DMX to Grinch converter Coop

[RJ]

The following people have put in for a converter pcb if there is a P behind your name I have your info and payment for your boards:

wjohn 2 P
RavingLunatic 2 P
wbuehler 2 P
snething 2 P
stephenwolf 2 P
petefats 2 P
scharbon 2 P
grages 2 P
jeffmill 1 P
DonRoss 1 P
shocker 1 P
tfmacz 2 P
DILA 1 P

[RavingLunatic]

Count me in for 2

My preference is not to have the converter providing the power to the Grinch. I prefer to provide my own external power.

[wbuehler]

Please count me in for 2 or as many as 4 PCB's if needed to make the mark to start the order process. I would like to have the converter provide the power to the Grinch, unless you can think of a reason that this would be a bad ideal. Having the power supplied would help cut down on the amount of exteral parts

Thanks

Bill

[snething]

Hi RJ,

Please count me in for two boards. Powering the Grinch either way would be fine with me.

[stephenwolf]

How many channels and/or grinch boards will one converter work with?

I need 2 for sure, but maybe more, depending on the answer. :-)

I don't have a preference on the power issue, I don't have my grinchs built yet so it is the same amount of work for me, I think.

[RJ]

If the power is there to run it they will do 2 grinches or 128 channels. Thats what I am running on mine in my show.

[Dan Ross]

Would this be able to control the 595 as well?

[RJ]

Yes, the only issue is if we go with the built on power supply, which its looking as not, it might have problems supply enough current with all channels on two of them. The leds are power eaters so you could be limited to one. I think there leaning to external power so this would not be a problem in that case.

[Macrosill]

Or just remove the sips and/or the leds and the leds will not be a concern.

[petefats]

put me down for 2.

[scharbon]

Put me down for two as well. Power not on board.

Steve

[grages]

In for two

[grages]

RJ,

Does this board also build out as a Robo controller? If so I want 4.

Shawn

[RJ]

No, sorry I built this one as just dmx converter. Were already almost at my limit. It's looking like it will be with out built on power so you send it 5v off you supply and it will send the power to the units attached over the cat5.

We are close to the limit so I will get 20 coming. it will be about three weeks til I have them.

We have 14 now and I need two for wjohn so thats 16. so the next 4 units is it.

[Jeff Millard]

RJ, I'd like one please.
Jeff

[DonRoss]

RJ,
I would like one.

Thanks,
DonRoss

[shocker]

i would like 1 too

[wbuehler]

RJ

Can I get my boards to have the option of mounting a power supply?
I woiuld really love the board to take care of this for me

Thanks

Bill

[RJ]

OK, I will do it with the Power supply on board. As I read back it appears as I was misreading and the majority either want it or don't care. I can add some thur holes were you can bring power in from ext if you want and un populate the power supply on board. It will be a few days until I can redo for this but then I will let you know the cost and we can get them coming.

[wbuehler]

Awesome

Thanks

Bill

[tfmacz]

Count me in for 2

[DILA]

RJ, you can put me down for 1

Bob

[scharbon]

Oh boy, I get to ask the first stupid question on this topic :D

When you say on board power, do you mean I will plug the converter into an extension cord with 110VAC and it will convert the power to 5 VDC as well as convert the DMX string to a Grinch signal? Or are you saying I will have to run power from an APS, connect it to the converter, the converter will then pass it on to the Grinch? Thanks

Steve

[RJ]

Not dumb at all! you will plug the convertor in to 120 ac or 240 ac as the case may be and as if by magic when you plught the grinch in it will recieve 5 volts and operate from the DMX feed the converter. This is the way I have mine.

[RJ]

Ok thats more than 20! So the coop for the pcb is closed so no more request please. I will get the board with the power done and tell you all what you owe me in the next few days.

[Jeff Millard]

Thank you RJ, I'm glad you're adding the PS. I can't wait to build it!!!!
Jeff

[wbuehler]

Thanks

Bill

:D

[scharbon]

RJ wrote
...and as if by magic...

Great I love magic :D

Wait, this isn't the same magic that causes smoke in my SSRs is it? :shock:

Thanks for the answer RJ. I want the onboard power now also. Issue is moot since that is how you are going to make them - but I was starting to wonder how I was going to get 5V out to the grinch if I moved it away from the CPU. You provided the solution. You da man!!

Christmas 2007 isn't even over yet and I am already planning 2008 - this is crazy. It think it is called an addiction!!!!

Steve

Thanks

[RJ]

And the addicts say, "WELCOME" ! :lol:

[disneynut]

I will take two RJ. thanks again

[RJ]

I'm sorry disney but this coop is closed I have to limit the coop numbers as it is a lot of work and I have to make them managable for me to handle.

[ben]

would there be anyway for me to run some CCOPs? If someone sets up the account and orders them I don't mind taking care of shipping. I am a kid and I have more time on my hands ;)

Ben

[RJ]

I'm sure there is a coop you could help on but in this case there isn't much to putting the pcbs in the mail its the kepping track of the people and the money that is the work. I might of said this wrong it's not this pcb coop that is going to take my time its the Lynx coop. but since I am doing both at the same time I can't bite off more than I can chew we all know what will happen if I were to let that happen. Once the pcbs are in and someone has one assembled to make sure the information to work with is correct I would willing to let someone handle another coop for them. But they would need to do it all. I think have one person responsible for the money and ordering and another for the shipping is a recipe for problems. Lets give the villiagers one person to come after with pitch forks if they screw up. This way there could be no finger pointing.

[ben]

I'm sure there is a coop you could help on but in this case there isn't much to putting the pcbs in the mail its the kepping track of the people and the money that is the work. I might of said this wrong it's not this pcb coop that is going to take my time its the Lynx coop. but since I am doing both at the same time I can't bite off more than I can chew we all know what will happen if I were to let that happen. Once the pcbs are in and someone has one assembled to make sure the information to work with is correct I would willing to let someone handle another coop for them. But they would need to do it all. I think have one person responsible for the money and ordering and another for the shipping is a recipe for problems. Lets give the villiagers one person to come after with pitch forks if they screw up. This way there could be no finger pointing.

I agree. In that case what do I need to do? I would be glad to help with a Ren-C and Ren-T Coop (they go hand in hand)

Ben

[RJ]

I have no answer to that at the moment. Sorry

[RJ]

Ok here is a pic of the board layout for it. I guess I am ready to get them ordered.

Because it is the first order there is a setup charge so the boards will cost $15.97 including the shipping to me and the paypal fee. I will then get the postal rate to mail them to you and you will owe me that when I have it ready to ship.

Please Pm me this information :

Your real name
The address to send the boards
the paypal to expect your payment from

And please put as the first words of your PM DMX converter so I can keep the two seperate.

Then paypal the $15.97 to jordanra@embarqmail.com

The boards will take 3 weeks to get here and I would like to have this done before I am in the middle of the Lynx stuff so please do this as soon as possible. I will order for those who paid next monday and if I do not have your payment you will not recieve any boards.

Thanks

[wbuehler]

Awesome

PM Sent

Thanks

Bill

[RJ]

Please refer to the first post on this thread for the listing of the status of everyone on this coop.
Thanks

[NogginBoink]

Where's the details about this project?

My curiosity is piqued.

[RJ]

It kind of was a grass roots effort. It started from here :

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=353&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

[RJ]

Just need two more payments and info and we can get the pcbs ordered and coming. It will take three weeks once we order them.

RJ

[wbuehler]

MMMMMMMM PCB's 8)

[stephenwolf]

2 questions:

1: Do you have a mouser parts list for the components yet?

2: Is there any way I could use this with a Ren-C also? I know that the grinch input is a parallel port, and the Ren-C does a serial to parallel conversion, so would the dmx board just need a firmware change to output differently? or would the hardware itself need to be different?

[RJ]

I will with in a week or so post it. I can tell you with power supply on board it's about $25 from mouser for qty 1 of everything. Without the on board power supply its about $12.

No it will not work with a ren-c the ren-c converts the grinch to a serial port already but it uses the renard protocol to communicate with it. They are totally incompatable boards.

[stephenwolf]

No it will not work with a ren-C...
Well, it doesn't hurt to ask. :-)

So, when are you going to be making the DMX-renard converter board? ;-) j/k, sort-of

[RJ]

Everyone is paid and I will get the boards order as soon as possible. With xmas holiday I would guess I would be sending them out in 3 1/2 weeks to everyone. Between now and then I will type up the parts list and basic instructions to assemble the units and post it. I will also send each of you the Firmware for the pic chip some time after that but before I ship your boards.

RJ

[ben]

RJ I would be interested in doing a DMX Grinch COOP. I need one. What do I need to do. If I set it all up and get payments can I send you one lump sum and you can get the boards shipped to me? Since you already have them setup with some company. I really would like to get one going.

Ben

[RJ]

This order will be done in a few weeks and I will look at ordering more then if people still want more.

RJ

[stephenwolf]

I will also send each of you the Firmware for the pic chip some time after that but before I ship your boards.

Bummer, guess this means I have to step up and face my fears of pic programmers. If you need me, I will be looking around the forum for the best programmer to buy. :-)

[RJ]

Mail it to me and I will program it for you.

[stephenwolf]

Thanks for the offer, but I really should learn how to do it myself. And I will need to know for future projects that I want to do. But I might take you up on that offer in a few months after I have fried a few chips and pulled out all my hair. :-)

I see a few pic programmers talked about here on the forum, what one do you use RJ?

[RJ]

You're not going to fry any it's easy.
I just was tring to save you the expense.

Frank put me on this one we both use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PIC-kit-2-COMPATIBLE-PROGRAMMER-PICkit-2-Microchip-USB_W0QQitemZ180117434632QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4661QQ cmdZViewItem

I love it. It is a few dollars more than some but it comes with zero insertion force adapter board to do about any chip and has everything you need. No building anything to plug the chip in or some limit the chips you can do. It is a nice little unit that I have put throught the wringer with no problems.

[tfmacz]

If anyone needs pic's programmed in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest USA I would be glad to help.

[stephenwolf]

And you post an ebay link? Its almost like you are making it so easy that I can't not buy one! gosh! :-)

Thanks for the link.

[RJ]

Here is the bom for the converter. There is a column denoting which parts to not order if you will be suppling external power.

[tstewart]

RJ,

Put me down for 1 in your next coop.

Thanks

Todd

[fkostyun]

So, when are you going to be making the DMX-renard converter board? ;-) j/k, sort-of

That is being talked about being done already. From my understanding - its more of a "software" change to the PIC's than anything else.

[stephenwolf]

Yah, they just started talking in the renard forum about adding DMX, and RJ just posted in the Lynx forum about a design he might be working on that would be a 128 channel DMX dimming grinch, more or less.

Exciting times... :-) Only down side is I have to wait to see what happens with the new designs before I can start buying parts and building boards.

[ben]

Yah, they just started talking in the renard forum about adding DMX, and RJ just posted in the Lynx forum about a design he might be working on that would be a 128 channel DMX dimming grinch, more or less.

Exciting times... :-) Only down side is I have to wait to see what happens with the new designs before I can start buying parts and building boards.

I agree! I don't want ot spend the money on a Ren-C and Ren-T then find out I can get the Grinch. I will because I can keep the Ren-C for my backup 595 and I can use the RenT

Ben

[RJ]

Don't get too carried away as of yet I only have one person even stating they are interested. It takes more than that to get a project off the ground. I would need a number of interested people and at least a few willing to fund the protoboards by being beta testers. This is not a project I would be doing for myself as I will be running all Lynx's next year. This will work just like a pic dimmer in it's function. It would not be a Lynx with external ssr's. The only simularities would be it would be hardware pwm based and it would be DMX. The only simularity to the Grinch is it would be cheap to build. If I were to go external power and offboard ZC signal it would be about $70 for 128 channels or around 50 cents per channel for the controller. I would rather build it all as one unit so you would not need a seperate ren-t type setup to supply power and ZC signal. but this still keeps it around $85 or 66 cents a channel for the controller.
If we did a coop with qty 50 it would only run around $64 or under 50 cents a channel.

[wbuehler]

If you have placed or are about to place an order for the parts to complete this board and wish to have the board supply power to the Grinch/595 just an FYI that Mouser is on back order for the transformer listed in the BOM. But I was able to find this part at newark.com for 8.80 each. So I thought I would post it here in case someone else needed it.

This is for the part list as

802-DSW-520 Stancor Printed Circuit Transformers
Dual Primary - RoHS: COMPLIANT

Bill

[RJ]

Yeah some idiot ordered 69 for some kinda Lynx coop yesterday. What a bonehead! I hear all kinds of other bad things about him to. LOL

RJ

[grages]

Yeah some idiot ordered 69 for some kinda Lynx coop yesterday. What a bonehead! I hear all kinds of other bad things about him to. LOL

RJ

I was concerned about your sense of humor, but I think it is OK! :lol:

[RJ]

Alright the PC boards have arrived.

The little folder packet to send them cost $ .59 and I think the last ones I sent out this size with the postage it cost me like $1.50 total to mail so paypal me $2.00 to cover the postage, mailer and paypal fees to me at jordara@embarqmail.com.

I will be packing them this weekend and they will go out tuesday as monday is a hoiliday.

[wbuehler]

RJ Shipping payment send for 2 boards

Bill

[scharbon]

Paypal for shipping sent.

Thanks,
Steve

[RJ]

Everyones Dmx Convertors are packed and will ship Tuesday.

RJ

[wbuehler]

Thanks for all the work RJ

Bill

[DILA]

RJ, just sent payment. You might want to correct your email address in the message, there may be a "jordara" on paypal.

thanks

Bob

[RJ]

RJ, just sent payment. You might want to correct your email address in the message, there may be a "jordara" on paypal.

thanks

Bob

I wanted to but I have no edit for my post. Please note that he is correct my paypal is jordanra@embarqmail.com not what is in the message above.

If someone with mod rights could edit it I would be ever so thankful!

Thanks

[grages]

lucky for me you were in my paypal list.

[wbuehler]

RJ

I just saw this post with the correct E-Mail address. I have Re-Sent payment. Will my boards still ship tomorrow?

Thanks

Bill

[RJ]

RJ

I just saw this post with the correct E-Mail address. I have Re-Sent payment. Will my boards still ship tomorrow?

Thanks

Bill

Of course they will! :D

[wbuehler]

Thanks

Bill

[fkostyun]

Want to make sure you got my $$ also!

[RJ]

Want to make sure you got my $$ also!

Sure frank you put me over my second million! ;)

Yours also went out in the mail today.


RJ

[grages]

RJ,

Didn't I see where you had posted the Hex code for the PIC chip?

Shawn

[RJ]

Who said I would post any code for it?

LOL just messing with ya. I am working on cleaning it up right now I will have a bug in the programming routine fixed and have it posted this weekend for you.

RJ

[grages]

Who said I would post any code for it?

LOL just messing with ya. I am working on cleaning it up right now I will have a bug in the programming routine fixed and have it posted this weekend for you.

RJ

Thats cool, I just thought you had already posted it and I couldn't find it. By the way, Thanks for all of your hard work.

VR (Very Respectfully)
Shawn

[RJ]

I screwed up when I added the ext power I added it at the end as I thought someone might want to not use the on board power. The holes are too small. Sorry about that.

Still trying to find a few minutes to get the bug fixed so I can post it for you guys. I am attaching the version that has the bug. It will not program so it is set to channel 1 as is. If you change the eeprom byte 2 (third one as in 0,1,2) to the address you want to start at before buring the chip it will function. If you need higher than channel 255 set the 4 eeprom byte to the additional so byte 2 would be 255(FF) and byte 4 would be the additonal.

I will post the fixed one as soon as I have time to get it fixed.

RJ

[RJ]

Also since I never really intended this to be for others I do not have a assembly manual. I would recommend you skim through the Lynx manual in the wiki. it will show you haw to use the heatsinks and and other questions as I use the same parts over and over.

RJ

[RPM]

RJ,

Are you still doing Co-op's for this board?
Also, would it be possible to get the PIC code from you?

[grages]

RJ,

Are you still doing Co-op's for this board?
Also, would it be possible to get the PIC code from you?

I think RJ has stepped away from doing any coop's at this time and he may or may not let someone else run a coop for him. His position in the past on source code is that it is closed source but he has provided hex code for the PIC chip for this board for those that got them from him. RJ can correct me if I am wrong.

Shawn

[wbuehler]

The current .HEX file is at the bottom of Page 8 of this thread.

Bill