Triggering DJ Strobes

Triggering DJ Strobes (remote control)

The larger and more expensive a strobe light, the more features you are likely to find. One popular feature is the ability to remotely trigger a strobe flash or link strobes together so that they all flash at once. This capability can also be used by a strobe controller to flash a series of strobes in sequence, or flash to the musical beat.

This page is dedicated to how that is done.

CAUTION
DMX
Low Voltage Analog
Related Pages

CAUTION

Xenon strobes use lethal voltage. Even a small battery-operated xenon strobe boosts the battery up to hundreds of volts in order to fire the flash tube. If you aren't prepared to know and follow high-voltage precautions, you shouldn't be poking around in a strobe!

DMX

Some strobes can be remotely controlled using the DMX system.

[photo] This is an intelligent lighting fixture with DMX in and out, using 3-pin XLR connectors.

Low Voltage Analog

Many DJ strobes can be remotely triggered using a low voltage pulse. This pulse can be generated using a seperate strobe controller or from a master strobe light that flashes itself and tells the slave flashes to flash along.

There are several different types of connectors used to hook up low voltage analog controls:

1/4-Inch Mono Plug
1/4-Inch Stereo Plug
XLR Plug

The 1/4-inch mono plug is probably the most common.

I have seen many different strobes, made by different companies, that are linkable via 1/4" mono plugs. But despite very easy to find the strobes, it is uncommon to find technical information about exactly what signal to send.

Here's what I found on the web:

http://www.pulsarlight.com/PDF/Instructions/Strobe%20Remote%20Instructions.pdf

Output Jack Socket - Standard 1/4" jack plugs are used for interconnection.
Tip = Signal
Sleeve = Earth / Ground
The output firing pulses are +10v and the output impedance is 100 ohms.
A jack to jack lead should be taken from the Strobe Remote Controller back panel to your Strobe(s).
This lead does not need to be screened and may be up to 200 metres in length.

http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/strobocontrol.html

Voltage level is typically 2-12V
a positive pulse triggers the stroboscope
Input impedance is typically 1 kohm

A lot of equipment just says something like

Linkable via mono 1/4 inch jack
Remote operation via standard 0-10V DC positive pulse signal

1/4-Inch Mono Plug

Since the sockets for 1/4-inch stereo and 1/4-inch mono look the same form the outside, make sure that you read the instructions for your strobe before plugging anything into the socket!

[photo] 1/4-Inch Mono Plug

[photo]

back panel of a SpeakerMAX strobe model SE009A
sold by CheapLights.com as 125-AWESTROBE, $76.85 [August 2006]
750 Watts
note the two sockets for 1/4-Inch Mono Plug

[photo] This is cheaplights.com part number 137-STR-EXT-MONO $4.85 [August 2006]

33 foot, 2 conductor cable for linking Zapstrobes and other lights using a 2 conductor mono plug.

1/4-Inch Stereo Plug

I have never used a strobe that provides remote control or linking via 1/4-inch stereo plugs, but I have read that they exist.

Since the sockets for 1/4-inch stereo and 1/4-inch mono look the same form the outside, make sure that you read the instructions for your strobe before plugging anything into the socket!

[photo] 1/4-inch stereo plug