Weird Grinch Behaviour

[piesrule58]

Hi all,

I am getting some weird results from early tests of my Grinch setup. I have attached a picture of my setup and as you can see I only have 8 channels hooked up (167 to 174) I have the Computer to Grinch cable attached to the top Grinch (#1) When I run a test sequence with only channels 167-174 turned on I get nothing. When I run the same test with channels 39 to 46 on the lights come on, even though I don't have those channels connected.
It seems as though Grinch #3 thinks it is Grinch #1.
All 3 Grinches have been tested individually and they work fine. All cables are brand new. It seems like I have cables from Grinch to grinch wrong but I have checked and they are in the correct order. Computer cable to Grinch 1 IN, Grinch 1 OUT to Grinch 2 IN, Grinch 2 OUT to Grinch 3 IN.
I hope that makes sense. Does anyone know what is going on?

Thanks, Terry

[Dellboy999]

You got 5V at all boards ?

P.S. Damn nice setup as well, gives some great ideas for mine next year.

[piesrule58]

Yes, I have 3 seperate 5v leads. 1 to each Grinch.

[Dellboy999]

ok then, next really dumb question do all the boards work if they are the only one plugged in, yes I am sure you have tested them all.

i hear distance between grinch and computer maters, how long is the cable to grinch1

[piesrule58]

Yes, all boards work fine on their own. Cable is only 2mtrs long.

[Dellboy999]

If you only hook 2 up in any order does it all behave as expected?

[piesrule58]

No. I hooked up the computer cable to Grinch 2 and got the same result. It seems that Grinch 2 & 3 are taking commands from channels 1-64 only.

[coolspot]

is it regulated power supply also check what voltage they are if they 5.5 and they arembis it makes them act strange as i found out from the guys at the meet

[piesrule58]

Am I setting up the Plugin channels incorrectly?

[piesrule58]

Power supply is coming from a CPU so it is regulated. I have Allegros in Grinch 1 & 3 and MBI's in Grinch 2.

[coolspot]

Power supply is coming from a CPU so it is regulated. I have Allegros in Grinch 1 & 3 and MBI's in Grinch 2.

ok well check the voltage just in case as voltage might not be right

[piesrule58]

I have a feeling that I am not setting up the channels correctly in the Plugin. Could someone let me know the right way please?

[toodle_pipsky]

Am I setting up the Plugin channels incorrectly?

I could be wrong, I haven't actually hooked any of my stuff up properly so I'm going off what I've done so far! And this is just my understanding of how it works, correct me if I'm wrong.

When you set up the plug in in Vixen, you're telling it to send channel x data to a particular port, it doesn't include the information channel x is the 5th channel on the 2nd board it just goes to the first available channel - which is going to be the first channel of the first available board. So, for example, if you want to test channel 32 at actual channel 32 on your boards, you'll need to enter channel 1 to 32 in the plug in set up.

Does that make sense or am I way off what your problem is?

[RavingLunatic]

For your setup of 3 Grinches, you need to have your plugin set up for channels 1-192.

If you only have the plugin set up for channels 1-64 then Grinch 2 and 3 will be indentical to Grinch 1.

[piesrule58]

My plugin is set to 192 channels, but for some reason it is not sending signals to any channels after 64.

[piesrule58]

This is a screen shot of the plugin setup. If this is ok then I am totally lost for ideas on how to fix this.

[Dellboy999]

I have my grinch set up as simple 595 not the olsen, I may only have one but it works just fine?

So should WE use Olsen or Simple ?

PS. I dont have dimming if it matters.

[toodle_pipsky]

You just need 1 plug in set up with 1 to 192.

I can't remember which Olsen plug in you use (wiki will have it). Here's a sample of what the plug in should look like (Mine's 152 channels, so it just put that in there as default).

[piesrule58]

Thanks guys. I will try it and let you know how I go.

[piesrule58]

YIPPEE. IT WORKS. I used Simple 595 with one plugin setup to 1-192 and we have Blinky Flashy. Thanks heaps, I was literally ready to tear my hair out.

[Aurbo99]

Nice neat layout,

By the posted Pic, Grinch 1 is on the bottom, correct?

The in/out cables are all Patch and not cross-overs?

Olsen should be your plug-in and you used 1 and 192 in the channels, then went into the plugin setup button right below the channels and inputted 1 and 192 again in just Parallel 1 line?

[Aurbo99]

You posted your success seconds before I posted..

Grats!

[toodle_pipsky]

Yay mr collingwood has blinky flashy. Top stuff!

[piesrule58]

Thanks again guys. All of this would not be possible (for me anyway) without the help of all the wonderful people in this community.