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.
Ask GLMedia about renting ACME Tornado for your event. Availability and configuration are subject to confirmation.
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.
Prepare your rental inquiry
- Date, city, venue and setup, event and pickup schedule.
- Intended use, area dimensions and equipment already supplied by the venue or production.
- Desired effect, positions, throw, area and stage restrictions.
- Control profile, mounting accessories and camera coordination where needed.
Specify equipment only or whether setup, programming, operation and strike are also needed. Scope is confirmed in the proposal.
You do not need a final equipment list: tell us the result you want and the part you need help with. Availability and scope are confirmed in the 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 the beams or rings stay dark or follow the same color. What should I check?
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.
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.
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.
Documentation and sources
- ACME TORNADO / TB 5 IP — official product specifications
- ACME TORNADO — User Manual G
- ACME TORNADO — official DMX chart
Sources checked October 22, 2026. Manual G is marked REV G 07/17/2026 and was listed online October 7, 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.