Computer controling...

[Andrew_UK]

Hi there all, I'm new to theses boards ( have been lerking for ages but never signed up!!)

I live on the Isle of Wight in the UK and have been decorating the outside of my house big style for about 4 years now and its got to the stage where I can not fit much more in so I am looking for other areas to cover and computer controlled lights are something I have been thinking about for about 2 years now but I have not got a clue where to start and I am no good at electronics... I did it at school for a year about 7 years ago now but Ive forgotern it all now.... I can just solder stuff together.

I have looked at buy systems from websites but I don;t have that sort of money I'm sorry to say to buy them.

I don't want a large system just to control a few sets of lights really (20/25 maybe) can any tell me if I can buy bits that I can just "click" together or even do the guys that have made the systems I have read about on the forum sell full systems?

Thanks alot for any new you can give me, I have already started work on my lights, so if I was going to do this I would have to do it quickly!!!

Cheers
Andrew :D

[Macrosill]

Andrew,
Let me start of by giving you a big Welcome! You have come to the right place. Here you can find the knowledge and hardware to make you lights dance to the music. There are a few systems around here currently. You would need to decide what it is you want. Do you want the lights to shine at different brightness levels, Dimming, or just simple on/off control. If you want dimming you should go the route of the Renard system, you can read about it in the Renard forum. If you want simple on/off control then I would suggest you go with either a 595 setup or the Grinch system. Both systems work off the same principles and can be read about in the Olsen 595 forum. The circuit boards can be purchased from our members. Check out the Coop forum for the pcb's you will need. The members here get together and do a large order of hundreds of boards to get a lower cost per board, we all save money that way. There may be a ready built 595 for sale in the DIY store forum. The SSRs can also be acquired this way. All the parts required are listed for each on the respective forums and on the Christmas Wiki. So we have the solution for you, we tell you what to get and you solder it together.

Good Luck and visit often!

[scharbon]

Andrew,
Welcome to DIYChristmas. This is my first year doing this stuff. Christmas 2007 will be my first display. I too had no experience in electronics. I just wanted to do computer controlled lights. The people on this board are very helpful and can get you over any hurdles if you run into any. I had never soldered anything in my life, never built a circuit board, I couldn't even read a schematic. Everyone one the forum helped me in spite of my serious limitations.

If you want to control your lights to enhance your Christmas decorations, don't let your perceived lack of skills stop you from doing it. Pick the controller you want, get in touch with the right guy(s), and start learning. You'll have fun, save a bundle (over commercial products), and if you are not careful, you might start understanding some of this stuff!

We are all looking forward to seeing pictures of your first computer controlled Christmas.

Steve

[DynamoBen]

The quickest, but not least expensive, way is with DMX. While not as expensive as the commercial systems there is cost involved to purchase the DMX dongle and dimmers.

You may want to read the following wiki entry:
http://christmasinshirley.com/wiki/index.php?title=DMX

If your priority is cost and not time then it is less expensive to build a controller from scratch or get in on a group buy. Be sure to factor in the learning curve, you will most likely need to do some soldering and electronics work.

[Andrew_UK]

Hey, thanks for the walm welcomes.

I want to be able to dim the lights in and out.
Really its both time and cost but time more than anything as the show starts in 2 months!! LOL

The other problem well it might not be a problem is I believe that US power is 110v or something like that (mains) and in the UK is 240 mains.... no idea if that matters etc but thought I would bring it up.

I will look at the DMX system and see if it would fit what I need.

cheers
Andrew

[Andrew_UK]

So I have done a search on ebay and found

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DMX-Controller_W0QQitemZ230174070627QQihZ013QQcategory Z14984QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1. is that what I am looking for
2. what do I need to plug the lights into that box?

Andrew

[DynamoBen]

Thats not what you want, that a DMX controller you are looking for a DMX dimmer.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Transcension-MPX405-DMX-Midi-Dimmer-Pack-Controller_W0QQitemZ110156199366QQihZ001QQcategory Z14984QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

The above will actually dim your lights, the OpenDMX device is connected to your computer and will control the dimmer via Vixen.

[Andrew_UK]

ohh ok brilliant another stupid questions!!! How do the lights plug into it !! lol?

[DynamoBen]

This is a better example:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Transcension-DDP-405-DMX-Digital-Dimmer-Pack-Controller_W0QQitemZ110147860056QQihZ001QQcategory Z14984QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

These dimmers use an IEC style connector. So you would need to locate an IEC to whatever style connector you are going to be using on your lights. Here in the US its edison; for the life of me I can't remember what your style connector is called.

[Andrew_UK]

Ok i think i'm getting the idea of this now!!

What if the lights have a transformer? because I am getting the feeling I need male IEC's to connect to the system.

cheers
Andrew

[DynamoBen]

What if the lights have a transformer? because I am getting the feeling I need male IEC's to connect to the system.


I'm not sure I know what you mean by transformer. :?

You don't have to have a direct male IEC on your lights. You can build or buy adapters. I have a set of theatrical lights that I put a male IEC on. Then I built several IEC to Stage Pin (theatrical outlet) adapters, and bought some IEC to Edison (house outlet) adapters. Now I can plug the light into a theatrical dimmer or a house outlet just by changing cables.

You are basically doing the same thing but in the other direction.

[Andrew_UK]

The transformer cuts the power down

Mains->transformer->lights

I doubt its a problem!

Thanks for all thehelp, I might get that DMX you showed me and go from there :) I; guess it will plug into my pc so I program it?

Thankyou so much

Andrew

[Andrew_UK]

Hey again.

Right I've been thinking and looking around!!!

If I was to buy that DMX (above) and then get
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shrouded-3-pin-Male-IEC-Mains-Kettle-Type-Plugs-x-48_W0QQitemZ110158146896QQihZ001QQcategoryZ69963QQ cmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Then I go from the male plug to a plug socket, then plug in the lights, would that work? If mate makes sences!! if not I will draw a pic! LOL :D

cheers
Andrew

[DynamoBen]

That should work fine.

[Andrew_UK]

Brilliant thnkx for your help.

I am sure I will have more questions soon!!

Just one more the DMX how does it connect to a computer, what connection type?

cheers

[DynamoBen]

The PC to DMX dongle interface is USB. The DMX dongle to dimmer interface is DMX cable.

[Andrew_UK]

ahh ok got ya :D

[Andrew_UK]

@DynamoBen - thanks for your help, I have decided I am not going to try to do with for this year I have too much going on at the moment to spend time getting things to work so I have got a friend that is going to help me build my own (with help of this forum ;)) we hope to start in feb 08.

For this year I am just going to add more lights and things to the display.