DMX/Simple Renard's

[Mactayl]

Hi All

Well first off I would like to thank Andrew (LabRat) for his work on getting DMX working on the Simple Renard's. A lot of folks have been asking when the Simple Renard boards would be able to use DMX so about a week ago LabRat took on the challenge and whipped up some code using Black Magic and some powdered guacamole. There is some more testing to be completed but at this point it looks very good. I ran some tests this morning with LED's and incandescent mini lights and so far all looks good including all the dimming levels. We will keep you posted on the progress and update this thread with any new info.

[Skunberg]

Anything about mixing AC and DC SSRs yet?

[LabRat]

Uhmm... what's the issue? Both AC and DC SSRs should be supported on the SimpleREN's, as long as you are using an AC power supply.
(If only using a DC wallWart, then you won't get the zero crossing)

Not sure what you are asking about.

[dlovely]

I think he wants to mix DCSSRs and ACSSRs on the same PIC. Currently the firmware only supports all Negative or Positive outputs like the 688's.

[LabRat]

????

Then I've got something mis-understood in how the blinky world is working.

The only time I've run across the signals being inverted was on the REN24LV, as it went through the ULN chips.

Once the signal on the 24LV was corrected, I've used it to drive DC and/or ACSSRs, without the need to toggle anything.

Consider:
ACSSR - MOC3023 - pull it to GND to trigger it.
DCSSR - K847PH - pull it to GND to trigger it

Or is there a different type of ACSSR out there?

[Mactayl]

If you look at the .inc file for the SR 32 Combo there is a selection for ULN2803's, I think the question was brought up last week about AC and DC running at the same time on one SR 32,, I was going to check both on one controller for verification and make sure that ZC did not effect LED dimming levels compared to the AC dimming levels.. I can't find my DC SSR's at the moment... But my guess is that the DC LED's will turn on sightly earlier then the AC Incans.

Hope this helps..

[LabRat]

Ahh.. ok. It's the trigger to the TRIAC versus the PWM of the DCSSR! That's the concern?

[Mactayl]

Ahh.. ok. It's the trigger to the TRIAC versus the PWM of the DCSSR! That's the concern?

Yep you got it.

[LabRat]

My recollection on *this* was that the PWM would work against the SS series.. *but* would draw more current.
I think I'd have to put a scope on the output to confirm that though. There's a standard PWM option in the default
('688) REN code base as well. Just not sure how they are approaching it, versus the SimpleREN... I'll have to take a
closer look.

[dlovely]

Haha, I have been working with the Ren48LSD too much, forgot about the transistors! Good catch.