8 channel Dimmable DMX module

[alwysrit2]

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is a 8 channel Dimmable DMX module, well 10 of them. The module will have 4 RJ45's, 1 for DMX, ZC and power in, 1 for DMX, ZC and power out. The other 2 would be setup to accept 2 of the COOP SSR modules. Each module would have dip switches for setting the DMX address for the first channel. The output will be able to handle .5 amp @ 24vdc.

Background - I have about 45 channels from a Olsen 595 setup now and it seems that half of my mess is the CAT5 cable. Being able to daisy chain would simplify and clean up my wiring.

Currently I have 2 Olsen 595s, by next halloween I want to have some dimmable channels.

During halloween, I use different voltages, up to 24vdc for pneumatic cylinders. I would like to be able to use the extra wires in the CAT 5 to send different voltages.

Why DMX - my guess is that by next year more people will be using DMX.

I am far from having the knowledge of knowing where to start or if this is even possible. Maybe I should be searching ebay for the DMX outlets and go with those, but I feel like there should be a cheaper/better way of doing it.

What are your thoughts? I see there was some activity on similar boards this year, but it doesnt look like they made it past testing.
-Don

[RJ]

The lynx does all that but It's 16 channels not 8 and it does not need a ZC just 120v in and the the power you want to control (>10v and < 200v). Oh wait it doesn't use dip switches you set the start address with vixen.

[P. Short]

This also gets back to the issue of whether it's better to have larger channel-count controllers centrally located, or smaller controllers spread out over the yard. Most people here tend to favor the first choice.

--

Phil

[DynamoBen]

The lynx is a good choice since its a proven design and meets all of your needs. That being said I would assume by next year there will be more DMX options out there to choose from. As I'm typing this I'm working on the firmware from my DMX controller.

Santa will deliver but you might have to be a good boy for a year. ;)

[P. Short]

As I hinted at above, the biggest issue is going to be finding other people who want the same thing. Based on what I've seen with Renard over the last year, most people want higher channel-count solutions.

However, I have written some untested code that would allow a modified Renard8 to do what you want. The concept was tested around Christmas time last year, and then shelved for lack of interest (both on my part and on the part of others). More recent firmware changes have been made to incorporate everything that has been learned from Renard since then. The hardware changes involve changing the RJ45 connector pinout to conform with the DMX standard, replacing the oscillator with a 74HC165 chip and DIP switches.

That said, I'm not interested in spending money on a new PCB and DMX controller that I have no current use for (I have far more Renards than I need right now). But if you figure out a way to get around these issues (actually, the DMX controller is the only issue that matters in the short term, since I can use a wireless breadboard), I am willing to test and debug the firmware.

--

Phil

[Trepidati0n]

One thing people also need to remember about the Lynx is just isn't a 16 channel box... it is a 0 to 16 channel box. Just because you have 16 channels doesn't mean you have to USE 16 channels. If I wanted, I could put one lynx at byte 16 and another at byte 24...as long as I only used the first 8 channels on the first lynx...well, no issues.

As for the higher channel count, I agree. I think this is caused more by the fact that people are trying to do more animation type effects with lights (mega trees, clusters of mini trees, rows of strings on a roof, etc).

I also think people are appreciating the controller + SSR combo as well since it is less things to deal with (look at Renard)....and it is also a bit more reliable/safer for poor climate areas.

But...cost is also important...the lynx is a low low $5/channel. That is a crazy number...considering that LoR, at best, is $20/channel. When dealing with channel numbers now going to 100's for quite a few people, that 100's translates into $1000's of dollars. :shock:

From the above...it is really quite obvious why RJ's Lynx is getting so much attention around here. I'm guessing he will have more demand than he knows what to do with if first batch if goes how people expect it to go.

After lurking for so long here...I believe that the Lynx is what happens when somebody spends years on a hobby with other enthusiast and finally gets enough experience to come up with something very cool at a good price.

Since I’m almost done with my year+ of 60 hours weeks…hopefully I’ll get my blinky-blinky done for next year.