How to Resolve "Fixture is in Safe Mode (DIPs)" Messages

How to Resolve "Fixture is in Safe Mode (DIPs)" Messages


Overview

Messages Indicating Fixture is in Safe Mode

LightRules and Commissioner will alert the user when fixtures are in Safe Mode unless the fixture model is an ILE-HB-3, ILE-MB-3 or ILE-3 fixtures of hardware revisions 1 to 14. Alerts will show up in the following 3 ways.

LightRules Diagnostics Page

Fixtures in Safe Mode will appear in the Diagnostics page with a red status circle.  Hovering the mouse over the red status circle will display a text popup noting "Fixture is in Safe Mode (DIPS)."

LightRules Facility Map

If the slider in the top-left of the Facility Map is switched from Rooms to Status, fixtures in Safe Mode will have red status circles.  Hovering the mouse over the red status circle will display a text popup noting "Fixture is in Safe Mode (DIPS)."

Commissioner

If a user attempts to sync a fixture that is in Safe Mode, Commissioner will display a red error message noting "Fixture is in Safe Mode (DIPS)."

What is Safe Mode?

Safe mode eliminates the ability for fixtures to be controlled wirelessly.  Fixtures will enter safe mode if the DIP switches are configured to invalid settings not listed on the the LED Indicators & DIP Switches technical note. The most common cause for fixtures entering safe mode is someone trying to change fixture settings without controls software and changing the DIP switch configurations until the lights stay on.

Only certain models of fixtures have Safe Mode and the behavior while in Safe Mode varies based on the hardware model.  Safe Mode is a feature on the following fixture models:

Serial Number Beginning in 0011

Model: 
Safe Mode Behavior: No wireless communication.  Wirelessly discoverable as SN 00000000.  LEDs constantly illuminating at 100% output.

Serial Number Beginning in 03

Model: ILE-3 fixtures of hardware revisions 14 and below
Safe Mode Behavior: No wireless communication.  Wirelessly discoverable as SN 00000000.  LEDs constantly illuminating at 100% output.

Serial Number Beginning in 05

Model: ILE-3 fixtures of hardware revisions 15 and above
Safe Mode Behavior: Normal wireless communication, however changes to light output are not permitted.  LEDs constantly illuminating at 100% output.

Serial Number Beginning in 04

Model: DLE
Safe Mode Behavior: Normal wireless communication, however changes to light output are not permitted.  LEDs constantly illuminating at 100% output.

Serial Number Beginning in 0A

Model: CLEs which shipped prior to 2019
Safe Mode Behavior: Normal wireless communication, however changes to light output are not permitted.  LEDs constantly illuminating at 100% output.

Serial Number Beginning in 0C

Model: DLA-Vs which shipped prior to 2019
Safe Mode Behavior: Normal wireless communication, however changes to light output are not permitted.  LEDs constantly illuminating at 100% output.

Exit Safe Mode

The following steps can be performed to exit Safe Mode and restore wireless control:
  1. Set the DIP switches to any of the valid DIP switch settings noted in the LED Indicators & DIP Switches technical note
  2. Power cycle the fixture by unpowering the fixture for 30 seconds. This is typically accomplished by turning the associated circuit breaker off for 30 seconds
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