Grinch Questions

[rrowan]

Hi Folks,

Thanks to John W, I received the Grinch and 16 SSROZ boards but have not assembled any until yesterday and today. Reason? Uh, waiting for the IC sockets. Ok pass that part so two "test" SSRs are built and today I solder up the Grinch. I know most of you are saying "Yeah?" (please be kind, it is a mile stone for me :))

Questions: (boring part is over)
1 - I notice that there seems to be extra traces and holes in the Grinch
between D socket and J2, Under Sockets A, E, I, M - Is that ok???

2 - Is there a recommended way to test the Grinch and SSRs before connecting up the 120V AC?
(low voltage? multi-meter, etc - Decided after building this I didn't want to go POP in the night)

I do have my computer ready with the printer port to RJ45 cable plus I have extra Ethernet patch cables from when I network my house. I still need to get 5vdc to power up the Grinch (that should not be a problem taping off the PC power supply (note to self - need inline fuse(s))

One more thing. I USED to think my hands were steady and my eyes were pretty good (only 43 yrs old) but I learn that I need to get a lighted magnified lens before assembling any more boards.

Anywho

Thanks for any advice.

Sorry if this info is already somewhere on the site. I did look through the posts in the Grinch section and didn't see what I was looking for.

Rick R.

[scharbon]

I myself find the smoke test to be a very effective means of determining if you built the boards right!!!

Steve

[P. Short]

First thing to do before installing the ICs in their sockets on the Grinch is to check that it has a proper 5V. The power LED should be on. Also, pin 1 on J2 (the square pad) is +5V, and pin 2 (the other pad) on J2 is ground.

--

Phil

[rlilly]

Always power up without ICs initially. IC smoke is more valuable than other smoke.

[rrowan]

Hi rlilly, Phil, Steve

Thanks for the info, Well Phil anyway :)

Phil, I am using 5 volts from a former computer PS that I had convert a year ago to power up stuff on my train layout. I double check to be sure it was 5volts and I had the connector (J2) and the wires connected correctly.

With the help from the guys in chat (wombat) they suggested to make a RJ45 cable with 4 leds on the end (I also added in a 180 ohm resistor).

So now I have checked each port on the Grinch and all is well there. :D

rlilly and Steve - I agree that magic smoke is more fun, at least for those few seconds. But stuff seems to last longer the boring way. Oh well

Thanks again

Rick R.

[toodle_pipsky]

1 - I notice that there seems to be extra traces and holes in the Grinch
between D socket and J2, Under Sockets A, E, I, M - Is that ok???


Just wondering if anyone has an answer for this question? I'm putting together my grinch at the moment and asking the same myself. Can't seem to find anything in the forums or wiki about it (or maybe I'm blind - it's a possibility).
Cheers!

[RavingLunatic]

Those are just vias for routing the signal on the board. Nothing goes in them.

I guess wjohn/RJ put them under the RJ45 jacks so they wouldn't be seen when the board was complete.

[toodle_pipsky]

So it's a case of just leave them alone and ignore them?

[RavingLunatic]

Yes

If you follow the steps in the Grinch assembly wiki then you won't go wrong.

http://doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=GRINCH_Controller_Assembly_Instruc tions

[toodle_pipsky]

Yeah I've been following it and the other grinch info I‘ve found on the wiki (I’ve been franticly reading everything I can!). It's was probably a forehead smacking question, but thanks for your help - really appreciate it.

[dnesci]

I don't know of a recommendation for a test, but when you connect the SSR to the Grinch, the ssr LED should light immedicately. After that before connecting to AC you could run a sequence and make sure you are getting sink (ground) from the Grinch on wires 2,4,6 & 8. An LED with a resistor from wires 7 (positive) and the for sink lines should light with your sequence.

[dmcole]

With the help from the guys in chat (wombat) they suggested to make a RJ45 cable with 4 leds on the end (I also added in a 180 ohm resistor).
Could somebody sketch out this circuit (even ASCII sketch would work) ... I'm guessing RJ45 pins 2, 4, 6 and 8 are each connected to the anode of an individual LED, with a 180-ohm resistor on this side. Then all the cathodes terminate on Pin 7.

But that's just a guess. ;)

\dmc

[dnesci]

Could somebody sketch out this circuit (even ASCII sketch would work) ... I'm guessing RJ45 pins 2, 4, 6 and 8 are each connected to the anode of an individual LED, with a 180-ohm resistor on this side. Then all the cathodes terminate on Pin 7.

But that's just a guess. ;)

\dmc

I believe you want to do this the other way around. The anode of the LED is the positive side. They should all connect to pin 7. Pins 2,4,6,8 will pass negative (sink) from the Grinch. These would connect to the cathode side. The grinch uses 5V, 180-ohm may be a little light. I would uses 470 or 680 ohms.

[Wayne J]

I believe you want to do this the other way around. The anode of the LED is the positive side. They should all connect to pin 7. Pins 2,4,6,8 will pass negative (sink) from the Grinch. These would connect to the cathode side. The grinch uses 5V, 180-ohm may be a little light. I would uses 470 or 680 ohms.


A 180 ohm resistor is fine for what it is being used for.

http://computerchristmas.com/christmas/link-how_to/HowToId-117/FullSize-true/LowLimit-5/StepId-7

http://computerchristmas.com/tmp/myimages/117-t8.JPG

[dmcole]

Thanks Wayne ... that was just what I was looking for.

\dmc

[kmc123]

I did something like this too, I just put it in a box, and did a 5th LED for the power - basicly the same as an SSR, without the triacs or optos:

http://www.kevincook.net/Hobbies/Electronics/Lights/DSC_5633.JPG

I also made the opposite part - A box with a 9V battery, a 5V regulator, a power switch and indicator, and 4 pushbuttons. This way I can test both ways.

[WWNF911]

I myself find the smoke test to be a very effective means of determining if you built the boards right!!!

Yeah and it's also a great way to see if you have six more weeks of assembly. (Just turn around and face the wall at power turn on. See if you see your shadow. :)
Some call this the ground hog test. lol

[sigtaulightning]

I did something like this too, I just put it in a box, and did a 5th LED for the power - basicly the same as an SSR, without the triacs or optos:

http://www.kevincook.net/Hobbies/Electronics/Lights/DSC_5633.JPG

I also made the opposite part - A box with a 9V battery, a 5V regulator, a power switch and indicator, and 4 pushbuttons. This way I can test both ways.

Kevin I didnt see a how to on this but that would be a great addition to this site or the WIKI. I know Brian would have said that but really I just want to make one and your design looks compact and very functional.

Thanks in advance. :-)
Rob

[simultekie]

This may be a stupid question. If I power up the grinch, connect a ssr that is all wired up , and connected to 4 sets of mini lights, should the lights come on . This is not connected to the computer yet. I was getting ready to test with vixen, but for some reason when I brought up the program, It told me that vixen was going to die. So for now i am trying to test what I have done so far.

[JEEPGUY]

Pete,

Each light string won't come on until Vixen tells it to, whether in test mode or a sequence. If you are in test either select the appropriate channel or turn 'em all on.

[JEEPGUY]

Yeah and it's also a great way to see if you have six more weeks of assembly. (Just turn around and face the wall at power turn on. See if you see your shadow. :)
Some call this the ground hog test. lol

LOL!!! Leon you're too funny!

[dnesci]

This may be a stupid question. If I power up the grinch, connect a ssr that is all wired up , and connected to 4 sets of mini lights, should the lights come on . This is not connected to the computer yet. I was getting ready to test with vixen, but for some reason when I brought up the program, It told me that vixen was going to die. So for now i am trying to test what I have done so far.

Pete:

You may get a funky result if the grinch is not connect to the PC when you power it up. This is because you may be getting a stray ground (sink) in the Grinch. Ideally, you don't want this to happen. When connected to the PC, the voltages should even out. If they do not, you may have a bridged solder joint on the grinch or a bad chip on the Grinch. I got a similar result with a bad chip.

[simultekie]

I understand that with it hooked to a computer to run vixen, but what i was wondering was if they all come on WITHOUT being hooked to a computer. Just want to be sure that I don't fry anything. Still trying to get vixen reloaded,may have to get some advice from a computer tech friend.