Up and running

[blantrip]

Finished construction and testing of my first entry into the do it yourself realm.

One Helix Main Controller and 8 SSRneons. That will get me going for now.

Still have 8 more SSRneons, a Helix Daughter board and Helix DaughterSSR board to build, but not ready for those yet.

Everything worked first time out...well except for the SSRneons that I forgot to put the IC chips in. But that type of troubleshooting is better than the hard stuff. :)

Great job Greg on the board design and especially all of the documentation. One of the main reasons I chose this controller.


Time for me to start exploring the DMX universe and RGB+W control for the future.

I put the FM02 transmitter in the same enclosure as the Helix Main Controller, a nice self contained assembly.

My only suggestion would be to use the top entry RJ45 jacks might help to improve clearance for the cables/enclosures. Granted I didn't use the recommended enclosure, so maybe this wouldn't be an issue if I had used that.

Thanks again

[gmbartlett]

Finished construction and testing of my first entry into the do it yourself realm.

One Helix Main Controller and 8 SSRneons. That will get me going for now.

Still have 8 more SSRneons, a Helix Daughter board and Helix DaughterSSR board to build, but not ready for those yet.

Everything worked first time out...well except for the SSRneons that I forgot to put the IC chips in. But that type of troubleshooting is better than the hard stuff. :)

Great job Greg on the board design and especially all of the documentation. One of the main reasons I chose this controller.


Time for me to start exploring the DMX universe and RGB+W control for the future.

I put the FM02 transmitter in the same enclosure as the Helix Main Controller, a nice self contained assembly.

My only suggestion would be to use the top entry RJ45 jacks might help to improve clearance for the cables/enclosures. Granted I didn't use the recommended enclosure, so maybe this wouldn't be an issue if I had used that.

Thanks again

Thank you for the update. I'm glad you were able to get it going without any major problems.

I've taken your (and a couple of other's) suggestion about the top entry RJ45 jacks to heart. With the main board mounted on a backpanel with PCB standoffs in the CG-1500 enclosure I haven't had any problems with the side entry jacks but I can see how it would be a problem with a smaller enclosure. I will be updating the assembly manuals soon to make that an option.

As always, if you have any problems or questions please let me know.

[bcowan]

Glad to hear you are up and running.

This will be my second year using the Helix and I love it. I installed my FM02 inside the same enclosure as you did. I used the enclosure Greg recommended and it works great. With top entry RJ45s you could install the Helix in a smaller enclosure if needed. I liked the larger enclosure because it allowed me to give a little more space between the FM02, voltage regulator board(for FM02),and the Helix.

Greg did do a great job on the board and documentation.

I need to get started soldering, because I still have 1 Helix, 1 daughterSSR card, and 16 SSREZs to build for this years show.

[Skunberg]

Thank you for the update. I'm glad you were able to get it going without any major problems.

I've taken your (and a couple of other's) suggestion about the top entry RJ45 jacks to heart. With the main board mounted on a backpanel with PCB standoffs in the CG-1500 enclosure I haven't had any problems with the side entry jacks but I can see how it would be a problem with a smaller enclosure. I will be updating the assembly manuals soon to make that an option.

As always, if you have any problems or questions please let me know.

Hi Greg, Would top entry jacks get the main board into a cg-1000 ?

Brian

[gmbartlett]

Hi Greg, Would top entry jacks get the main board into a cg-1000 ?

Brian
Hi Brian,

I don't have a CG-1000 to check if for sure but I think it should fit. The Helix Main Board is 5" x 6" and according to the CG-1000 datasheet it is 9" x 9". You would just have to mount it close to the bottom so you would have room at the top of the board to access the microSD card and audio jack.

[51fordf2]

Hi Greg, Would top entry jacks get the main board into a cg-1000 ?

Brian

Brian - I have the Helix V.1. I also have several of the 1000 enclosures. I'll try to dig them out in a day or two, and see if they'd fit with the top entry RJ's. I'm pretty sure I checked it when I built it, almost 2 years ago, and it would, but will re-check. I took last year off, no display, but I've pretty much decided to run a display this year, and use the Helix (I have 4 Helix systems!). I used the Firegod system two years ago, and pushed the 256 channels almost to the limit. I am planning on going across the street, to the shop side, with another 100 channels or so, so it will be the wireless that will save my patootie.

Anyway, I'll post here. I realize it was almost a month ago, but I haven't been on the site, in over 6 months. Now, of course, I have 6 months of catching up!

Oh yeah, HI, GREG!!

R

[bcowan]

I have a Helix network node installed in a cg-1000 with side entry RJ-45 ports and I have my main Helix controler in a cg-1500 with my FM02. Here is a picture of each.

1171911720

[51fordf2]

I have a Helix network node installed in a cg-1000 with side entry RJ-45 ports and I have my main Helix controler in a cg-1500 with my FM02. Here is a picture of each.

Thanks! I found my Helix, but haven't found my 1000 boxes yet. I DID find, however, that BOTH my "show computers" have gone to the great beyond! So, working on a new one...

[blantrip]

@bcowan Nice layout. Time for me to go order a CG-1500.

[bcowan]

Thanks blantrip. The 1500 does have plenty of room for the Helix, FM02 and power supplies/regulators. The spacers that Greg recommends set the board at a good height to access the RJ45 connections and the microSD slot. I secured my cg-1500/Helix to the center pole on my mega tree along with the dipole antenna, I made from the wiki, and it worked great last year.

This year I plan to split my show up with about 100 channels on each side of the street. I can't wait. It's going to look so cool!

[blantrip]

100 channels on each side of the street sounds fantastic. the pc-less and wireless option is exactly why I selected to go with the Helix. Hope you take some videos. This is my first year, so I won't be up to even 100 channels yet. Next year I think I'll try to work on pixel strings so it looks like some E681's are in my future.

I haven't even done my first Christmas show and I'm already thinking of next year....I think I'm in trouble..

[random_rodder]

I haven't even done my first Christmas show and I'm already thinking of next year....I think I'm in trouble..

That's a pretty good indication of future problems...

The Helix is a GREAT design. I let mine go and have no controller right now - yes I'm a lurker. I had my Helix in a CG-1500, an FM-01 attached to the inside of the door box.

You'll enjoy using the Helix; once it's set up, you can basically forget about it. I ran 121 channels in '09, for most of the month of December and all I had to do was remember to plug it in when I got home from work.