Parts list for constructing a Grinch controller

[jimr625]

Below is a list of parts that I am going to order to create my Grinch board. I already have the board on order from wjohn, and the allegro chips are on their way as well. I want to make sure I get extras for the parts I am about to order but I was just wondering what you guys thought about quantities, I have the specified quantities in blue but was wondering how many I should actually get to be safe. Should it just be one extra on those parts with quantities of 1 - 4 and then a few extras on the sockets, or am I skimping to much with those quantities? Never having soldered up a board I don't know what the likelihood is of messing up a part or getting a defective one, and I hate to wait for one in the mail just because I screwed something up and was one part short.

Would someone please make sure this list looks right and then give me their opinion on component quantities. (mouser part number is in bold and the quantities are in blue)


RJ45-8/8 right angle sockets, 571-5202514, 18
Molex .100 KK. Vertical Header 2 Pin, 538-22-03-2021, 1
FCI Bergcon PCB Shunt, 649-65474-002LF, 1
Molex SL Connector Vertical Header 2 Pin, 538-70543-0001, 1
Molex SL Connector Vertical Plug 2 Pin, 538-50-57-9402, 1
Molex SL Connector Female, 538-16-02-0102, 2
Axial Ceramic 50V 0.1uF, 581-sa105e104zar, 4
Green LED 3 mm, 604-wp7104gc, 1
470 Ohm 1/4 Watt Resistor, 660-cf1/4c471j, 1
24 Pin IC Socket, 571-3902618, 4

Thanks everyone,

[cruizer]

The Grinch is a pretty easy board to make, and that's comming from an amateur. I never actualyl soldered a board before doing the Grinch. The only extra things I would say to have on hand are the Allegro Chips. I fried 4 of them when I hooked the power up backwards (the +5 is the square pad!!!)

[RJ]

Yeah the grinch is super simple. Its the chevy chevette of the DIY world. but don't follow his example and plug it in backwards. :shock: it will pop the chips.

But on another note don't feel to bad I know a few others have done it ... Not naming names but .. NOT ME! LOL

[wjohn]

It is a nice simple board, and maybe next year, I'll do a revision if people need one.

The three areas ppl come unstuck are:

1. not setting their LPT port to EPP in BIOS.

2. Getting the cable pinouts wrong on the PC> GRINCH interface cable

3. Problems with voltage (reversal (ouch), too high, not regulated, etc)

4. Selecting the wrong Plugin, use the OLSEN 595 in Vixen.


John.

[GntlmnJac]

Does anyone offer a complete kit for the Grinch similar to a Kit74?

[mikeh65]

Grinch is a good board to start with. I had problems getting my to work but with some help all is working fine. One suggestion, when you go to test the first time, only put in one chip. The one closest to the IN/Out plugs. This way, if you do make the mistake most of us have done, powering up backwards, or in my case I powered from computer and applied 12v instead of 5v, you only blow up one chip instead of four. You can check the first four SSRs then add the next ship and test the next four, and so on...

Also, check you version of Vixen. I had issues with not being able to control the last four sets of SSRs. Turns out it was my Vixen, reloaded and all worked fine. ONLY need to do this is you have issues.

Mike

[wjohn]

Does anyone offer a complete kit for the Grinch similar to a Kit74?

I have the PCBs, you can get ICs as samples from Allegro, and you will just need to purchase some RJ45 sockets etc to complete the parts required.

[GntlmnJac]

How do I contact you to purchase a board?

[ppohlman]

How do I contact you to purchase a board?

Send him a PM or email. Click on his name in the post and click on "Send a private message to wjohn" in the drop down menu. He will then send you the information that you need to purchase boards and how to send him the money.

I have bought several boards from John and he is VERY good at helping people out.

[dadams14]

I ordered chips for the grinch and they are marked
a6279eat
0750
0750201rdaa
IS this right, my grinch does not work and I am having a bad time ...GEEZ
Thanks in advance
Dennis

[wjohn]

Dennis,
Allegro A6279EAT is the correct part number. the rest of the data is lot and date data for Allegro

there are a number of help files and guides on DIYC for trouble shooting a GRINCH.

As noted above, the main errors are:

1. not setting their LPT port to EPP in BIOS.

2. Getting the cable pinouts wrong on the PC> GRINCH interface cable

3. Problems with voltage (reversal (ouch), too high, not regulated, etc)

4. Selecting the wrong Plugin, use the OLSEN 595 in Vixen.

If you have visually checked the board, and tested the circuit paths with a multimeter, I would start on the list above.

[dnesci]

I ordered chips for the grinch and they are marked
a6279eat
0750
0750201rdaa
IS this right, my grinch does not work and I am having a bad time ...GEEZ
Thanks in advance
Dennis

Dennis,

I see you have posted in two different places. When testing your board,only place on allegro chip in th first socked (nearest the RJ45 plug). This is in case there is a problem you will only damage one chip. Follow all of the instructions WJohn gave above. Many of us built the Grinch as the first board and we had errors. Reversing the +5 volts and the negative seens to be a common one. Another is taping into the computer 12V in error. Use the red +5 wire from the computer.

Just resently a member had everything right but for some reason the copy of Vixen we was using would not communitcate with the parallel port. A new install (from scratch) of Vixen cured the problem.

Take it slow and don't panic. You will get it to work.