Ren24LSD - Questions

[michaelc]

I'm trying to connect my REN24LSD to just 3 Rainbow floods. I'm powering DC IN 1 with a 12vold computer PS and have the REN48LSD v3C board. I'm planning on running everything in DMX mode using an ENTTEC Open DMX USB dongle.

I've searched the Wiki as well as the forums in general and I can't seem to find the answers I'm looking for. Could someone please let me know the following:

1. What is the purpose of the +5V DC Bypass? When would you use it.

2. What are the purposes of the two jumpers next to the Input jacks.

3. Since the pairs of wire in the RJ45 connectors on a Rainbow flood are R, G, n/a, B, does that mean my Red would be on Channel 1, Green on Channel 2, EMPTY Channel 3, Blue on Channel 4. Basically wasting/not using 12 channels on the Ren48LSD.

Thanks
Michael

[budude]

I'm trying to connect my REN24LSD to just 3 Rainbow floods. I'm powering DC IN 1 with a 12vold computer PS and have the REN48LSD v3C board. I'm planning on running everything in DMX mode using an ENTTEC Open DMX USB dongle.

I've searched the Wiki as well as the forums in general and I can't seem to find the answers I'm looking for. Could someone please let me know the following:

1. What is the purpose of the +5V DC Bypass? When would you use it.

2. What are the purposes of the two jumpers next to the Input jacks.

3. Since the pairs of wire in the RJ45 connectors on a Rainbow flood are R, G, n/a, B, does that mean my Red would be on Channel 1, Green on Channel 2, EMPTY Channel 3, Blue on Channel 4. Basically wasting/not using 12 channels on the Ren48LSD.

Thanks
Michael

1 - This is used when you are using a well regulated 5v power supply as your source. The bypass jumpers the DC IN 1 block straight to the +5vdc rail that powers the PICs, RS485, etc. I made this clunky on purpose so that nobody just threw on a jumper which could happen easily with a simple shunt. If you were to jumper that with a 12v input supply, it would smoke all of the logic on the board. This is specified in the v3c Wiki (http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Ren48LSDv3c#Initial_Testing) page (the default Ren48LSD page now) in the "Initial Testing" section.

2 - The one marked 'term' is to terminate the RS-485 line with 120ohms if this is the last device on the serial interface. The one marked RS-232 should be jumpered if using RS-232 from the PC - but never from Renard to Renard. This is spelled out in the "Final Testing" section of the Wik (http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Ren48LSDv3c#Final_Testing)i. The Ren48LSD serial in/out is an exact copy of the logic used on the RenSS series so any wiring diagrams for those should fit the Ren48LSD as well in most cases.

3 - Correct - can't do much about this since the Ren48LSD was originally designed to drive an RGBW strip. You have a choice of either giving up the channel (this is what I did but I have extra boards) or rewiring the cabling out of the board and making it so Channels 1-3 (for RGWB) are really 1-4 (for RGxB).

[michaelc]

Thanks for the quick response. I'm still testing response and delays, but there are 2 configurations I may use. Ren48LSD powered by a 12volt supply.

1) Connecting the LOR boards to an RS485 dongle using the LOR plugin and connecting the REN48 to an ENTTEC OPEN DMX (REN would be DMX channel1)
2) Connecting the ENTTEC OPEN DMX to the LOR boards first then to the REN48LSD and running everything on DMX (Ren48 would be start on DMXchannel81)

So, given those two scenarios do I need any jumpers?

[budude]

Thanks for the quick response. I'm still testing response and delays, but there are 2 configurations I may use. Ren48LSD powered by a 12volt supply.

1) Connecting the LOR boards to an RS485 dongle using the LOR plugin and connecting the REN48 to an ENTTEC OPEN DMX (REN would be DMX channel1)
2) Connecting the ENTTEC OPEN DMX to the LOR boards first then to the REN48LSD and running everything on DMX (Ren48 would be start on DMXchannel81)

So, given those two scenarios do I need any jumpers?

I'm not sure the LOR plug-in is solid enough to use at this point and future development/fixing/enhancement is questionable (no disrespect intended towards the developer - I only base that on the low volume of posts regarding it). Me - - I would go with #2 - or actually #3 - get an Enttec Pro or DIY clone like RPM's.

[michaelc]

Thanks again. I would like to head towards #3 as well, but I think i might be too late this year for that. I started searching the forums for more info on it but short of walking through the posts of when it was being designed, I don't see the current state in a Wiki anywhere.

Right now I want to concentrate on getting the 48LSD working. I was planning on going live tonight, but the rain and being out of town for the last 2 days hindered that idea. Right now, I'm running a basic simple fade (no-audio) sequence that is on the LOR box in stand-alone mode while I try to get the 48 working.

On the positive note, I got an early Birthday present in the PicKit2 so I was able to program the PICS myself.

[oldcqr]

(never mind, I was wrong)