This is the RC4 User Manual for:

RC4 Series 3 W-DIM4 (500W 4-Channel)
RC4 Series 3 W-DIMm3 (Small 3-Channel)

RC4 Wireless Dimming

If you are unsure about what wireless dimming is used for, explore expert examples with pictures and information at www.wirelessdimming.com.  Highlights include The Rockettes, Katy Perry, Wicked – The Musical, The Who’s Tommy, and much more.

Tutorial videos to help you use and understand RC4 technology are available at http://www.rc4wireless.com/category/support/video/.  Seeing the process is sometimes easier than reading a manual.

The most important thing is this: wireless dimming with professional and reliable results is easy – it’s easier than you think!

The RC4 Series 3 User Interface

The RC4 Series 3 User Interface consists of numerous LEDs and recessed pushbuttons.  All LED are behind small round holes.  All buttons are behind small slotted openings.  A small tool, like a bent paperclip, is required to press the recessed buttons.

Never insert a tool into a round hole – buttons are only behind slotted holes.

Restore Defaults

If you are unsure of the settings in an RC4 Series-3 device, or if it is not responding as expected, you can restore default settings to a power device at any time:
Hold the recessed Func button while you press and release the SetA recessed button.  The DimA indicator will blink, and most settings will be cleared to defaults.   Some firmware versions leave the PWM frequency and RC4 Digital Persistence^TM setting unchanged after loading defaults.

To restore original factory settings including PWM frequency and Digital Persistence:
Hold both the Func and the SetA buttons while powering on the device, and hold them for more than 5 seconds.  The COP indicator will light for 5 seconds in bootloader mode before reverting to normal operation.  Hold the two buttons for this entire time.

DMX Controller and Transmitter

RC4 Wireless devices are DMX controlled.  You need a DMX controller (sometimes called a DMX Console, or a DMX Desk) to get started.  If you’re setting up in a theatre space, you probably have a DMX controller in the lighting booth.

Next, you need a W-DMX transmitter.  It doesn’t have to be a Wireless Solution transmitter, but it must transmit the W-DMX wireless protocol.  A list of compatible brands – and there are many – can be found at http://wirelessdmx.com/oem-partner.

Make the DMX Connection

Connect a DMX data output from your DMX controller to the DMX data input on your wireless DMX transmitter.  Be sure your transmitter is powered on and operating.  In most cases, that’s all you need to do.  Your DMX universe will now be out on the airwaves.

Battery and Dimmer

RC4 Series 3 dimmers have a wide voltage input range: 6V – 35VDC.  Connect a battery or DC power supply within this range to the Vin terminals and the device will power on.

Each RC4 dimmer has an output indicator, so you don’t need to connect anything more to see things work right away.

Pairing Receivers with Transmitters

RC4 W-DIM devices must be paired with a Wireless Solution or compatible W-DMX transmitter before they can be used wirelessly. 

RC4 Series 3 dimmers use small recessed pushbuttons that cannot be accidentally pressed when the device is inside a prop, set piece, or costume.  You will need a bent paperclip or other small tool to operate these buttons.

Follow these simple steps:

• Ensure that the transmitter and the W-DIM device are powered on and near each other.
• If the W-DIM was previously paired to a different transmitter, press and hold the recessed RF Connect button on the dimmer for at least 5 seconds. The blue RF Connect indicator should go off (not on, and not blinking).
• Press the Link button on the transmitter (depending on the make and model, this transmitter button might be marked as Function or Connect). An indicator on the transmitter will start flashing.  The blue RF Connect indicator on the W-DIM will also start flashing.
• While indicators are flashing, briefly press the RF Connect button on the W-DIM. When the transmitter stops flashing, the blue RF Connect indicator on the W-DIM will remain lit, indicating that pairing is completed.
• If DMX data is supplied to the W-DMX transmitter, the yellow DMX indicator on the W-DIM will be on.

The W-DIM will remain paired to the same transmitter until it is changed using the same procedure with a different transmitter.  Consult Wireless Solution W-DMX documentation, or documentation for the transmitter you are using, for additional information.

Make Something Light Up!

On your DMX controller, fade DMX channels 1, 2, and 3 up and down.  You will see the DimA, DimB, and DimC indicators on your W-DIM device fading up and down on command, in real-time.  If you are using a W-DIM4, DMX channel 4 will control the DimD indicator.

Wireless dimming really IS easy!

Assign DMX Channels

You probably don’t want to run all your wireless dimmers on DMX channels 1 through 4. RC4 OneTouch^TM makes it easy to assign any DMX channel and dimmer curve to any dimmer with a single press of a single button.  You need a working DMX controller and transmitter, a W-DIM that has been paired to your transmitter, and a bent paperclip or other small tool for pressing small recessed buttons.

The yellow DMX Data indicator on the W-DIM must be on.  If it is not on, then DMX data is not present at your transmitter or you have not properly paired your devices.

Start by clearing all your DMX channels to zero on your controller.  Be sure this includes any “special” channels, like house lights and work lights, and be sure you are not using fixture profiles that “home” some channels at levels other than zero.  For example, some moving light fixture profiles will send X and Y motion to a midpoint when the console is “cleared.”   That midpoint is not zero; for our purposes, you need actual zero.

Now, bring up the level of one DMX channel – any channel you like – to 30% (if you can’t decide on what channel to try, use channel 92).  If you’re using a simple fader, put it about 1/3 of the way up.  If you can type in a channel level, use 30%.  Now, go to your W-DIM and press the SetA button.  You’ll see the DimA indicator come on at about 30% brightness.  When you let go of the button, the dimmer should stay on.  It is now assigned to the channel you have up.

Fade the channel up and down from your DMX controller.  The wireless dimmer will track it exactly.  It will remember your channel assignment after you cycle the power.  It remembers forever, until you change it.

Setting the channel to 30% tells the dimmer to use a combination of options that make LEDs look great, ideal for viewing the little indicator on the dimmer device itself.

You can set the channel to levels other than 30% to select configurations that are optimized for other kinds of loads.  Each dimmer can be set to a channel, curve, PWM frequency, and RC4 Digital Persistence level, accommodating the different needs of multiple loads connected to the same device.

Did we mention easy?

RC4 OneTouch^TM for Channel, Curve,
and Digital Persistence^TM Assignment

When an RC4 Series 3 device is connected to an active transmitter with DMX data streaming in, the Set buttons provide RC4 OneTouch^TM dimmer configuration.  Press a dimmer Set button to assign it to the first DMX channel that is at a level of 20% or higher.  The level of the DMX channel determines the dimmer curve and RC4 Digital Persistence time.

Dimmer Curves

Using RC4 OneTouch^TM, three different dimmer curves can be selected: Inverse Square Law (ISL), Linear, and Non-Dim.

The ISL Curve is optimized for light emitting diodes (LEDs).  You must use the ISL curve to make LEDs dim smoothly; do not use the linear curve for LEDs.

The Linear Curve is perfect for incandescent (including halogen) lighting – traditional filament bulbs.

The Non-Dim Curve is ideal for relays, solenoids, AC inverters, and anything else that needs cleanly switched DC power.

RC4 Digital Persistence^TM

The ISL dimming curve is only part of how to make LEDs look great.  RC4 Digital Persistence^TM makes LEDs look as pleasing as incandescent lighting, with no visible stepping, by emulating the natural filament persistence of vintage lamps.

Using RC4 OneTouch^TM, the ISL curve can be selected with or without RC4 Digital Persistence by using the ISL-Slow or ISL-Fast dimmer curve.

PWM Frequency

All RC4 Series 3 dimmers provide a range of PWM frequencies.  Low frequencies must be used with high-power loads, particularly incandescent lamps.  Higher frequencies are best for LEDs, to eliminate visible flicker.  Using RC4 OneTouch^TM, the default frequency for the Linear Curve is 77Hz; the default for the ISL Curves is 615 Hz.  (These defaults are user selectable – see the complete RC4 Series 3 User Manual for additional details.)

Easy RC4 OneTouch^TM Channel Level Chart

1. If you are unsure about which curve to use, try the ISL Slow curve. If your load is drawing a lot of power and the dimmer is getting too hot, use the Linear curve.
   2. Default PWM frequency and RC4 Digital Persistence^TM time are user adjustable. See the complete RC4 Series 3 User Manual for details.