Relay Boards?

[bhilpert]

I am looking to start using more relay boards in my haunted house but need some help.

I have been using a simple 8 channel parallel board for the past 4 years. I honestly just found Vixen late last year and began to realize to kind of props that I could make using vixen. I don't have a computer anymore with parallel port and need new options

I would like a few 8 and 16 channel board (with the ability to dimming and fade). I see the Renard board looks like a good board but I do not know much about it or what else is out there.

I have looked at the LOR (light o Rama) equipment and that looks to be in line with what I would like to do but I don't want to be locked into using LOR equipment and software for the next 30 years.

Any help would be great

[jem5136]

I would suggest using Renard boards, or even Lynx Expresses. For a haunted house, a Lynx Express would be really cool, because they run in a DMX universe without having to do anything special to them, and then later on down the road, you could add different special effects through a DMX stream.

But if you want to keep it simple, go with Renard, its the best choice for simplicity.

Jesse

[budude]

I am looking to start using more relay boards in my haunted house but need some help.

I have been using a simple 8 channel parallel board for the past 4 years. I honestly just found Vixen late last year and began to realize to kind of props that I could make using vixen. I don't have a computer anymore with parallel port and need new options

I would like a few 8 and 16 channel board (with the ability to dimming and fade). I see the Renard board looks like a good board but I do not know much about it or what else is out there.

I have looked at the LOR (light o Rama) equipment and that looks to be in line with what I would like to do but I don't want to be locked into using LOR equipment and software for the next 30 years.

Any help would be great

The Renard SS series (8, 16 or 24 channels) are good choices for running AC devices/lights. There are several controllers for running DC stuff as well - if you can define what you want to do we can help you decide. Note that all of the Renard boards can run either Renard/Serial code or Renard/DMX code so you don't have to worry about being locked down in any way. Basically there are two major distinctions between the controllers - those with on-board SSRs (AC or DC) and those with external SSRs (AC or DC). Look through the Hardware section of the Wiki for more information.

[IdunBenhad]

Hi:
You didn't say what kind of computer you have now, but if you are using a desktop PC, you can add a PCI parallel board to one of the slots. That way you can continue to use your existing setup and add to and improve it by starting to changeover to Renard or similar controllers.

[Greg in Canby]

This year I'm building my first SS8 board specifically for halloween. The computer will be in the garage and via wireless (REN-W) the SS8 will be outside, across the walk way to the entry - no wires to trip over!

[pete]

Relay Boards= Noisy operating board good for one season if you luck

[DynamoBen]

What about this? I use mine every year for Halloween and it works well.
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/for...ead.php?t=4723

I have a much bigger and powerful Propeller version on the way.
http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com...ad.php?t=12334

[ErnieHorning]

Small relays make less noise then large ones. The cycle life is at the full current rating so they will last longer at less current. If you don't toggle them at epileptic speeds, they'll last longer too.

[WireWrap]

...

If you don't toggle them at epileptic speeds, they'll last longer too.

Awwww! Where's the fun in that???!!! :D :D

[bhilpert]

Great Feedback

Do boards like the renard use relays or are they something different?
I assume they are traic (sp) since they have a dimming option like a light organ

I am not familiar with DMX - I will need to do more research

The Renard and D-Light board are what I am looking at
I only need 8 channels per board (but if there were more I could start doing a christmas display)

I have 6 old PC tower and 2 old labtops

I will use the boards to automate the props
I will use 1 computer and 1 board for each prop
Right now most of the props are triggered with motion sensor and I can only turn it all on or all off
I will use a triggered response to run vixen to activate the props


Here a few of the props I have built in the past
The electric chair was done with Vixen and a 8 port parallel relay board - FYI it was a nightmare to get one of the old computer with a parallel port to run vixen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3tOWJpa-FI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNtmRKrZsQA