LAMP ON MODE

[-dalc-]

Rdm standard provides the "LAMP ON MODE OFF" mode (Lamp stays off until directly instructed to strike).
I was requested (from one of the biggest italian service) to provide a mode in witch Lamp stays off independently from any other condition (Lamp stays off despite instructed to strike).
This could be very useful during device testings.
I could implement this mode as a "manufacturer specific mode", but I think that it would be interesting to insert it among standard modes.

[sblair]

My concern would be in adding a mode to a defined message that isn't widely supported. Having a mode that explicitly ignores all commands to strike would often make the product appear broken. Hence, why I don't think there would be very wide support for it.

I'd be curious in understanding their needs with this a bit more. Obviously as you mentioned this could be handled with a manufacturer-specific message and that may be the best option.

[-dalc-]

Once i thought it wasn't a useful thing but then I spoke with a service technician and he told me about the control tests of a fixture coming back from a show.
The usual way is to plug the fixture to the controller and testing the fixture changing DMX values manually, without configuring the device in the controller. So it could be very easy to accidentaly strike the lamp and, If someone is working around the fixture, or fixture is opened, this action could be harmful for eyes.
A "LAMP FORCED OFF MODE" could be considered as a safety precaution.
I think it is unlike this mode makes the product appear broken, since it would be well signalled in the fixture display and/or in the controller display.

[-dalc-]

Once i thought it wasn't a useful thing but then I spoke with a service technician and he told me about the control tests of a fixture coming back from a show.
The usual way is to plug the fixture to the controller and testing the fixture changing DMX values manually, without configuring the device in the controller. So it could be very easy to accidentaly strike the lamp and, If someone is working around the fixture, or fixture is opened, this action could be harmful for eyes.
A "LAMP FORCED OFF MODE" could be considered as a safety precaution.
I think it is unlike this mode makes the product appear broken, since it would be well signalled in the fixture display and/or in the controller display.

[sblair]

If a fixture is left in this mode a controller (especially one without RDM fully integrated) would never be able to turn the lamp on. That would typically appear broken.

Most fixtures typically have a two step process for striking the lamps that involves more than wiggling just a single channel.

[-dalc-]

As an engineer, I agree with you. But LJs and service technicians don't reason in the same manner (Also I've noticed that professional users have opposite ideas from low end users...).
I was explicitally requested to implement a single step process for striking the lamp, so I'll implement "LAMP FORCED OFF" mode as a "manufacturer specific mode".
Howewer I think It could be a good thing for controllers to set "lamp on mode" to "LAMP ON MODE ON" or "LAMP ON MODE OFF" before sending a set "lamp state" comand (so lamp handling returns totally under the control of the controller).

[dangeross]

We've implemented a similar function but not for lamp control. One thing we did was make the command non-persistent so that a reset or power cycle would return our device to normal operation.