Light-O-Rama controllers are connected to a data network for communications.  In typical configurations the controllers are daisy-chained so each requires a unique Unit ID.  How that unique Unit ID is set depends on the type of controller.  Some controllers allow configuring the unit ID from the Hardware Utility that’s part of the ShowTime Sequencing Suite.  Other controllers allow setting the Unit ID from an LED display on the front panel.  Still other controllers are designed to set the Unit ID by DIP (Dual Inline Pin) switches or rotary dials.

Where do I set the controller Unit ID? Most controllers come from the factory set to Unit ID 01. Typically each controller in a setup should have a unique Unit ID. See the chart below on where to set the Unit ID plus other instructions below on how to set it. The instruction manual for the controller is also an excellent source for how to configure your controller.

Cosmic Color Bulbs/Pixels/Floods/Ribbons		Set Unit ID via Hardware Utility	Set Unit ID via front panel	Set Unit ID via board DIP/rotary switches
CCB-100	Cosmic Color Bulbs using latest available firmware.
CCP-100	Cosmic Color Pixels using latest available firmware.
CCR-150	Cosmic Color Ribbon using latest available firmware.
High-Power-RGB-Flood-50W	Cosmic Color Flood using latest available firmware.
Pixel Controllers		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board DIP switches
CMB24D	8 pixel controller board using latest available firmware.
PixCon16	16 SPI ports and 4 DMX-512 ports, each with 340 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.	set via Advanced Configuration
Pixie2	2 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.	if all DIP switches off
Pixie4	4 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.	if all DIP switches off
Pixie8	8 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.	if all DIP switches off
Pixie16	16 SPI ports, each with 100 pixel addressability using latest available firmware.	if all DIP switches off
DC Controllers		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board rotary dials
CMB16D	16 channel DC controller board using latest available firmware.
Digital I/O		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board rotary dials
DIO32	Digital I/O motherboard and daughter boards using latest available firmware.
DMX Bridge		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board DIP/rotary switches
idmx1000	DMX-512 bridge to Light-O-Rama data network using latest available firmware.
Servo Control		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board DIP/rotary switches
ServoDog	ServoDog servo controller board using latest available firmware.
CTB04PC/CTB16PC Residential High Voltage AC Light Controllers		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board DIP switches
CTB04PC	Residential Generation 3, 4 channel controller using latest available firmware.
CTB16PCg3	Residential Generation 3, 16 channel controller using latest available firmware.
CTB16PC	Residential 16 channel V2 controller boards.
CTB16PC-Kit	Residential 16 channel kit built controller boards.
CTB16/32/LOR8xx/LOR16xx Professional High Voltage AC Light Controllers		via Hardware Utility	via front panel	via board rotary dials
CTB16 blue	Professional 16 channel blue controller V7 controller board. Latest firmware version. if your board already has firmware version 4.40 or higher then it cannot use version 4.30 or lower.
CTB16 green	Professional 16 channel green controller board using latest available firmware.
CTB32LDg3	Professional Generation 3, 16 channel commercial controller board using latest available firmware.
LOR160x	Professional 16 channel commercial controller (metal box) using latest available firmware.
LOR160xWG3	Professional Generation 3, 16 channel commercial controller (metal box) using latest available firmware.
LOR800Wg3	Professional Generation 3, 8 channel commercial controller for LOR800Wg3 (metal box) using latest available firmware.

Setting the Unit ID via DIP switches on certain controllers (CTB04PC, CMB24D, etc)

It’s easy to get intimidated setting the controller Unit ID via the little on/off switches on the circuit board.  The good news is it typically only has to be done once.

The manual goes into great details on how to set all the switches.  Here’s the quick-and-dirty.

Locate the switches on the controller.  It should look like this if the controller is set for Unit ID 02.

Look carefully and orient the controller to see the switches as shown in the above image (click the picture to make it larger if needed).  On one side of the switch set there’s a marking for off/on.

ON is up

off is down

Each little switch is marked 1-12.  Using something small like a toothpick, set the switches as needed for the Unit ID required.  To make it easy, we’ve created a chart showing how to set Unit ID 01-09.

See the appropriate product manual for how to set other unit IDs.  The manual will also discuss what the other switches are for.