Advatek and Pharos
In the world of professional lighting control, efficiency and reliability are everything. Whether you're managing a theme park, an architectural lighting project, or a large-scale entertainment venue, you need systems that work seamlessly together, providing real-time feedback and reducing the time spent on maintenance. That’s where the Pharos IO Module for Advatek PixLite® Mk3 comes in. This innovation is a game-changer for lighting professionals seeking deeper insights, streamlined operations, and proactive system monitoring for professional pixel lighting installations. Simon Hicks, CEO of Pharos, added; “We are committed to working with partner manufacturers who always put the customer and their project first, just like we do. Advatek is one of these companies, which is why they’re part of the Friends of Pharos scheme. Alongside Pharos, Advatek controllers have lit up a series of different projects and spaces, from seasonal displays and awe-inspiring architecture, to theme parks and film production. Pharos controllers integrate with Advatek through an IO Module that allows users to query an Advatek PixLite® Mk3 controller on status and report this data where convenient.”
Seamless Communication for Smarter Decisions
The integration between PixLite® Mk3 controllers and Pharos hardware brings unprecedented connectivity and control. With direct communication between the two platforms, users gain real-time analytics and actionable data that enhance the efficiency of their lighting systems.
What This Means and Why it Matters
One of the standout benefits? The ability to monitor fuse status on an Advatek A-Series controller and trigger automated responses within Pharos. If an issue arises in the field causing an eFuse to trip on the A-Series controller, Pharos can immediately react, notifying operators and/ or executing pre-programmed responses—eliminating guesswork, reducing downtime and proactively preventing larger-scale failures.
For both technical and non-technical users, this integration translates into significant advantages:
- Proactive Monitoring & Analytics – Gain real-time visibility into system health, ensuring optimal performance with minimal intervention.
- Monitor current draw of LED fixtures over time.
- Detect the correct voltage is being maintained by your power supplies.
- Trends can be spotted over time.
- Time & Cost Savings – Automated responses mean fewer manual checks and reduced site visits, saving valuable technician hours and lowering operational costs.
- Scalability & Flexibility – Whether you're managing a single installation or a multi-site network, this integration adapts to your needs, ensuring you’re always in control.
- Improved Visual Output – In the case an eFuse does blow owing to a temporary fault, Pharos can drop the brightness of installation to 0%. When the eFuse resets itself, Pharos can gracefully fade the lighting back up to the required brightness.
For example, in an installation scenario like a building facade where physical damage could lead to water ingress in a lighting fixture causing a short circuit, by monitoring eFuses, Pharos can report any trips via email to a maintenance team to take action– maybe even before the client or public are aware! In the interim, Pharos can automate the reduction in brightness of other upstream or similarly located pixel fixtures to ensure visual consistency. Once attending site, the maintenance provider can pin-point the fault location without the need for visual observation and time-consuming troubleshooting.
Founder & Managing Director of Advatek Luke Taylor added; “Pharos Designer and Advatek PixLite® Mk3 are a robust combination for building robust, flexible control systems in several market verticals. It’s great to see a platform leveraging the suite of diagnostic information that PixLite® Mk3 provides in a package ready for deployment by integrators at no extra charge”.
A Smarter Approach to Lighting Control
Lighting systems should work for you, not against you. By integrating Advatek’s intelligent hardware with the powerful capabilities of Pharos control systems, professionals can create smarter, more resilient lighting environments that require less hands-on maintenance while delivering exceptional performance.
This is just the beginning of what’s possible when best-in-class hardware and software work together to create intuitive, data-driven solutions for lighting professionals. Unlock new levels of efficiency and reliability—experience the power of PixLite® Mk3 and Pharos integration today.
Product Manager Taylor Chadwick adds: “This integration further compliments our PixLite® Mk3 architecture including the SHOWTime feature set. Integrators can either use Pharos to stream content to their fully pixel mapped installation, using PixLite® Mk3 as their eDMX to pixel gateway, or use a single channel to trigger playback of stored scenes at up to 96 universes per PixLite®. This approach is ideal for architectural features installations such as hotel lobbies or media facades where the pixel element should run independently to the rest of the space but integrate when required for wider building management”.
Useful Links
Pharos IO Module: Advatek PixLite MK3 - Version 2.0.0 - IO Modules
Advatek PixLite® Mk3: PixLite® Mk3 LED pixel controllers - Advatek
PixLite® A4-S Mk3
Driving up to 24 universes of data, and offering easy mounting, sleek design and electrical fault protection — what’s not to love?
PixLite® E4-S Mk3
The E-series LED pixel controller is made for tighter budgets thanks to its ability to drive up to 24 universes of LED pixel control and route power directly to LEDs.
PixLite® E16-S Mk3
The most cost-efficient 16-output commercial grade pixel controller in the world, the E16-S Mk3 drives up to 96 universes of LED pixel control.
