wanted - controller

[sonicspeed17]

ok I built 3 parallel port to 8 ssr relay boxes (for a total of 24ch) with the intent to use 2 usb to parallel cords and the one internal parallel port to control everything got the usb to parallel adapters in today and I am having no luck getting them to work, im running out of time to get this display up for this year (the lights are all up just waiting for the brains) I did some research and I think that a 595 board would work best, so I am looking for a complete 595 board all ready to hook up to the relay box's, if anyone can think of a cheaper or simpler method to control 24 channels let me know, also I may be able to cut back to 16 ch if that would be simpler.
if anyone can help me out that would be way past kool.

[Josh]

the grinch would be your best bet, its 64channels and has the same features as the 595 as far as control goes, its just pretty much the essentials and no bells and whistles

[Macrosill]

Sonic,
You can not use the usb to parallel converters for control. Sorry, but it will not work. The Grinch will suffer the same fate. You need real parallel ports or go to another controller, like a Renard. The Renard can run off a real serial port or a usb to serial converter.

[ben]

do what I did, look around a garage sales. Found a nice WN98 for $10 and my dad had an XP upgrade I could use and I am going to add a prallel card to it so I can run thousands of channels ;)

Ben

[sonicspeed17]

I have one standard parallel port built into the motherboard, where/who can I get a grinch 64 from and what do they usually cost.

[Wayne J]

I have one standard parallel port built into the motherboard, where/who can I get a grinch 64 from and what do they usually cost.

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1357