Lighting and control
ACME Tornado TB 5 IP
Match the Tornado DMX mode to the console profile, check beams and RGB rings separately, and rehearse signal loss and camera settings.
We can help assess rental or purchase of this type of equipment and the preparation your setup needs. Tell us the effect you want; a final design is not required to start.
Model and scope
- Manufacturer
- ACME
- Model / code
- TORNADO / TB 5 IP
- Light engines
- 5 × 120 W RGBL; 120 × 0.5 W RGB ring LEDs
- Optics and movement
- Beam 3°–30°; field 4°–35°; pan 59°; tilt 221°
A five-head effects fixture for moving beam patterns and RGB ring looks. It can build a scenic line or accent a musical cue when its movement and sightlines suit the design. Choose the DMX mode for the level of control you need: five moving heads do not mean every color attribute is independent in every mode. Face lighting for a camera needs a separate coverage and color assessment.
From the intended effect to setup and programming
For a musical entrance, tell us whether you want beams moving across the background, a line of colored rings or coordinated changes between heads. The Tornado TB 5 IP offers these design options, but fixture position and the movement seen by the audience and cameras shape the result. A sketch or stage photo, with provisional dimensions if available, helps compare positions.
Before programming, match the effect to the attributes available in the selected mode. In 41 CH, color mixing is shared; separating more attributes by head requires checking the other mode charts and the matching console profile. The operator needs to distinguish main sources, rings, movement and zoom: changing modes without checking the patch can change the entire effect.
- Define what should happen at each cue and the intended viewing positions. Identify people and camera zones that movement and beams must respect.
- Review power, data, profile, positions and actual mounting accessories in the proposal. Coordinated fixtures need a patch and programming; placing them in a row does not establish coordination.
- Propose a sequence and signal-recovery rehearsal with the operator. If recording is planned, allow time to check settings with the intended camera.
Questions to define your proposal
- Should the rings, moving beams or both be visible?
- Where will the audience and cameras view them from?
- Is a console available, and who programs the heads?
- Which moments take priority if quantity or programming is reduced?
A solution to assess with GLMedia
We can assess a Tornado composition for key moments with defined accessories, control and programming. Send an effect reference, stage information and date. Compare feature accents with a wider layout; static light or video can complete the background when simplification makes sense.
Ask about rental or purchase of this type of effect with a date, venue and visual reference, even before the quantity or final plan is known. GLMedia can help assess equipment or alternatives and the preparation, mounting, configuration or operation to consider in a proposal.
Connections and capabilities
The fixture supports DMX512 and RDM through IP-rated 5-pin XLR, with a 3-pin option; RJ45 carries Art-Net or sACN. Check the connectors fitted to the actual unit. These wired protocols do not establish wireless compatibility, and RJ45 does not imply PoE.
Power is 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, with a maximum consumption of 935 W. The manual lists waterproof power input/output and a supplied cable with a Neutrik TRUE1 connector. Have a qualified electrician verify the supply, protective earth, fitted connectors and any onward power distribution; the presence of POWER OUT is not a safe fixture-count calculation.
In 41 CH, movement and zoom are individual, but RGBL mixing is shared by the five main sources and RGB mixing is shared by the rings. The 71/75/85 CH tables separate additional attributes by head. Use the full table for the selected mode; a larger footprint changes channel positions. Motorized zoom has distinct beam and field angles, not interchangeable coverage figures.
The internal backup battery supports control-panel setup without mains power. It does not power the light output for a show. The manual excludes Fixture Test and Reset Function while using battery power.
Prepare the fixture and patch
- Inspect the exact TB 5 IP label, housing, lenses, cables and connector condition. Record Fixture Information > Firmware Version and the console fixture-library version. The published DMX chart says valid from V1.3; do not assume a differently numbered firmware download is equivalent.
- Arrange a rated power supply, compatible DMX or network cables, and a matching console profile. For a suspended installation, have qualified personnel select clamps, the two omega brackets and the specified secondary safety attachment using the complete mounting instructions. Keep the full movement area clear before power is applied.
- Set DMX Settings > DMX Channel Mode and DMX Address, then match the console mode, start address and universe. A 41 CH fixture starting at 1 occupies 1–41; the next unused address is 42 if nothing else occupies it. A channel number in a protocol table is relative: absolute address = start address + channel − 1.
- Set Connect Option to the intended input. For Art-Net/sACN, compare IP Address, Subnet Mask and the protocol's universe settings with the sender; do not assume the consoles use the same universe numbering. Document Network to DMX if the XLR output feeds another fixture. For a DMX cable chain, use suitable DMX cable and the specified 120 Ω terminator at the last output.
- Save the show and current settings. With the fixture secured, movement stopped and the beam directed away from eyes, propose a low-output single-fixture check before adding other units. Record the chosen No DMX Status and rehearse recovery outside the live program.
Questions and troubleshooting
The Tornado moves but beams and rings ignore color: is it the mode or a fault?
First compare the selected DMX mode with the patch. In 41 CH, common color control is expected; it does not prove a fault in the individual heads. The following channel references apply only to 41 CH and the documented V1.3-onward table.
- Open DMX Settings > View DMX Value and compare the received values with the console output. Check start address and universe before touching calibration. If values are missing or unstable, isolate one fixture with a known-good DMX cable and termination.
- For a steady-light check, set LED STROBE 38 and RING STROBE 39 within 008–015 (Open). Raise DIMMER 36 moderately, then test RGBL 26–29 and RING RGB 32–34 separately. Zero strobe is Close, so a dimmer above zero is not enough.
- For direct mixing, use LED CCT 30 = 000, LED COLOR 31 = 000 and RING MACRO 35 = 000; these values fall in the documented Null ranges. Keep FUNCTION 41 = 000 for this check: that channel can issue configuration and reset commands. Preserve the existing settings before any change.
- If separate head colors are required, choose a documented mode with those attributes and repatch it deliberately. Recheck address overlap and the profile's channel layout. Do not send the 41 CH test values into another mode.
If received values match but the look still differs, save the mode, profile, firmware and a patch screenshot. We can help review the map before assessing another unit; a firmware change does not replace that diagnosis.
Why does the Tornado stay on or recall a different look when DMX disappears?
DMX Settings > No DMX Status offers Blackout, Hold and Manual. Blackout turns the light output off; Hold retains the last active DMX values; Manual uses values stored under Manual Test. Those manual test values are saved automatically when power is switched off, so an unexpected recalled look needs to be checked there.
- Record No DMX Status, the relevant stored Manual Test values and the loss policy of the console or node. Confirm Connect Option and the actual data path. A node may continue sending DMX after its network source disappears.
- In rehearsal, use an agreed static cue at low output with a clear movement area. Interrupt data at the fixture's effective input while maintaining power. Observe both the fixture and any downstream units; do not assume their loss policies match.
- Restore data and verify cue, intensity and control recovery. Select the loss behavior according to the agreed contingency, then repeat that one check. Retain settings and observations for support if the result differs; do not start with a factory reset or firmware update.
The light looks steady, but the camera shows bands. Can LED Refresh Rate help?
The menu provides several LED Refresh Rate settings, including 900 Hz, 2500 Hz, 4000 Hz and 25 kHz. These are test options, not a universal flicker-free guarantee. Separate camera banding from random visible flashing caused by signal, patch or an active strobe.
- Record camera model, recording mode, fps, shutter, exposure and white balance, plus fixture firmware, dimmer, colors and LED Refresh Rate. In 41 CH, verify steady strobe values and check whether the console sends FUNCTION commands that alter frequency.
- Propose a recording of a uniform surface lit by this fixture alone. Keep the camera and intensity fixed while changing one documented Fixture Settings > LED Refresh Rate option at a time. Label each clip and inspect the recording as well as the monitor.
- Repeat the useful setting at the planned dimmer levels and fades, and with each camera mode in use. Coordinate shutter or fps changes with camera crew. If flashing is visible without a camera, return to received DMX values, strobe, cabling and patch checks before attributing it to refresh rate.
Can it provide a musical entrance effect and light the speaker too?
We can assess the Tornado for movement/ring effects and address lighting people as a separate function. The documented zoom and beams do not establish uniform coverage or suitable skin rendering on camera.
- Tell us the speaker position, cameras and when the effect should stand out. We can assess a wash or profile system for people and reserve the Tornado for the background.
- A proposal can consider equipment, patching, programming and operation. Provisional geometry and a camera/sightline check guide placement; a final quantity is not needed to start the inquiry.
The show needs per-head colors but the unit arrives in a different mode: what are my options?
Before rehearsal, compare the mode label/chart with the showfile. Shared color in 41 CH is a mode limitation, not a fault resolved by raising every channel.
- Save the show and check that the unit and profile support the required control. If a documented mode needs repatching, test outside the program at free addresses; do not transfer offsets across modes.
- If time or verified compatibility is missing, we can assess a shared-color look or an alternative system with the needed independence. Review file, equipment and rehearsal rather than prescribing a last-minute update.
How do we choose between a few feature units and a wider effects backdrop?
We can compare a design featuring the fixture itself with a layout spreading accents across the stage. Stage size, framing and musical moments guide the choice; head count alone does not determine fixture quantity.
- Send a visual reference and a sketch showing screens, artists and possible positions. Representative looks let us compare audience and camera views.
- The scope separates fixtures, suitable accessories, signal, profile preparation and movement programming. Positions and supports are validated for the actual system before setup.
- If the full design exceeds budget, prioritize key moments and assess static light or video for the rest of the background. Agree which effect stays and which changes before finalizing quantity.
DMX footprint and address limits
| DMX Channel Mode | Channels occupied | Highest start address |
|---|---|---|
| 41 CH | 41 | 472 |
| 71 CH | 71 | 442 |
| 75 CH | 75 | 438 |
| 85 CH | 85 | 428 |
| 170 CH | 170 | 343 |
Operating precautions
- IP66 does not authorize immersion or every outdoor exposure. Use the manufacturer's outdoor-rated waterproof power/data connections, seal unused sockets with their caps, and inspect for moisture or damage before connection. Route cables into connectors from below, with a service loop where needed. Do not connect power to wet panel sockets.
- Operate only from −10°C to 40°C ambient. Keep ventilation at least 50 cm from adjacent surfaces and maintain more than 0.5 m from objects/surfaces as specified. The housing can reach 75°C. Keep flammable materials away, do not use an electrical dimmer supply, and let a cold transported fixture reach ambient temperature before powering it.
- The fixture is listed at 30 kg. Qualified riggers must verify the complete support and secondary safety system: the manual specifies support for 10 times the fixture weight without deformation and, for suspension, a steel safety cable of at least 4.0 mm diameter rated for at least 12 times the fixture weight. These requirements do not replace a complete rigging design. Do not use inter-fixture alignment links as an assumed suspension method.
- Keep eyes out of the beam. Protect front lenses from direct sunlight and other intense beams, including while idle. If there is damage, overheating or a persistent movement error, stop operation, isolate power safely and refer the unit to qualified service. Do not open the housing, alter protection settings or use a generic reset as a repair.
Terms on this page
- DMX
- A data protocol controlling lighting functions; each model defines what its channels mean.
- RDM
- Management communication for querying or configuring compatible equipment over a compatible path.
- Patch
- Assignment of fixture, profile, address and universe in the control system.
- Shutter
- A fixture function opening or closing light output; distinct from the camera shutter.
Help configuring this equipment
- ACME TORNADO — User Manual G (PDF) — en.acmelighting.com
Start with the model instructions and match the edition to the unit you will use.
- ACME TORNADO — official DMX chart (PDF) — en.acmelighting.com
Compare the full personality and function order with the console profile.
- GDTF: profile author, revision and modes — gdtf-development.com
Distinguish the Manufacturer tag from user contributions. Check mode and revision; a compatible file for this equipment is not confirmed here.
Documentation and sources
- ACME TORNADO / TB 5 IP — official product specifications — en.acmelighting.com
Manual G is marked REV G 07/17/2026; printed page numbers are one less than PDF page numbers. Technical basis: specifications pp.8–10, power/data pp.13–14, installation pp.15–16, menus pp.19–30 and DMX pp.44–53. Repeat the checks with the actual fixture and camera configuration; a result applies only to the conditions tested. Confirm the installed firmware and matching profile before applying channel values.
Guides to plan your system
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