BEST PAR H2O: How To Set Up & Use

Introduction

The Rockville Best PAR H2O is a water-resistant PAR light designed for wall washing, DJ facades, truss mounting, and stage lighting. It comes in Black and White, and features battery power, wireless DMX, and multiple lighting modes.

What’s Included?
✅Best PAR H2O Lights (available in black or white)
✅Dual Brackets (for mounting or angling the lights)
✅IR Remotes (for wireless control)
✅Marine-Grade Locking PowerCon Cables
✅Marine-Grade DMX Cables

This guide will cover:
✅Charging & Powering the Light
✅Mounting Options
✅Lighting Modes Color Control
✅Color Control
✅Using DMX
✅Master-Slave Mode

Setup Guide

A.) Charging the Light

• Plug in to 120V AC Power for charging:
  1. Uncover the POWER IN socket on the back of the light.
  2. Connect the Marine-Grade Locking Power Cable to the POWER IN socket.
  3. Twist to the right to lock the cable in place.
  4. Plug the other end into a wall outlet.
• Charging Indicator LED (circled below in red): 
  • Flashing Red LED = Charging
  • Flashing Green LED = Fully Charged
• Battery Percentage Meter LEDs (circled below in yellow): 
  • Lights on = Charging
  • Lights off = Fully Charged
• Charge Time: About 6 hours when battery is completely dead
• Battery Life: 4 to 12 hours per charge (depending on the mode and brightness level) 
  • Using lower frequency static colors (e.g. red / green) will drain battery much slower.
  • Using higher frequency static colors (e.g. violet / white) and color-changing modes will drain the battery much faster.

B.) Mounting & Placing the Light

Wall Washing Setup:

• Lay the light flat on its back to shine directly upward.
• Use the dual bracket to angle the light against a wall.

Truss / Pole Mount Setup:

To mount the Best PAR H2O on a truss, speaker stand pole or other available surface, you’ll need a lighting clamp (e.g., Rockville LC70: Heavy Duty C-Clamp).

1. Remove the hex-bolt from the lighting clamp.
2. Insert the bolt through the holes on both brackets so the threads are facing outward (away from the light).
3. Align the screw hole on the outside of the clamp with the threads from the bolt.
4. Secure the clamp onto the bracket by tightening the bolt.
5. Loosen the clamp’s butterfly screw until wider than truss / pole diameter.
6. Position the clamp on your truss or speaker stand pole.
7. Tighten the butterfly screw to lock the light in place.

Pro Tip: Since the Best PAR H2O is wireless, no power cables are needed when mounting.

Totem Stand or DJ Facade Illumination:

• For Totem Stands (e.g., Rockville RTP Series): 
  • Lift the scrim and place the light inside the stand.
  • Remove the dual bracket for a cleaner look.
• For DJ Facades (e.g., Rockville RAPFA, RFAA, RockBooth Series): 
  • Position the light a few inches away from the facade.
  • Angle for maximum illumination.
  • Use multiple lights for larger facades.

C.) Navigating the Menu & Lighting Modes

1. Press the Menu button to cycle through modes.
2. Use the Up / Down buttons to adjust settings.
3. Press Enter to save your selection.

D.) Using the Wireless IR Remote

IR Remote must be in line of sight with the sensor on the back of the light. 

1. Ensure the IRCL Mode is ON in the menu.
   • Press the Menu button until you see IRCL.
   • Use the Up or Down button to set this to ON (if necessary).
2. Use the remote to:
   • Select Base Colors (Red, Green, Blue, White, Amber, UV).
   • Select 9 additional preset colors
   • Adjust Brightness (Up / Down buttons).
   • Set to Auto, Strobe, Fade or Sound Mode.
   • Control multiple lights with one remote (more info in Master-Slave Section below).

1	Brightness ⇧ / ⇩	~Used to increase or decrease brightness for static colors. ~Used to control effect speed for AUTO, STROBE and FADE modes. ~Used to scroll through 32 preset static colors after pressing 0 button. ~Used to scroll through 4 SOUND mode variations.
2	OFF	Turns LEDs off completely. (Blackout) Please note: This does not power down the light. The POWER switch on the back of the light must be used to fully power off the light (and back on as well).
	ON	Turns LEDS back on after Blackout, and returns them to previous function.
3	Base Colors	6 Buttons for Base Colors; Select Red, Green, Blue, White, Amber or UV/Purple.
3a	Color Wheel	Press 0 button and use Brightness ⇧ / ⇩ to cycle through 32 color presets.
4	AUTO	Cycles automatically between 32 colors. Brightness ⇧ / ⇩ controls speed.
5	STROBE	Strobe Effect → Brightness ⇧ / ⇩ controls speed.
6	FADE	Fades automatically between colors.  Brightness ⇧ / ⇩ controls speed.
7	SOUND	Responds to sound. Brightness ⇧ / ⇩ cycles between SoU1 ~ SoU4
8	Popular Color Selections	9 Buttons for popular color choices; Select 1-Red/Orange, 2-Light Blue, 3-Purple, 4-Orange, 5-Blue, 6-Violet, 7-Yellow, 8-Deep Blue, 9-Pink

E.) Using Wireless DMX

Rockville Wireless DMX Controller (RockForce W2, RockForce W4) or Wireless Transmitter (DMX-WTR) needed.

1. Enable wireless DMX function in the menu:
   • Press the Menu button until you see 2.4G.
   • Press Enter to modify the setting.
   • Use the Up or Down button to set this to ON (if necessary).
   • Press ENTER to save.
2. Set the DMX Code for all lights:
   • Use the light's DMX Select button to choose a DMX color code (e.g., Red) on the Wireless Indicator LED.
   • Set the DMX Controller or Wireless Transmitter to the same color code.
   • The Wireless Indicator LED on the lights should flash green, indicating a successful connection.
3. Set the DMX Address:
   • Press the Menu button until you see Addr.
   • Press Enter to modify the setting.
   • Use the Up / Down buttons to set the address to A001 for Scanner / Fixture 1, or to a different address corresponding to another scanner / fixture (specified by your DMX controller).
   • Press Enter to save.
4. Select DMX Channel Mode:
   • Press the Mode button until you reach Chnd.
   • Press the Enter button to select Channel mode.
   • Use the Up / Down buttons to choose between 6CH and 10CH: 
     • 6-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending.
     • 10-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending + auto-functions and strobe.
   • Press Enter to save.
5. Control Lights from DMX Controller:
   • Control your lights as per manual / support article instructions for your controller.

DMX Controller Functions:

Pro Tip: You can mix faders 2–7 to create custom colors, then use fader 8 to apply a strobe effect.

F.) Setting Up Wired DMX

DMX Cables (1 per light) required for this.

• Turn off 2.4GHz Mode:
  1. Press the Menu button until you see 2.4G.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
  4. Press ENTER to save.
• Connect a DMX cable from the controller's DMX Out to the first light's DMX In.
• Daisy chain additional Best PAR H2O Lights using DMX cables:
  1. Connect additional DMX cable from previously connected light's DMX Out to another light's DMX In.
  2. Repeat this process for each light being connected with DMX cable to the controller.
• Set the DMX Address:
  1. Press the Menu button until you see Addr.
  2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to set the address to A001 for Scanner / Fixture 1, or to a different address corresponding to another scanner / fixture (specified by your DMX controller).
  4. Press Enter to save.
• Select DMX Channel Mode:
  1. Press the Mode button until you reach Chnd.
  2. Press the Enter button to select Channel mode.
  3. Use the Up / Down buttons to choose between 6CH and 10CH: 
     • 6-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending.
     • 10-Channel Mode: Controls each color separately for manual color blending + auto-functions and strobe.
  4. Press Enter to save.

G.) Setting Up Master-Slave Mode

Wireless Master-Slave Setup:

1. Choose a Master Light:
   • Enable wireless DMX function in the menu: 
     • Press the Menu button until you see 2.4G.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up or Down button to set this to ON (if necessary).
     • Press ENTER to save.
   • Set the light's DMX address. 
     • Press the Menu button until you see Addr.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up / Down buttons to set the address to A001.
   • Make sure the Master Light's IR Remote response is active. 
     • Press the Menu button until you see IRCL.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
     • Press ENTER to save.
   • Use the light's DMX Select button to choose a DMX color code (e.g., Red) on the Wireless Indicator LED.
2. Do the same exact thing with the Best PAR H2O Slave Lights.
   • The Master Light's DMX LED will flash red, and Slave Lights DMX LED will flash green.
3. Repeat this process for each additional Best PAR H2O Slave Light.
4. Check IR Remote response settings (if using IR Remote):
   • Make sure the Master Light's IR Remote response is active. 
     • Press the Menu button until you see IRCL.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
     • Press ENTER to save.
   • Make sure the Slave Lights' IR Remote response is deactivated. 
     • Press the Menu button until you see IRCL.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
     • Press ENTER to save.
5. Control the Master Light, and all Slave Lights will follow.
   • If using IR Remote, direct the remote at the back of the Master Light.

Wired Master-Slave Setup:

DMX Cables (1 per Slave Light) required for this.

1. Set all lights to the same DMX Address.
   1. Press the Menu button until you see Addr.
   2. Press Enter to modify the setting.
   3. Use the Up / Down buttons to set the address to A001.
2. Turn off 2.4GHz Mode:
   • Press the Menu button until you see 2.4G.
   • Press Enter to modify the setting.
   • Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
   • Press ENTER to save.
3. Check IR Remote response settings (if using IR Remote):
   • Make sure the Master Light's IR Remote response is active. 
     • Press the Menu button until you see IRCL.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
     • Press ENTER to save.
   • Make sure the Slave Lights' IR Remote response is deactivated. 
     • Press the Menu button until you see IRCL.
     • Press Enter to modify the setting.
     • Use the Up or Down button to set this to OFF (if necessary).
     • Press ENTER to save.
4. Connect a DMX cable from the Master Light's DMX Out to Slave Light's DMX In.
5. Daisy chain additional Best PAR H2O Lights using DMX cables.
   • Connect additional DMX cable from previously connected Slave Light to the additional Best PAR H2O Slave Light's DMX In.
   • Repeat this process for each Best PAR H2O Slave Light.
6. Control the Master Light, and the Slave Lights will follow.
   • If using IR Remote, direct the remote at the back of the Master Light.

H.) Creating Multiple Lighting Groups

If you have six lights and want three different groups:

1. Turn on the first group (2 lights).
   • Set Color Select Mode to Red.
   • Press Enter to Save, then turn them off.
2. Turn on the second group (2 lights).
   • Set to Blue, save, and turn off.
3. Turn on the third group (2 lights).
   • Set to Color Change Mode, save, and turn off.
4. When powered back on, each group will remember its last setting.

FAQs

Q: How do I know if my Best PAR H2O is charging?

• Ensure the power cable has all been twisted and locked into position.
• Check if the light is showing charging indicators (as shown in the image above).

Q: Can I sync my other Rockville lights with my Best PAR H2Os in Master/Slave Mode?

• No. Master-Slave Mode only works with the same exact model light.
• You may want to consider using a DMX controller to sync any lights with DMX capabilities (even lights from other manufacturers).

Conclusion

The Rockville Best PAR H2O Water-Resistant PAR Light is versatile, powerful, and easy to set up. Whether you're using wireless DMX, the IR remote control, or Master/Slave synchronization, these lights are perfect for DJs, event lighting, and professional setups.