CE TA-10 wiring terminal question

[Frank Raia]

I have read the manual that is in the warehouse for this unit several times. I can't figure out how to wire the terminals that are in the picture. Is there a separate wiring diagram?
I am not using the unit with any foil cues, only will run it with the pre programmed events. So I might not need the terminals anyway, but would still like to know how to use them if needed. IMG_20250927_081817.jpg IMG_20250927_081957.jpg

[Matt McBride]

You need at least one foil cue for the so called "intermission"/end of show cue. Without it, the automation will not go past event 2. In your picture there are relays relating to Q and relays relating to E. The Q is for the relays that will only happen when a foil cue passes through the FM35 failsafe. The numbering is related to 7 different positions of the cue tape shown in the manual. The E is for the relays that happens in the events cycle. For example, if you want your lights to go down always when the douser opens this should be tied to one of the E relays. If you want a foil cue to change sound formats based the feature, you would wire that control to one of the Q relays etc. All of these relays are low voltage control relays. You'll also notice that each block of relays has an A/B with them: Q1 has an A/B and E3 has an A/B etc. This allows you to wire two different functions to one relay. For example, when I used to use the TA-10, I wired one of the Q relays to both my turret control and masking control so when I would run a scope movie, one cue would change the lens and set the masking for scope. Since these are independent controls I could not "cross" wire them so I used both A and B on that Q relay.

The event cycle will always follow the same routine(unless jumpers were added): Press start initiates E1 which is always motor on and lamp on, 7 seconds later E2 occurs which is douser open. Then the system sits there waiting for the intermission cue. Again without it, the automation will not progress to E3. The intermission cue does exactly that, it tells the automation to move to E3. The two yellow wires in your picture that are wired to Q1A is exactly that intermission cue. Once E3 starts there is a predetermined countdown until E4 starts. You can dictate that countdown b the white dip switches on the red block in your picture. It is in powers of 2 if I remember and the longest you can have is 66 seconds I think. I had the longest countdown on mine for a curtain call. Once that countdown ends, E4 starts which is douser close. At this point the system is waiting for a film tailout and when that happens E5 starts which is just motor off, lamp off. Either on E3 or E4(I don't remember which) the alarm for a film break is deactivated, this allows for proper tailout. This right here is why you need the intermission cue, otherwise at the end of the show, the douser will not close, you'll will see all of the tail and once the film tailsout, the automation thinks it's a film break and starts to alarm and technically yes, it will shut off the motor and shut the lamp off.

[Frank Raia]

Thank you Matt. What you said clears things up for me. I will have to figure out the intermission.

[Tim Androes]

you will, more than likely, need an FM-35 failsafe/cue detector to use this automation. Or a suitable substitute from some other manufacturer might be jury-rigged, also. Altho I have never seen that done. When i worked for ACT III we always ripped out any other automation and installed Components because they were so reliable and easy.

[Frank Raia]

you will, more than likely, need an FM-35 failsafe/cue detector to use this automation. Or a suitable substitute from some other manufacturer might be jury-rigged, also. Altho I have never seen that done. When i worked for ACT III we always ripped out any other automation and installed Components because they were so reliable and easy.

Tim, the pic is the failsafe I have. I think it might be a kelmar? I don't know what the sensor is on the left, maybe a film motion sensor? IMG_20250927_211723.jpg

[Josh Jones]

The threaded probe is the cue detector. It senses when the foil cues go by. The TA-10 includes options to defeat the motion sensing normally provided by the FM35 so you can use conventional failsafes that don't have motion sensing. I wound up with all component engineering's old stock including a stash of new FM35 cue detector failsafes. PM if your interested.

[Frank Raia]

The threaded probe is the cue detector. It senses when the foil cues go by. The TA-10 includes options to defeat the motion sensing normally provided by the FM35 so you can use conventional failsafes that don't have motion sensing. I wound up with all component engineering's old stock including a stash of new FM35 cue detector failsafes. PM if your interested.

Thank you Josh. So it is a cue detector. I will have to try it then for the "intermission" cue. Only problem is were to find cue foil?
Thank you for the offer on the FM35 detectors. My friend has a stack of them as well.

[Ryan Gallagher]

Yeah I wish our systems could better share center (or not need to). This is the crevice only skinny techs can access for certain service tasks on eiither. (Film No.1 is on center)

IMG_6646.jpg

[Josh Jones]

Thank you Josh. So it is a cue detector. I will have to try it then for the "intermission" cue. Only problem is were to find cue foil?
Thank you for the offer on the FM35 detectors. My friend has a stack of them as well.

Foil tape is still available from 8 track vendors surprisingly. Just search eBay for foil sensing tape. Technically, any non ferrous metal tape should work.

[Chris Wehrman]

I use 1/4 inch wide aluminum foil adhesive backed tape I got from Amazon for my FM-35. Just search for "1/4 inch aluminum foil tape". Works well, put it on top of a piece of splice tape, can be put on either side of the film.