To dim or not to dim

[WebCats]

Just getting started nothing yet but pile of lights gotten on sale. I had been looking for a couple of years on YouTube etc and it seems those displays with dimming looks better. I don't care for the one controller with lots of cords, would rather have the controller nearer the display, pods seem to be the solution there, but it seems only SSR (on/off) options for small numbers of channels in remote controllers have been displayed. My plan was to have self contained objects, trees, mats, candy cane sets, mega tree ready to plug in one power cord, one control cord. I am thinking of lots of channels (200+) small number of lights each and each object (tree, mat, etc) having three or more colors. This along with animated characters.

[Matt]

Sounds like you are looking for a controller with integrated SSRs. Take a look at these:

-Renard16 (Ren16)
-Renard24 (Ren24)
-Lynx

-Matt

[Virtus]

Do look into dimming right from the start. If you started a couple years ago it made great sense to go on/off and then refit the setup to incorporate dimming. If you are starting today looking at your hardware options there really isn't a strong argument in my mind (others chime in if I am off base here) to even consider not going with dimming. Your initial investment will be more versatile and fill more roles in your ever expanding display.

[xmus]

Here is the link to wiki for the renard stuff (16 and 24) mentioned above:

http://christmasinshirley.com/wiki/index.php?title=Renard

Also, if you are interested in renard, check out the newbie videos:


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

[mccontre]

Newbie here, and I've been looking through the various topics and posts. Getting a little overwhelmed, but not scared. I know that I want dimming on my project. I loaded up on some components this past summer. I bought a bunch of 595 chips, triacs, optoisolators, RJ45 jacks, power blocks, and resistors due to not being educated and just excited to get started.

I'm pretty sure I can accomplish the assembly of the various controllers, but I can't decide which one now. I know everybody has thier favorites. Which controller and ssr combination should I go with to accomplish the dimming and being able to use most, if not all of the components that I've already purchased?

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I just need some direction.

[JEEPGUY]

Slug,

You mentioned you have a bunch of 595 chips. You might as well build the Olsen 595 and add a Ren T and a Ren C to dim it. I built a Grinch and then decided I want to dim it so I am now building a Ren C and a Ren T.


If you ultimately want to build a Renard for it's built in dimming you should be able to sell the chips you don't need in the for sale forum.

[scubasteve]

I faced the same choice as what is being discussed. Dim or no dim, Renard or Grinch. What it boiled down to for me was do I want CAT5 cables running all over the yard or do I want extension cords running all over the yard. 2 things sealed the deal for me and that is 1: I can get a mess load of CAT 5 cable for cheap...real cheap. And #2, There is a light show near our home that I watched closely several times this year. They have 32 channels into a mega tree and several mini-trees. Very nice show, very basic but fun to watch. I drove by during the day and noticed the sidewalk was COMPLETELY covered in extension cords all leading up to the front door which looked partially accessable because of the comotion near the front down. Not very inviting. Bottom line, it just seems cleaner to me to plug CAT5 cable into "The Box" that will house my Grinch (and eventually a second Grinch and RenC and RenT) out to various "power posts" in the yard and plug cords in from there.

sS

[Wombat]

Definately to Dim.

I have 128 On/Off channels using home made 595 controllers. It looks like a Rave party on Steroids. I am getting a couple of REN-C controllers for this year to make them into Dimming Channels. I have also added two Ren-16 controllers and will add some more Renards or whatever gets designed this year. Im also thinking of some DMX stuff, Pixels, LEDTrix etc

Looks like im going to be busy around November.

To the Burrow
Wombat

[Macrosill]

Scuba,
You can have both dimming and non dimming systems with either remote ssrs or on board ssrs. SSR location should not determine the controller design you choose to go with.

[scubasteve]

(I always ask my kids "what's a yea-butt" whenever they say yea...but...)

Yea-butt :lol: What I am aiming to accomplish is to have a box with just my controller(s) inside with a bank of jacks for the CAT5 cables, plug the CAT5 cables to the box and run them out to the PVC pods containing the SSR's and the plugs coming out of the bottom. So at the end of the day, I can take down all the lights and all that is left is the control box conspicuously placed on the corer of the house behind the bushes. The idea would be to put the control box out while setting up for halloween and leave it up unitl after xmas.

I totally agree that SSR locale should not determine which controller to get. I chose the Grinch because of the ease of assembly and use I have read about on this site. The rest of it was just my own evil little plan that I cooked up. I will most likely have a hodge-podge of controllers and such when I discover than I am neck deep in christmas lights :wink:

sS

[mccontre]

Scuba,
You can have both dimming and non dimming systems with either remote ssrs or on board ssrs. SSR location should not determine the controller design you choose to go with.


So I can use the ssr design depicted here http://computerchristmas.com/christmas/link-how_to/HowToId-68/4-channel_SSR_to_go_with_the_controller_in_the_How_T o as the remote ssr? I've already got all the parts except for the pcb, which I can etch.

[Ronp]

that is the standard design that most use.

[Sean Bowf]

So I can use the ssr design depicted here http://computerchristmas.com/christmas/link-how_to/HowToId-68/4-channel_SSR_to_go_with_the_controller_in_the_How_T o as the remote ssr? I've already got all the parts except for the pcb, which I can etch.

Yes...pretty sure the Renard 64 is designed for this. Pretty much a drop in replacement for our Olsen 595s.

Sean

[mccontre]

So the dimming function would be completely contained on the Renard controller, then I can just run the Cat5 cables out to the ssr?


Do you think someone on the board would have some in stock? I would rather not etch, if it can be avoided.

Thanks for the responses.

[P. Short]

The only generally available Renard coop board with external SSRs is the Renard64, the other Renard coop boards all have SSRs built-in. And the Renard64 is quite unsuitable for home-etching. At the moment John is out of these boards AFAIK, so you'll have to wait or find someone with extras.

--

Phil

[zaker]

Do you think someone on the board would have some in stock? I would rather not etch, if it can be avoided.

PM wjohn, he normally has the Renard 64 boards, and you use the external SSR's, or a Xmus16 or Renard24, both with onboard SSR's.

Check the Coop Order forum for info on the Xmus and Renard24 board orders.

I built a Ren64 to replace my Olsen, so Sean's SSR's just plug on in.

tom

[mccontre]

Sorry, I meant the ssr board. I wouldn't even dream of etching the Renard.

[zaker]

You want the files to etch the SSR boards?

Go to Sean's How-to you referenced earlier, the file is there in ExpressPCB format, you can print your own to etch. I've probably etched 50 or so for myself and students, only thing I have done is make the small traces thicker, home etches better.


tom