Renard16 question.

[YSEN]

I have pretty much decided to go with the Renard16 for my first year display and i wanted to make sure i understand it correctly that I will not need any SSR boards out in the yard. I noticed how some different models have the controller and then ssr boards out in the yard. I have put my name down for 4 boards in the co-op for the Ren16 and I am hoping I am understanding this correctly. I am so excited for my first display in 2008 and hope all goes well. I am sure I will have pleanty of questions to come.

[Macrosill]

You are correct! No ssr boards needed as they are incorporated into the Ren-16.

[YSEN]

Great I was hoping I wasn't missing something :) Is it going to be a big deal using 4 ren16's? I thought I had read something somewhere about how many boards you can have but I can't remember where I found it.

[Macrosill]

That depends on the cable lengths involved. You may need to convert the rs232 signals to rs458.

How far apart, in cable length, not physical distance, will the boards be?

[Wayne J]

That depends on the cable lengths involved. You may need to convert the rs232 signals to rs458.

How far apart, in cable length, not physical distance, will the boards be?

The conversion (if needed) will only need to happen from the PC to the first board in the chain. :wink:

[YSEN]

The distance from the pc to the first board will be about 15ft max. then from that one it will vary. should i house all of the boards at the same location and run extension cords to lights?? I am still trying to figure out the best setup for running to the lights.

[cmurray]

Try to get your controllers as close to the lights as possible.

1 cat5 cable is way cheaper than 16 extension cords.

JOel

[YSEN]

this is true :) i had thought about doing that, just didn't know if that would be suitable. thanks for clearing that up.

[Macrosill]

That depends on the cable lengths involved. You may need to convert the rs232 signals to rs458.

How far apart, in cable length, not physical distance, will the boards be?

The conversion (if needed) will only need to happen from the PC to the first board in the chain. :wink:

Since Wayne insists on correcting everything I have posted lately and he knows so much it is time to hand over the keys to the man. Wayne has now been sent out to the wolves. Get 'em guys! :P

[wjohn]

Wayne,

maybe you can reference this table.

Number of Circuits (Channels)

The number of Renard channels that can be supported on a serial port depends on both the baud rate and on the frequency of updates that has been programmed into the Vixen sequence. The most common PC control software is Vixen, which easily supports multiple serial ports (including USB-RS232 and USB-485 converters).

With an update interval of 100 ms and a 57600 baud rate, the number of channels that can be supported (worst case) is 288. There are a few dimmer levels that are sent using a two-character sequence (dimmer levels 125, 126, and 127 out of 255), and this worst case number is intended to handle the situation where the brightness level of all of the channels has been set to one of these levels.

Number of Channels

Baud Rate 100 ms 50 ms 25 ms
115200 575 287 143
57600 287 143 71
38400 191 95 47
19200 95 47 23

[Wayne J]

Wayne,

maybe you can reference this table.

Number of Circuits (Channels)

The number of Renard channels that can be supported on a serial port depends on both the baud rate and on the frequency of updates that has been programmed into the Vixen sequence. The most common PC control software is Vixen, which easily supports multiple serial ports (including USB-RS232 and USB-485 converters).

With an update interval of 100 ms and a 57600 baud rate, the number of channels that can be supported (worst case) is 288. There are a few dimmer levels that are sent using a two-character sequence (dimmer levels 125, 126, and 127 out of 255), and this worst case number is intended to handle the situation where the brightness level of all of the channels has been set to one of these levels.

Number of Channels

Baud Rate 100 ms 50 ms 25 ms
115200 575 287 143
57600 287 143 71
38400 191 95 47
19200 95 47 23

That chart goes with what I have posted in the past. "128 channels @ 57600 baud, and Vixen time interval @ 50ms" :P

[Wayne J]

That depends on the cable lengths involved. You may need to convert the rs232 signals to rs458.

How far apart, in cable length, not physical distance, will the boards be?

The conversion (if needed) will only need to happen from the PC to the first board in the chain. :wink:

Since Wayne insists on correcting everything I have posted lately and he knows so much it is time to hand over the keys to the man. Wayne has now been sent out to the wolves. Get 'em guys! :P


hmmmph, I added that as an addition to your information, not a correction. :?
Guess I will just keep my mouth shut for now on.

[xmus]

dhavard did you get all your questions answered?

15 feet from PC to first controller, you might get away with just RS232 (no 485 converter needed), but the 485 converter only costs $6, so either way, not much of a price difference. Did you find the newbie videos of my Renard setup? I think all 3 videos would be a valuable starting point for you, to kind of get a feel for how the Renard (especially Ren16) system works.

[YSEN]

Yep, that answers everything. Not sure if I did see the videos or not. I have looked at so many different things..lol but shoot me the link and I will definately check it out. I appreciate all the help. Can't wait to get my boards in and get started. I am excited to tackle all this. I am sure I will have more questions once I get started but I am clear on everything now. Thanks again everyone!

[YSEN]

xmus, just found the videos on youtube and i am about to watch them. looks like they will definately help. thanks!!!

[jeff.ott]

Can someone post the link to the videos?

[rrowan]

Can someone post the link to the videos?

You want these?

http://www.christmasinshirley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2096

Rick R.