Dmx hand held tester/address programmer

[sparky3]

Here is a hand held DMX receiver/transmitter with lcd display. it will transmit and receive all 512 channels. it can program start address for switchless devices. two diffrent styles "Binary" style for "SRM modified code for JEC dmx PIXEL" , "sum of CH1 & CH2", this works for my lynx SSR4 dimmer it may work for RPM's boards as well, I dont have one to test with.
it will read start code sent by transmitter. you can send different start code to test receivers under development. "brodcast all" sends out same adjustable level to all 512 channels. "scan for address" this turns on and off each channel through the dmx universe one at a time if you have a device with a unknown address. '16channel transmit" enter a starting address and it will give you independant control of 16 channels. It has "scope trigger" for the receive and transmit sections you can look at the break signal or chose a addressable DMX data frame to look at on a O-scope. i included the asm source code for 18F2525, a pdf schematic, and a pdf with PICTURES and description.

[yvaliente]

This is great,
Would you consider making/selling the boards and I would buy the parts and solder? I do not have the necessary items and or skills to make the board, but i am confident to build one.

I use DMX Lynx devices and this would be a great tool to have.

[dmcole]

Sparky3:

Yes, this is quite a project. Looks like it was about 10 percent hardware development and 90 percent software. You've done an awesome job with it.

I have to second the notion of developing a PCB and/or doing a coop. From the pictures it appears you did the prototype on a plain old perf board and the hardware may be just simple enough that a well-illustrated assembly manual could be made so that everybody could build one on a perf board as well.

Question: Would a nine-volt battery be able to run the thing (making it portable)? Or maybe four AAA batteries?

Thanks so much for sharing this project with the rest of us.

\dmc

[cbell]

I would buy a PCB if they were available. Very neat project. Good Job.

[sparky3]

well i have no plans of develping a board printed circuit board. it is built on a single sided board that i milled. i will post a layout for it later today. it will run off a ninevolt battery but only for a about 5 hours or so, i think 6 AA batteries would be better. i left it as a open schematic because every one is going to have different wants for for output/input connectors. i personally don't use any one connector RJ45, 3-pin XLR or 5-pin XLR.
the code was most of the development and it still can be expanded there is lots of memory left in the chip.

[ukewarrior]

Thanks sparky!

I'll take your PCB layout and put it into an image and layout for home etching.
I'll try to put options for multiple connection types.
I should be able to do this quick and have it posted yet this week.

[budude]

Awesome - this could be a great timesaver when setting up. I'm planning to go full DMX this year so this would be very useful!

[aussiephil]

Thumbs up - think i even have a pic 2525 in the parts draw.

I know that the 7805 is ubiquous and cheap but i would love to see a LDO reg for this so it can be easily powered from 6v 4xAAA

Cheers
Aussiephil

[ukewarrior]

substituting a low dropout regulator into the design should be no sweat.

Do you have a favorite? It should be easily sourced!


Thumbs up - think i even have a pic 2525 in the parts draw.

I know that the 7805 is ubiquous and cheap but i would love to see a LDO reg for this so it can be easily powered from 6v 4xAAA

Cheers
Aussiephil

[aussiephil]

substituting a low dropout regulator into the design should be no sweat.

Do you have a favorite? It should be easily sourced!

I have a couple, non of which are through hole or 3 pin, my favourite is also not that cheap. So with the adversion for surface mount I wasn't going to throw around part numbers. sort of hoping someone already knew the through hole to220 LDO variant of the 7805.

How about, all of 98c from mouser
http://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/STMicroelectronics/L4941BV/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsGz1a6aV8DcCz10aAT%252bcfyanJDTu3s0j g%3d

Should work well down to at least 5.5v and probably lower.

[aussiephil]

gotta stop hiting post to early.

Is there a part number for display or will any parallel 4x20 lcd display work?

Ta

[Matt_Edwards]

AP, have you thought of using 4x Nicad? no need for a regulator then.

[sparky3]

any parallel lcd display should work, i am using this one from circiut-ed GMD2004A http://www.circuit-ed.com/20x4-YelGrn-Character-LCD---77x47mm-P160C8.aspx.

3 pin LDO regulator try a LM2940CT.

one thing to know is i am not a pro at board layout, i use eagle, and i usually do the board before the schematic
so nothing is really marked. i just kind of pull it out of my brain. but if some one wants to do a better board lay out get them made and sell them i do not mind at all.

edit: looks like i have to put the layouts here.

[ukewarrior]

Sparky3,

From your documentation, It's clear what the DMX connector pins should be. Is there a convention as to how these map to an RJ45 connector? It looks like you simply used terminals on your board and I assume you made some sort of custom jumper cable to your dmx devices?

thanks for the board layout!


any parallel lcd display should work, i am using this one from circiut-ed GMD2004A http://www.circuit-ed.com/20x4-YelGrn-Character-LCD---77x47mm-P160C8.aspx.

3 pin LDO regulator try a LM2940CT.

one thing to know is i am not a pro at board layout, i use eagle, and i usually do the board before the schematic
so nothing is really marked. i just kind of pull it out of my brain. but if some one wants to do a better board lay out get them made and sell them i do not mind at all.

edit: looks like i have to put the layouts here.

[aussiephil]

From Post 10 of thread http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1096

I want to make sure we are all on the same page. Is this the pin out for DMX over Cat5 we plan to use on DIY ?


1 white/orange data 1+
2 orange data 1-
3 white/green data 2+
6 green data 2-
4 blue Not Assigned
5 white/blue Not Assigned
7 white/brown Data Link Common for data 1
8 brown Data Link Common for data 2
Drain

Note 1: Pin numbering and color in accordance with ANSI/TIA/EIA–568 scheme T568B.
Note 2: Pin 8 should be wired as signal common even if pins 3 and 6 are NOT wired so that both conductors 7 and 8 are at equal potential.

This i believe has been adopted.
Cheers

[sparky3]

yes i just use a adaptor to RJ45 if needed i think the lynx has it's own way of hookup. so does DMX renard. that is why i only wanted to put up a schematic this way every one can customize it to their own use. i really don't have much that uses RJ45 the 3 lynx units that i have will be converted to screw terminals. I prefer to use a sheilded cable and not cat5. I also updated the schematic to include the 0.1uf cap across the oscillator power pins.

Rob

[aussiephil]

yes i just use a adaptor to RJ45 if needed i think the lynx has it's own way of hookup. so does DMX renard. that is why i only wanted to put up a schematic this way every one can customize it to their own use. i really don't have much that uses RJ45 the 3 lynx units that i have will be converted to screw terminals. I prefer to use a sheilded cable and not cat5. I also updated the schematic to include the 0.1uf cap across the oscillator power pins.

Rob

My Post above was RJ's post here finalising the agreed connections. The Lynx gear all uses 1-2 as does my Tiger gear. Haven't looked at the Renard pinout.
Renard specialist?

Aussiphil

[Matt_Edwards]

the wiki shows the standard pin outs used here http://www.christmasinshirley.com/wiki/images/8/8a/DMX_pinsRev2.gif

[ukewarrior]

Perfect!
thanks Matt!


the wiki shows the standard pin outs used here http://www.christmasinshirley.com/wiki/images/8/8a/DMX_pinsRev2.gif

[mschell]

I would love to see a PCB layout with in/out RJ45 jacks that match the Lynx Express and other DMX boards.

I think there might be enough interest that someone would want to get some boards done by a board house. Perhaps even a coop?

This could be a very useful tool in debugging!

Mark

[ukewarrior]

I've started work on the home etch layout. Hopefully will have something to share in a few days.


I would love to see a PCB layout with in/out RJ45 jacks that match the Lynx Express and other DMX boards.

I think there might be enough interest that someone would want to get some boards done by a board house. Perhaps even a coop?

This could be a very useful tool in debugging!

Mark

[mschell]

I've started work on the home etch layout. Hopefully will have something to share in a few days.

Sounds good. I downloaded Eagle and have just started playing with it to see if I could turn the schematic into a board, but with RJ45 jacks.

Since I'm in the steep part of the learning curve, it will be a little while before I have something I can post. But this little project is a useful thing to learn with...

Mark

[jeffl]

I'd like to work through this from start to finish as well. I'm new to most if this stuff so I won't be of a huge benefit. I anyone has a complete Eagle project to share that would be cool.

I'm interested in learning and will help were I can.

[aussiephil]

Hello,

I have done a PCB design to fit the linked handheld instrument case
http://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Hammond/1592ETSDBK/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsrGrAVj6eTve6SRaySZpuDOTv7mA3dikA=

The case is large enough to hold pcb, module and a four AA battery holder, provision for external voltage with auto-disconnect of the internal battery.
Switches can be mounted in the case directly under the display.
RJ45 input and outputs provided, provision for termination

Not to much picking on the layout, it has only been autorouted to gauge positioning, need to go back and fine tune layout and hand route if there is enough interest.

Cheers
Aussiephil

[ukewarrior]

Phil,

Is it possible for you to post this picture without the background grid? I'm finding it hard to tell where the traces are.
thanks! Nice work.

Hello,

I have done a PCB design to fit the linked handheld instrument case
http://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Hammond/1592ETSDBK/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsrGrAVj6eTve6SRaySZpuDOTv7mA3dikA=

The case is large enough to hold pcb, module and a four AA battery holder, provision for external voltage with auto-disconnect of the internal battery.
Switches can be mounted in the case directly under the display.
RJ45 input and outputs provided, provision for termination

Not to much picking on the layout, it has only been autorouted to gauge positioning, need to go back and fine tune layout and hand route if there is enough interest.

Cheers
Aussiephil

[dmcole]

Is it possible for you to post this picture without the background grid? I'm finding it hard to tell where the traces are.
thanks! Nice work.

Agreed on both points: while looking at the board layout makes my head hurt, maybe that also stems from only getting four hours sleep last night (aging is a bitch).

Also: you are passing through Pins 1-8 on the RJ45 -- didn't RJ have a problem with that on the Lynx DMX SSR4 v1 board? I seem to remember Dremeling out traces ...

Thanks for your hard work ... I'll definitely be a board buyer, if not a coop participant (should one happen).

\dmc

[aussiephil]

Agreed on both points: while looking at the board layout makes my head hurt, maybe that also stems from only getting four hours sleep last night (aging is a bitch).

Also: you are passing through Pins 1-8 on the RJ45 -- didn't RJ have a problem with that on the Lynx DMX SSR4 v1 board? I seem to remember Dremeling out traces ...

Thanks for your hard work ... I'll definitely be a board buyer, if not a coop participant (should one happen).

\dmc

Gents, thanks for the kind words.

Whilst it was not intentional, the board layout as posted is not meant to be examined to closely, even though it passes a DRC test. I will be hand routing the board and it will look quite a bit different.
The post was to show progress of a PCB designed around a chosen case that is available at least in the US and Aus.
Looking at this today, it should be easy to add an additional 16 pin header at right angles to allow the LCD module to be mounted the other way for a normal rectangular case.
Best of both worlds.

Don't you just love feature creep :)

Passing all 8 pins straight through is quite valid, electrically the board just looks like a bit of cat5 cable.
I have some Lynx SSR4's i have built as SSR's and they needed no modification to work. Haven't built any as DMX devices but from memory all the traces should be correct and no mods needed, mmmmm.

Cheers
Aussiephil

[sparky3]

i Uplaoded a new ASM file in the first post. as i was playing i found a glitch in the transmit menu under 16ch transmit. need to clear the channel pointer when entering the menu

[aussiephil]

Sparky

thanks for the update.

I'm now waiting on a case to arrive in the mail so i can dry fit the PCB layout to ensure it all fits, hopefully here by wednesday.

Once that is complete i will finalise the trace routing and see what interest there is in getting the board.

Cheers
Aussiephil

[scorpia]

any word on this?

I think this is a great idea. i am really surprised it hasnt gained more interest.

[sparky3]

yes there is intrest. Phil got busy with other things i have been working on it and posting updates on diylightanamation. it has grown a little bit now it can pick up the dmx packet timing, number of channels received, break time, mark after break time, and break to break time. it is packaged up to fit into a hand held enclosure. I am having a little issue with it getting stuck in the receive isr when there is no dmx input. i have a fix that i think will work. i am also waiting on the lynx wireless board I want to have it as a plug in option for the lynx guys. As so as i have something together i will let every one know.

Rob

[ukewarrior]

Excellent. Glad to hear this hasn't died.

yes there is intrest. Phil got busy with other things i have been working on it and posting updates on diylightanamation. it has grown a little bit now it can pick up the dmx packet timing, number of channels received, break time, mark after break time, and break to break time. it is packaged up to fit into a hand held enclosure. I am having a little issue with it getting stuck in the receive isr when there is no dmx input. i have a fix that i think will work. i am also waiting on the lynx wireless board I want to have it as a plug in option for the lynx guys. As so as i have something together i will let every one know.

Rob

[lightman]

I too am glad to see activity on this project. I have recently begun conversion to DMX and this would be a very handy tool.

Thanks for the great work....

Lightman