3A Box thing

[David M. Aronson]

Okay, so what exactly is in the magic box on the bottom of the IIIA?

Edited October 11, 2011 by David Aronson

[Afton Grant]

Electrics.

 

Open it up. You'll see.

[Tom Wills]

It's where the magic smoke lives.

 

Kidding, of course.

 

As Afton said, the "box" is full of electronics. Specifically, it's called the electronics module (a name still used on modern rigs). The electronics module contains the power supply for the monitor. Originally, rather than having the monitor be a self-contained unit, the circuits that stepped up the 12v from the battery to high-voltage power for the monitor were in the sled. It also contains the video processing circuitry. Eventually, monitors moved to having internal, smaller power supplies. As you can imagine, it's a lot easier to swap out a broken monitor than an entire electronics module, if the power circuitry dies! You'll notice that the monitor is connected via 2 thick metal-covered cables. In modern monitors, they're only carrying 12v and video signals, which don't require such substantial cables.

 

Also, it's splitting the battery power out to all necessary outputs, routing the video inputs where they need to go, and routing any other necessary signals through the sled.

 

Hope that helps!

[David M. Aronson]

It's where the magic smoke lives.

 

Kidding, of course.

 

As Afton said, the "box" is full of electronics. Specifically, it's called the electronics module (a name still used on modern rigs). The electronics module contains the power supply for the monitor. Originally, rather than having the monitor be a self-contained unit, the circuits that stepped up the 12v from the battery to the high-voltage power that runs the monitor. It also contains the video processing circuitry. Eventually, monitors moved to having internal, smaller power supplies. As you can imagine, it's a lot easier to swap out a broken monitor than an entire electronics module, if the power circuitry dies! You'll notice that the monitor is connected via 2 thick metal-covered cables. In modern monitors, they're only carrying 12v and video signals, which don't require such substantial cables.

 

Also, it's splitting the battery power out to all necessary outputs, routing the video inputs where they need to go, and routing any other necessary signals through the sled.

 

Hope that helps!

Thanks.

I'm used to seeing simpler rigs or ones with smaller electronics modules(think Flyer LEs and MK-V lites) I guess we've come a long way since then :)

The reason I ask is I'm thinking of getting a 3A as my first "Big Rig" and I keep seeing great deals on them.

Edited October 12, 2011 by David Aronson

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I'm used to seeing simpler rigs or ones with smaller electronics modules(think Flyer LEs and MK-V lites) I guess we've come a long way since then :)

The reason I ask is I'm thinking of getting a 3A as my first "Big Rig" and I keep seeing great deals on them.

 

 

Ummm you get what you pay for. a 3A is WELL past it's prime right now I would suggest skipping a 3A and finding a PRO 1

[David M. Aronson]

I'm used to seeing simpler rigs or ones with smaller electronics modules(think Flyer LEs and MK-V lites) I guess we've come a long way since then :)

The reason I ask is I'm thinking of getting a 3A as my first "Big Rig" and I keep seeing great deals on them.

 

 

Ummm you get what you pay for. a 3A is WELL past it's prime right now I would suggest skipping a 3A and finding a PRO 1

Okay. I'll keep my eye out for one.

[Janice Arthur]

David;

 

The 3A sled if it still works will last forever. Its clearly older than you are.

 

What you are buying with a 3A is the gimbal and the post and the top stage.

 

If you make one change to the monitor or anything else the whole bottom section and j-box becomes useless.

 

I'll not kill those deals that are for sale because the sled still does work but you'll outgrow it fast.

 

The advance in monitors and wiring with the PRO 1 made the rigs become modular which was a huge breakthrough.

 

Go with standard def PRO 1.

 

JA

[RonBaldwin]

 

David...Go with standard def PRO 1.

 

JA

 

I got one lying around waiting for an anton bauer conversion that will probably never happen!

[Afton Grant]

Ron, bring that to NYC with you. I'll convert it.

[RonBaldwin]

I am tempted...but need to buy a new pro base first! I need a job!