introduction

Thank you for choosing StrobePad.

StrobePad is a compact handheld wireless strobe controller for direct control of a Stairville Power Strobe 1500 DMX via a compatible wireless DMX receiver. It is designed for fast setup, direct operation, and predictable live use.

package contents

StrobePad unit
USB-C charging cable
Quick user guide

device overview

StrobePad provides the following controls and indicators:

rotary control 1: flash speed
rotary control 2: flash power
fire button: output control in momentary or toggle mode
RGB fire indicator: mode, output state, and reject feedback
integrated display: shows active settings and device status
buttons next to the display: used for configuration and calibration functions
USB-C port: charging and service power
battery compartment: user-replaceable 18650 battery

power and charging

StrobePad is powered by a rechargeable 18650 battery
charge the device via the USB-C port
use only suitable 1-cell Li-ion batteries
do not use damaged batteries
fully charge the battery before first use
startup includes a low-battery safety check before normal operation
if battery voltage is too low at startup, the device enters deep sleep instead of normal operation

quick start

Power on the device.
Verify the displayed DMX start address, wireless ID, 2.4 GHz wireless channel, and wireless power level.
Confirm that the compatible wireless DMX receiver and fixture are powered and configured correctly.
Adjust the flash speed and power controls as required.
In momentary mode, press and hold Fire for active output.
In toggle mode, short press Fire to switch output on or off.
Verify output state on the RGB fire indicator.

normal operating behavior

startup output state: off
two fire modes are available: momentary and toggle
momentary mode: output active while Fire is held
toggle mode: short press toggles output on or off
idle behavior: output remains off while both rotary controls are at minimum
mode switch gesture: double-click on Fire button
mode switch is accepted only when both rotary controls are at minimum setting
rejected mode switch is ignored to prevent accidental mode changes
manual standby shortcut: long-press Fire when both rotary controls are at minimum
auto standby: after 15 min without button input
wake from standby: press fire, device restarts
output on is shown by high-visibility RGB blinking
output off is shown by steady RGB state
speed and power can be adjusted live during active output
the display shows active settings and device status during operation

display information

The display provides the following information during normal operation:

DMX address
wireless ID
2.4 GHz wireless channel
wireless power level

device setup and configuration

StrobePad stores the following user settings:

DMX address
wireless ID
2.4 GHz wireless channel
wireless power level

Settings are designed to persist after a power cycle. Configuration is performed using the buttons next to the display. The display shows the currently available button functions.

configuration and calibration

Configuration functions:

adjust DMX address
adjust wireless ID
adjust 2.4 GHz wireless channel
adjust wireless power level
save settings and exit
open calibration from hidden status menu: BAT CAL -> START CAL

advanced user calibration

User calibration is an advanced feature. Most users do not need it.

Use it only when needed:

after battery replacement
if the runtime estimate is clearly wrong
if battery behavior changed noticeably

How to open the user calibration menu:

Open the status screen.
Press top key once.
Press bottom key once.
Long-press top key.

This menu is intended for advanced users only.

This process records battery voltage during one full run.

Warnings:

this process can take several hours
if you stop it early, the result is invalid
disconnect external power during cycle 0 and keep it disconnected during discharge

Before you start:

Fully charge the battery before start.
Start calibration while external power is connected.
Disconnect external power during cycle 0.
Do not interrupt or abort the run.
After automatic reboot, connect external power.
Keep external power connected until recovery is complete.

During calibration, the display shows status, voltage, load phase, and elapsed time. You can cancel by holding the bottom key.

After recovery and reboot, result data is available in the hidden status menu.

Result handling:

SHOW STATUS: on-device summary view
DUMP RESULTS: detailed serial output
SET SEEDS: explicit seed write to persistent storage
CLEAR RESULTS: clear pending result payload without writing seeds

Seed values are never written automatically.

Important for transition to the recovery phase:

Wait until the device is fully off before reconnecting external power.
Full shutdown is visible when the RGB fire indicator is completely off.
Do not reconnect external power while the RGB indicator is still active.

troubleshooting

no output

verify active fire mode behavior
in momentary mode, verify that Fire is pressed
in toggle mode, verify output was switched on
verify DMX address, wireless ID, and 2.4 GHz wireless channel
verify receiver and fixture power
verify fixture DMX mode and addressing

incorrect response

check configured settings on both transmitter and receiver
verify fixture channel mapping
repeat battery calibration if needed

charging issues

verify USB-C cable and power source
verify battery condition and polarity

device does not start normally

battery may be below startup threshold
charge the battery and try again

maintenance

keep the device clean and dry
store at moderate temperature
recharge the battery regularly during long storage periods

notice

Specifications and features may change without prior notice.