dimming the grinch

[rogerv]

Hi, I'm confused by a problem browsing the Internet I found many websites that use christmas light show with dimable Grinch. But some use the ren-c with a device called Zc detector, but found that to be dimmable Grinch needed a re-c connected to a renard. I also found it transformed into the Grinch dimable using a dmx converter and another device that was used not as understanding.

So my question is, how can I convert the Grinch in the dimmable easiest way possible?

Sorry for my English, I am Spanish and I do not know speak very well.

[bmcgeeny]

Hi, I'm confused by a problem browsing the Internet I found many websites that use christmas light show with dimable Grinch. But some use the ren-c with a device called Zc detector, but found that to be dimmable Grinch needed a re-c connected to a renard. I also found it transformed into the Grinch dimable using a dmx converter and another device that was used not as understanding.

So my question is, how can I convert the Grinch in the dimmable easiest way possible?

Sorry for my English, I am Spanish and I do not know speak very well.

If you currentyly have a working Grinch. ON/OFF only, the easiest is to use a Ren-T/Ren-C/Grinch

Dimming a Grinch (http://www.christmasinshirley.com/wiki/index.php?title=Renard-595_Converter)

Scroll down until you get to the picture of the "single REN-C/Grinch. It is a pretty good diagram of how it works.

The Boards for the Ren T are no longer available, but you don't need all the extras anyway, just the transformer and diodes, there is a thread about a simple Ren-T that works well. The Ren C there are still some around and that is a realitively easy one to build.

There are lots of threads about the best way to do it but I believe this is about the simplest.

[animal]

Try here first. If you scroll to the bottom, it talks about dimming the grinch,and gives you links to the procedures. If you have a Grinch controler now. This is an option to get it to be dimmable. It would not be a first choice if you do not have a contoler. A better choice for dimming would be a board already set up for dimming. (ren8, ren16, ren24, ren64). I had 2 Grinch's set up for dimming in 2008, and I acheived pretty good results. This year I am adding 2 ren24 for my mega tree and will eventualy replace my grinches with ren64s'

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

animal

[Wayne J]

Do you currently have a Grinch board or are you just getting started?

[rogerv]

I currently have a Grinch board, all chanels in use

[jpb]

morta, I generated my ZC using the circuit shown in post 10 of this thread
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5933

The H11AA1 is available from Texas Instruments as a sample.

I made mine on an offcut of strip board and powered it from the 24VAC that runs my lights.

Jon

[rogerv]

thanks for the replies, but I think I have another problem, I have 220v electricity and do not know if this official since Zc is connected directly to electricity. or so I do not understand very well as it connects

Morta

[P. Short]

If you are using 240VAC and are having some communication/language difficulties, I think that you would be better off using a 24VAC transformer in between the AC line and the H11AA1 device that people have mentioned above. That will be much safer for you.

[rogerv]

ok, but ren-c work at 24v? Grinch work at 5v, and at the diagram of the pcb of ren-c, i watch de conections of Zc to ren-c. The zc probides de power to ren-c?

[toodle_pipsky]

A picture is worth a thousand words (in any language)! I hope this helps you!

With a jumper at J1 (top corner near power) the Grinch will send power to the Ren-C. The way I have created the ZC (zero crossing) is by connecting 24VAC to a H11AA1 cip and 2 resistors. All you need to do is change the 2 resistors to suit your power. I get 24VAC from a left over power plug from a set of Christmas lights - so you might be able to do the same.

[jmksparks]

ok, but ren-c work at 24v? Grinch work at 5v, and at the diagram of the pcb of ren-c, i watch de conections of Zc to ren-c. The zc probides de power to ren-c?

Morta, Ren-c = 5volt operation ONLY derived from either grinch/ 595/ or?
Ren-c ZC = a signal from an A/C source. ( Not power )
ZC is a "signal" needed by the Ren-c. either by Toodles picture or a
12v CT transformer and diodes method. If you need more help where all here Iam sure. JK.

[kfindley]

i was goin through this thread and was wanting to dim my grinch also and was wandering if i had to get the ren-t also wit the ren c or if i can just use the ren c. also who can i get the pcb's from

[RPM]

If you are using DMX to control your show another option is my Grinch DMX dimmer interface.
It works on 120/240VAC (version 2) so it would work with your setup, and it's a single board interface solution for making your Grinch do dimming.

Here's a link to more info:
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6520

I am about to do a co-op for the version 2 PC board so if you are interested, keep an eye out on that thread.

I know it sounds like a shameless plug for my design, but I though I'd throw it out there ;)


Robert

[dnesci]

i was goin through this thread and was wanting to dim my grinch also and was wandering if i had to get the ren-t also wit the ren c or if i can just use the ren c. also who can i get the pcb's from

The Ren T feeds the zero crossing signal to the Ren C. The Ren C does the dimming for the Grinch. Power to the Ren C comes from the Grinch. The original Ren T has its own on board power supply. It also has the capability of converting the RS232 signal to RS 485.

I don't believe there is a supply for Ren T boards anymore, but wjohn may have Ren C boards.

As noted above, in place of the Ren T you can make a simple curcuit to provide the zero crossing signal. See Toodle post above.

Don

[rogerv]

how many ohms should have resistance to 24VAC?

[jpb]

Morta, if you going to use the H11AA1 to generate the ZC this picture may help and the value of the resistors is 3.3k for 24VAC

Jon

[rogerv]

tankyou for the replies!!!!:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: