Customer Reviews

Chauvet 4 Channel Dimmer / Relay Pack

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I don't have a review for the operation or use of this pack so if you're looking for something low cost to handle some low demand lighting, it may work for you. The picture (since there isn't a good description) shows a pack with a rating of 10A/CH and 20A Max. You'll be getting a black pack that is rated at 5A/CH and 15A Max. If you want to see what you'll get, go to the manufacture's website and look up DMX-4 Dimmer Pack. I occasionally run 1000W PARS with these packs and need the channels to handle 10A. I also often run 500W PARS on each channel so 20A Max is needed for my needs. I'll be spending the extra $$ for the Elation DP-DMX-20L pack. I've had great luck with them. These are going back.

The product picture is not of the item that gets shipped. This is critically important because the one pictured is a 10a/channel, 20a/box capacity. The one that comes is a 5a/channel, which means that it can't handle the load that the one in the picture can. Go for something else, or buy from a place that will send you what they show you. The star comes not from the product, but the fact that Amazon did take the return with no troubles.

After reading the reviews here, I decided to buy 2 of these anyway, because, as stated, the price is right for what you are getting.
Pros- As long as you are fine with the 5amp per channel/15 amp total limitations, it's a fine unit that works well for small applications. Channel selection is easy to set up, much easier than setting DIP switches.
On the con side, Chauvet documentation is very poor and needs updating. Amazon's site for this item says you can set each channel to ANY DMX address- this is a bald-faced lie. Like most other 4-channel dimmers, you can select the starting address, and the next 3 channels come immediately after that. (i.e., you set channel 1 for address 100, the other 3 channels are 101, 102, and 103) Also, the unit says to use a 6 amp fuse, the manual says 10 amp. I called Chauvet on this, they said the unit ships with an 8 amp fuse. It would be nice if they wold get their documentation straight. Also, I blew a few fuses before finding out just how much current I could run per channel, and I could not find any 5x20 8 amp fuses locally, I had to order them from digikey.com.
Overall, I give it a 3 rating because other than these issues, the units work flawlessly and are easy to use. But buy a bunch of fuses and stock them for when you need them, you won't be able to get them in a pinch.

I've used several of these over the past few years and they've worked pretty good overall.

Occasionally I've gotten one that arrived damaged, but it was replaced without too much trouble.

These aren't the best high-end dimmers, and you should be careful not to overload them. But for the $$$, how can you go wrong?

I wouldn't recommend these for permanent installations in theater, but they'd work fine for display or small venue DJ lighting, etc.

There is come confusion as to the capacity of these dimmers - the advertising is different from what is physically labeled on the dimmer pack itself. And even a call to the manufacturer resulted in a somewhat sketchy answer. So if you are an electrician - do the math yourself. If you are not, then err on the side of caution.

I give this item 4 stars, despite its shortcomings, but when you consider that the comparable standard NSI/Leviton dimmer packs are $400ish, for $120, again - how can you go wrong?

Ok I bought 6 of these cause they were cheap. First one melted a fuse container. No biggie I replaced it. Second one stopped dimming. Ok. Third one the tric fried and ch 3 would never shutoff this one that made me write review caught fire under load of 4 par 38s for 3 hours. I'm very upset

This dimmer was sold under a variety of brands which all look similar. These dimmers are actually fairly well designed, however, none of them are rated for continuous use at 20 amps. I own eight of them under various names, but all the same inside and am very happy with their performance, especially under low wattage loads. These dimmers will operate with only a 15W lamp, which is tough for a dimmer.

Make sure when you get it that it is not the "New Version" which has a knob on the front and a rope-light output. This is a different design and does not work as well.