, etc. The chase function needs to be disengaged while playing ballads and engaged during fast songs. Do you offer anything like what I have described?
• I need to order some connecting cables for my newest MBT LED PAR64 lights. I have discovered that there is a difference between DMX XLR cables and Audio XLR cables. I purchased my original LED ProPack through a local MBT dealer. At that time, there were no complete kits available and the distributor assembled a package that included ProCo StageMaster Audio XLR connecting cables. Does MBT ship audio cables with their LED systems? Does it make a difference?
• I would like to know if the LED Mushroom and LED Superfly videos are sound activated or DMX produced?
• I work lights for a band that has recently switched from regular par 64s to MBT LED Par 64s. I am having problems trying to set the addresses for the lights to our lighting console. We have an Elation Scene Setter - 24 channel.
• Do you make a ceramic socket for your PAR 38 cans? If not, do you know of a compatible socket that is commercially available?
• Are the dimmer packs rack mountable...side by side? I want to be able to rack mount the dimmers, primarily for transportation...but also to keep the dimmers off the light stands.
• What is the bulb lifetime expectancy on LED Lights?

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Which is more important for a good "wash" -- the number of led's or  the number of watts?   I have noticed that prices go up more with higher watts than with more led's.  Also, the led "strips", "square", and par-can lights, -- how many "regular" par-can lights are they equal to in terms of brightness and "wash" area?
Regarding LED lights, watts usually determines brightness...higher wattage is brighter and can light up an area farther away. Watts doesn't have anything to do with the beamspread or "wash" Most of our LED PAR lights are a general medium flood, meaning they're good for lighting one performer on a stage. For a wash you'd want to use multiple units. A typical stage might use 8 LED PARs and the size would be determined by how high the lights would be suspended over the performers. A low ceiling could use the LEDPAR96 (96 LEDs), but a higher ceiling would need the LEDPAR64 (200 LEDs).

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Is it possible to connect an led light to an older MBT analog (8 pin) system? Is there some sort of an adaptor that would do this?
No, the new LED lighting fixtures communicate using newer digital language (DMX512). Your 8-pin controller is an analog unit...they're not talking the same language.

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Is there any chance of modifying the 100 to DMX capability?
Not that we're aware of. We did introduce a new haze machine, however, the HZ300, which has built-in DMX control capability

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MBM2 Mirror Ball Motor - I was wondering what the wattage pull on this product is. If you could get back to me that'd be great.
It's pretty low on this motor. 1 amp / 100 watts is probably about right.

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ME2150-1 can I use this without a controller and leave it on the blue setting?
Yes, there's a manual on/off switch on the rear that allows you to stop the rotation of the internal color wheel on any color you choose.

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I was thinking about par cans kits, I need to know how many feet--apart from platform to spotlight racks--hang up from ceiling (I do not want to using the stand).....do you think that par can isn't good stuff?
There's no exact answer, but here's a good guideline on how far par cans can be away from the performers ona  stage and be effective:
PAR64 cans: 20 feet
PAR56 cans: 15 feet
PAR46 and PAR38 cans: 10 feet

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I have 4 par 64 cans, 4 pin spots, 1 shimmer, 1 mushroom, 2 high intensity beacons, 1000 watt fog machine, 2 750 watt dmx strobe lights a Controllers for light rig: rsp 844, chase 8, K401.  Wondering what the power requirements will be for this light rig as far as the breaker? How many amps required to safely run this without kicking breaker?
A rough estimate shows this gear pulling 5,700 watts or approximately 50 amps. Each of the controllers you have have a max load rating of 15 amps.
If possible, we'd recommend that the fog machine not even be controlled by these units. Plug it directly into it's own separate power and use the remotre that came with it to control it.

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I recently purchased two MBT par56 led fixtures. I am trying to eventually hook up four together & make them a master with three slaves. I would like them all to change color & change at the same speed without using a controller. Can you tell me if this is possible? If so, How would I set the dip switches.
Set the first light as a master. According to the user manual  this done by setting switch 1on the four FUNCTION switches to ON (for auto fade mode). Set the other three units to DMX slave mode. This is done by setting FUNCTION switches 1 & 2 ON.

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I wanted know if it was safe to use a 1000w OSI FFR MFL lamp in your P64LBUL par can.
A 1000 watt FFR lamp should be okay in the P64LBUL par can. It's UL listing is rated at 500 watts, but many customers have used 1000 watt lamps with no issues. The heat generated by this lamp will be high, however, so use caution in making sure the fixture is 2-3 feet away from other structures, walls, fabrics, etc.

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I need to know if I can have 4 individual colors at once with the LEDPROPACK controller.
The only mode where the LEDPAR64 cans are different colors is chase mode....there are several settings where the cans will be 4 different colors, but they are constantly changing color. It will not "hold" 4 different colors at one time. To do that you need a more sophisticated controller than the LEDC that comes with the LEDPROPACK. Our CA1612 controller is one that can do just that...control each of the four LEDPAR64's individually. 


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We are working with LEDPAR96 and are having trouble getting out lights to go on. Any troubleshooting guides available?
The first thing to look at is the bank of switches on the rear of each LEDPAR96 light. They should be set this way:
First, all four need to have switch # 10 on.
Light 1 = Switch 1 on
Light 2 = Switches 2 & 3 on
Light 3 = Switches 1, 2 & 4 on
Light 4 = Switch 5 on
Set the switches this way and you should be up and running after you've connect AC power and the 3-pin cables to each can.

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I have a Fogzilla FM860 700 watt and was wondering if you had a wireless remote for it?
We have the FM860WR wireless remote control, meant to be used with the Fogzilla machine. It has a retail price of $ 39.00.

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I bought the TraveLED Pro Pack 4-light system with controller. My band is too loud to use the sound activation. The lights just go crazy. Is there some way to decrease the sound sensitivity?
The mic sensitivity in the LEDC controller is pre-set and not adjustable. The mic is behind the small hole near the audio button....you might try covering that hole with tape. The other obvious thing to try is to move the controller farther away from the instruments. Try tape or bubble gum [not kidding].

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In general, how far can the lighting systems "throw" the lights...what sort of range is recommended? What special cords are needed for the systems?
The throw (effective distance) of the lights varies depending on the system we're talking about. In general, the bigger the PAR cans being used, the farther the throw will be. Systems using PAR38 cans are good up to 15-20 feet. Systems using PAR56 cans will be effective for up to 25-30 feet.

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I need to know if I can have 4 individual colors at once with the LEDPROPACK controller.
The only mode where the LEDPAR64 cans are different colors is chase mode....there are several settings where the cans will be 4 different colors, but they are constantly changing color. It will not "hold" 4 different colors at one time. To do that you need a more sophisticated controller than the LEDC that comes with the LEDPROPACK. Our CA1612 controller is one that can do just that...control each of the four LEDPAR64's individually. 

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We recently purchased 8 of your LED64 lights. They are replacing Par64s that we had. We are having problems figuring out the address sequences for the dipswitches. Do you have clearer instructions for setting the adresses for the DMX controller?
The LEDPAR64 occupies 5 DMX channels. They are:
1 = red leds
2 = green leds
3 = blus leds
4 = master brightness
5 = strobe speed

When using a standard DMX controller the switches would be set as follows: (note: switch 10 on on all units)
Light 1 = swicth 1 on
Light 2 = switches 2 & 3 on
Light 3 = switches 1,2 & 4 on
Light 4 = switch 5 on
Try this with your 8 lights, setting them in pairs.


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I am looking for a foot operated light show that can do scenes and also chase those scenes by means of audio input. I want to set scenes for ballads, fast songs, etc. The chase function needs to be disengaged while playing ballads and engaged during fast songs. Do you offer anything like what I have described?
You might look at the FCP38 or FCP56 systems that use 8 PAR cans and the SCX1010 foot controller.


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I need to order some connecting cables for my newest MBT LED PAR64 lights. I have discovered that there is a difference between DMX XLR cables and Audio XLR cables. I purchased my original LED ProPack through a local MBT dealer. At that time, there were no complete kits available and the distributor assembled a package that included ProCo StageMaster Audio XLR connecting cables. Does MBT ship audio cables with their LED systems? Does it make a difference?
For the short runs used in our package systems either audio or DMX cables should work fine. the Pro Co cables will work as good as DMX cables for the lengths you're using. Won't be a problem.


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I would like to know if the LED Mushroom and LED Superfly videos are sound activated or DMX produced?
The videos on the site are a combination. Some shots show the lights in their "auto" sound-active modes. In other shots we used a controller to "slow down" or demonstrate various color or pattern combinations.


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I work lights for a band that has recently switched from regular par 64s to MBT LED Par 64s. I am having problems trying to set the addresses for the lights to our lighting console. We have an Elation Scene Setter - 24 channel.
The LEDPAR64 occupies 5 DMX channels:
1 = red leds
2 = green leds
3 = blue leds
4 = master brightness
5 = strobe speed

Getting them to all work together (all at the same time) should be accomplished by setting DIP switches like this: 1 on and 10 on. Sliders 1-5 would operate all LEDPAR64's with this switch setting. You can also set a group for the next 5 sliders (6-10) by setting those this way : switches 2,3 and 10 on. A third group can be set to use sliders 11-15 this way: switches 1,2, 4 & 10 on. A fourth group can be set to use sliders 16-20 by setting switches this way: 5 and 10 on.


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Do you make a ceramic socket for your PAR 38 cans? If not, do you know of a compatible socket that is commercially available?
Ask your dealer to order PCS38...that’s the replacement PAR38 lamp socket. Retail price is $ 2.50


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Are the dimmer packs rack mountable...side by side? I want to be able to rack mount the dimmers, primarily for transportation...but also to keep the dimmers off the light stands.
You might look at the FCP38 or FCP56 systems that use 8 PAR cans and the SCX1010 foot controller.


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What is the bulb lifetime expectancy on LED Lights?
Most all LED (Light Emitting Diode) life is rated at 100,000 hours.