Newbie here!

[Jdwagner888]

hey fellas. im a newbie here, about last christmas after i did my first animated show (32 channels of lor) one of my dads friends gave me a packet with printouts on guides along with a circuit board that would need supplies to put together.


well first off, i am in Levittown PA

My names Jeff

I am obsessed with christmas

My second year animating was last year, the first was a plug and play mr christmas box.

i know alot about Light o ramma and sequencing, but the products are just too damned expensive!

Anyway back on topic, one of my dads friends gave me this board awhile back and said it costs like 80$ to make a 64 channel dimmable controller?!?
I searched around and am clueless at what im looking at along with the beginners guide.

is this board dimmable? says on the side

Copyright 2006 brian bresocnik 595 ver. 2.4.1


it also has alot of number coded circles i guess to place LED's so u can see on the board each channel? any info is greatly appreciated and once again thankyou!!!!

Edit btw, www.levittownlights.350.com is my website. vids r on

[ctmal]

Hello neighbor(well, not exactly but from nearby)
This link should help you out!
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2840

[tjetzer]

Welcome Jeff. Looks like you had a nice display last year. You gave me a few more songs I'd like to sequence.

Now if only there were enough time!

[g2ktcf]

hey fellas. im a newbie here, about last christmas after i did my first animated show (32 channels of lor) one of my dads friends gave me a packet with printouts on guides along with a circuit board that would need supplies to put together.


well first off, i am in Levittown PA

My names Jeff

I am obsessed with christmas

My second year animating was last year, the first was a plug and play mr christmas box.

i know alot about Light o ramma and sequencing, but the products are just too damned expensive!

Anyway back on topic, one of my dads friends gave me this board awhile back and said it costs like 80$ to make a 64 channel dimmable controller?!?
I searched around and am clueless at what im looking at along with the beginners guide.

is this board dimmable? says on the side

Copyright 2006 brian bresocnik 595 ver. 2.4.1


it also has alot of number coded circles i guess to place LED's so u can see on the board each channel? any info is greatly appreciated and once again thankyou!!!!

Edit btw, www.levittownlights.350.com is my website. vids r on


Welcome Jeff!

The 595 board is well known here. However, unless you have a special add-on board, it most likely will not be dimmable controller. First thing you need to do is check and see if you have the parts list for the board. Compare what you find to the wiki. Look up in the top menu bar for the link. Head to Hardware>595. I am sure you will have some very detailed questions after that. So then you can post them here or visit us in Flash Chat.

Good Luck,
Chris

[ctmal]

Another thought might be that before you invest in populating that board which doesn't dim you might want to look into starting fresh with a board that does dim. The overall cost may be just about the same.
This will give you a general rundown of all the controllers.
http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=7_Steps_to_Selecting_a_Controller

Also, if your LOR controllers are capable of DMX and you go with a diy controller that can handle DMX(Renard can do it as well as some others) you'lll be able to control them all through Vixen.

[budude]

I couldn't agree with Chris more - if you're coming from LOR boxes (I have two 1602Ws myself in DMX mode) I think you will be disappointed with that 595 controller. If you had a bag of parts with it - ok - go for it - but with no parts - I personally wouldn't bother with it. They require a real parallel port and you have to keep it tethered to the PC pretty close.

If you are looking to expand, check out the Buy/Sell/Trade forum here, check the Co-Ops (don't think there is a controller one open at the moment though) or put up a Want-To-Buy post.

Welcome to DIYC!

Brian

[Jdwagner888]

ok so this 595 is garbage to me then? ill just throw it in the garage somewear..

so i read that wiki about witch controller best suites me. it looks like my choices are lynx or renard? witch one should i go for that is closest to LOR that you guys would think be an easier way for me to go.

Im trying to run a few hundred feet from computer to my boards. all the boards are going to be scattered around yard. (Probably one or 2) i would be happy with 64 channels this year. all dimmable ofcourse.

ty for all the replys

[Dino242]

ok so this 595 is garbage to me then? ill just throw it in the garage somewear..
Noooooooooooooooooo.... Someone somewhere will want it. Sell it on the Buy/Sell/Trade... or just send it to me :)

[Jdwagner888]

Noooooooooooooooooo.... Someone somewhere will want it. Sell it on the Buy/Sell/Trade... or just send it to me :)

how much do they go for?

[chilloutdocdoc]

I'd say that your best bet would be looking into an already dimmable board, examples being the Renard, Helix, FireGod.

Check out the wiki pages on each and I'm sure you will have MANY more questions to come, be sure to ask all you can and find out all you can, and even drop by the live chat where there's always (nearly) somebody in there that can answer your questions as fast as you can ask them.

[budude]

ok so this 595 is garbage to me then? ill just throw it in the garage somewear..


Yeah - sorry - I was looking at it from attempting to build/use it only - for sure do not throw it away! As Dino indicated, there's almost someone else around that will be interested in it. :razz:

[Jdwagner888]

ok, i looked over the wiki on the renard 64.

still a bit confused how it works? i see there are 4 channels to each "pod"?? is that what they are called?

i never worked with circuit boards before, but i am def up for the challenge! just cant see anything about the wiki's except alot of pictures of boards i dont know what each part does?

[budude]

There's basically two types of controllers - those with internal SSRs and those with external SSRs (you referred to them as 'pods'). The controller takes care of the communications to/from the PC and applying logic level (0-5v) signals following the sequence you program. These signals are then applied to other logic - SSRs - that switch the higher voltage/amp currents. There's several reasons for choosing internal vs external but the end result is essentially the same. The Ren64 uses external SSRs that switch four AC circuits each - so you would need 16 of them to fully utilize the controller. Keep in mind you will also need cabling between the controller and SSRs as well as enclosures and power cables out of them to your lights.

Another option are the Ren SS series - these all have built-in/internal SSRs so you save a bit on enclosures/cabling but overall it's nearly the same amount of electrical components. The only disadvantage is that you typically need more extension cords since all of the connections come out of the one box. Sometimes this doesn't matter since you can put these in the area you need them to drive that part of the display - like a set of arches or a mega-tree.

Look through the Ren SS documentation - it's very well written and should give you a good idea of everything required.

[sjwilson122]

The four channel "pods" are 4 channel ssr boards. The 595 boards also use these "pods". You may be able to make the 595 boards dim using the ren-c board also. The ren-c would be the driver for the 595 board.

Here is the link for the ssr boards
http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Solid_State_Relays

[Jdwagner888]

this ren ss series your talking about, is this the 24 one? witch wiki should i read up on? thanks again

[budude]

Here you go:
http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=Renard_Main_Page

The newer boards are the SS series in 8, 16 and 24 channel configurations. They were all designed to use the same parts/code and all work together. For instance you could start with a Renard 16SS this year and then the next year get 10 more (which WILL happen! :p) and hook them all up together.

Go through the Wiki a couple of times - much of the documentation correlates to other controllers as well.

[ctmal]

I just want to input, the board you have is not useless by any means, it's just a board that won't dim natively. There are alot of situations in a display that don't require dimming. I'm not a guru by any means but since you have nothing invested so far and you want dimming, it would probably save money to go with a board that natively supports dimming.

The board you have and a board such as the Ren64 would require SSR's in addition to the board itself to actually control your lights. Each SSR is 4 channels and a board such as the Ren64 can control a total of 64 channels(16 srrs). Controllers such as the RenSS are nothing more that the same type of controller but the SSR's are included onboard(the Ren16=16 channels, Ren24=24 channels, etc.)


Having said that, if you decide to go with a solution other than the board you have you have the options of what sort of topology(fancy word for setup) would suit you best. I personally prefer the decentralized setup(which the RenSS would provide) but your setup may be better suited for a more centralized setup(like the Ren64). That link I posted in to the wiki is a great resource to decide whichever would be best for you.

[Jdwagner888]

thanks everyone for your answers! so glad ppl are actualy nice here compared to some other forums ive been on >.<
i am going to read up on these rens you guys talk about because my yard is very small. so i can easily place it like under my mega-tree and run cords to it.

btw this is my 3rd and last year of xmas decor/animation. I leave for the navy march 8th. but im sure once i settle down again ill be doing this again with whatever new technology is out at the time :)

anyway off to work. thankyou everyone. im sure after i read the wiki i will have more questions!!!

[51fordf2]

btw this is my 3rd and last year of xmas decor/animation. I leave for the navy march 8th.

JD - anchors aweigh, my boy! I did my 6 years...

Hey, if you end up ship-board, maybe you can light up the ship??!!?? Now, THAT would be impressive!!

:D

Roger

[Jdwagner888]

haha dont think theyl let me light up the ship. im goin on an aircraft carrier fixing and installing electronics on the airplanes. plus thatd be ALOT of lights

[Jdwagner888]

alright i read through some of the wiki's i think im going to head in the renardss24 route.

it looks like a fairly easy to build board. but my question is, is there a parts list/guide to putting these together? i dont have much soldering skills. but im pushing myself to learn. btw wear can i order the parts needed? ty again

[Wayne J]

alright i read through some of the wiki's i think im going to head in the renardss24 route.

it looks like a fairly easy to build board. but my question is, is there a parts list/guide to putting these together? i dont have much soldering skills. but im pushing myself to learn. btw wear can i order the parts needed? ty again

Yep, sure does. Everything you need about the Renard SS boards is in the wiki.
http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Renard_SS24_Controller_Board

If you do have a question that is not covered there, please feel free to ask. ;)

[Jdwagner888]

thanks guys. im still reading up. now that i know wear to get parts from. are there people who sell full kits ready to go or soldered? (like all parts + board together) and how much do they run

[Jdwagner888]

ok i just purchased all the necesary parts from mouser. quite a few of them are back-ordered. is this normal? will i have them before halloween? and was the circuit board itself included in that parts list or do i have to buy one off someone else here?

[bmcgeeny]

ok so this 595 is garbage to me then? ill just throw it in the garage somewear..

Don't throw it out. send it to me and I'll recycle it properly.


so i read that wiki about witch controller best suites me. it looks like my choices are lynx or renard?

We don't have any witch controllers here, but somebody did control a skeleton one time.


witch one should i go for that is closest to LOR that you guys would think be an easier way for me to go.

There is nothing even close to LOR here. All the contollers were created by much superior minds.


Im trying to run a few hundred feet from computer to my boards. all the boards are going to be scattered around yard. (Probably one or 2) i would be happy with 64 channels this year. all dimmable ofcourse.

ty for all the replys

RS 232 to 485 converter

YW!

[Jdwagner888]

lol yeah im guna hold onto this board. ill find something fun to do with it. :)

anyway where can i purchase a Renss24 controller board? I bought all the mouser parts the wiki told me to, is it included in there? also does anyone suggest a soldering iron that i buy? whats a good one thats cheap

[g2ktcf]

lol yeah im guna hold onto this board. ill find something fun to do with it. :)

anyway where can i purchase a Renss24 controller board? I bought all the mouser parts the wiki told me to, is it included in there? also does anyone suggest a soldering iron that i buy? whats a good one thats cheap

No boards from mouser...PM WayneJ for the SS boards.
hmmm I have been trying to answer the tools requirements in this new wiki page...http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/wiki/index.php?title=DIYC_Tools

Check out the link to the CSI-2A station.

[deplanche]

Check out the link to the CSI-2A station.

When I first got started in this hobby, I purchased one of those soldering irons from radio shack that cost around $15 in a kit. It worked, and I was able to make quite a few boards with it. However, the tip didn't last long, and when I went to change it out, it broke off in the iron. As a replacement I got the CSI-2A, and it works much better than the cheap version I had before. Being able to control the heat and having better quality tips are well worth the cost.

[Jdwagner888]

im going to check radio shack for the 15$ one for now. then ill upgrade later. ty for info

[bmcgeeny]

lol yeah im guna hold onto this board. ill find something fun to do with it. :)

anyway where can i purchase a Renss24 controller board? I bought all the mouser parts the wiki told me to, is it included in there? also does anyone suggest a soldering iron that i buy? whats a good one thats cheap

Boy are you gonna be fun.

[Jdwagner888]

Boy are you gonna be fun.


lol sorry. like i said in above posts, i dont know squat about making circuit boards ect. ive been reading up alot and most of the stuff i dont really get, but im slowly learning. and i really do appreciate the help everyones giving me.;)