Basic How to: Teensy ++2

[tsargeant]

Hi - this post is for those who have purchased a Teensy++2 board and are wondering how to go about using it for a light show. This is not the only way to configure the board - but it is a quick and relatively simple way to get some results.

This is written for those with little, to no IT/programming/electrical experience - please don't take offence to this - as I don't know the ability of those reading this post.

Insert all the usual waivers here... these are just the steps I've taken to get Teensy ++2 working... You follow these steps at your own risk - don't blame me if things go bang and you let the smoke out :p

This is a quick and easy, step-by-step guide to configure your shiny new Teensy++2 to talk with Vixen 2.1.

Outline:
software you'll need:
Vixen 2.1
Arduino 1.0 Software - http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
Teensy Loader - http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/loader.html
serial_install.exe - http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/usb_serial.html (Windows Driver Installer)
Teensyduino - http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_download.html - Teensy Add-in files for coding in Arduino software...

Please download and install all these before trying to upload anything to the Teensy board.

The attachment contains: Teensy.zip
Serial___1_00_002___no_PWM.ino:- The code to load into the Teensy via the Arduino 1.0 software. This file gives 27 channels - no Pulse Width Modulation. The file is well documented you should be able to add or remove channels as required. This file is set to assume a header of (HD) and footer (FT) are sent in the serial data. Please make sure you follow the steps below to add the header and footer details.

Teensy Serial.dll - This is a modified DLL, the original Generic Serial Output plug-in couldn't make use of Com Ports above Com4. It is the same code as KCs original - with the only mod being it can now use up to Com32.

Extract the zip file to a location that is easy to find - eg c:\temp\teensy
if you want to use the DLL - just copy it to the "Plugins\Output" directory of vixen.

1) Open the Arduino 1.0 software
2) From the File menu, select "Open" - browse to the location you extracted the zip file and select Serial__1_00_002__no_pwm.ino
3) Make any changes you require for the Pin variables...
4) Verify the code (the Tick icon)
5) Upload the code to the Teensy board (the arrow icon)
6) open Vixen
7) From the "Profiles menu" - select "Manage"
8) Create a new profile - give it a name - eg Teensy - Click "ok"
9) Add 27 channels...
10) Select "Output Plugins" button at the bottom of the profile screen.
11) Select the DLL you'll be using - either the Generic Serial Output or Teensy ++2 Serial Control
12) Click/highlight the Plugin in the "Plugins in Use" box - verify the channel numbers are correct: 1 to 27
13) Click "Plugin Setup"
14) Select the correct Com Port for your Teensy ++2 board
15) Select the tickbox "Send a text header" and enter HD in the textbox provided.
16) Select the tickbox "Send a text footer" and enter FT in the textbox provided.
17) Select "Done", select "Done" again
18) Create a new event sequence using the "Vixen standard sequence" - during the setup it will ask which profile to use... select the one you have just created from the steps above.
19) Test the channels from the vixen interface....

I hope that helps... that code will get you to the point where your Teensy is now switching channels on/off via vixen. What you switch is up to you... LEDs on a breadboard do look good... but only for so long. You can't run thousands of LEDs directly from the Teensy - but you can switch 5v relays - which in turn have thousands of LEDs connected to them. Then the fun begins...

[homegrowncorals]

Is there a smart one in the house that can tell me why this code dosent seem to work it just locks the chip up.

never mind dummy me got it to work. i was having a loading problem it seems.

[tsargeant]

Is there a smart one in the house that can tell me why this code dosent seem to work it just locks the chip up.

never mind dummy me got it to work. i was having a loading problem it seems.

Hey Homegrowncorals,

I see you got it working in the end - if you have any probs just let me know - i'm more than happy to help out with anything.

[homegrowncorals]

Help!!!! LOL all right got this working and tripping 24 relays, but they work in reverse and i had to switch the one wire to the other contact as a fix, but this makes the led indicator lights work backward on the relay Board, but,,, (add help here ) I was wondering if there might be someone who can tell me if there is a change in the code one might be Abel to help with that would change the high on command to a low on one. at least its working and i can use it this season to run some props and free up some light channels on my other boards.

[tsargeant]

Help!!!! LOL all right got this working and tripping 24 relays, but they work in reverse and i had to switch the one wire to the other contact as a fix, but this makes the led indicator lights work backward on the relay Board, but,,, (add help here ) I was wondering if there might be someone who can tell me if there is a change in the code one might be Abel to help with that would change the high on command to a low on one. at least its working and i can use it this season to run some props and free up some light channels on my other boards.

Hi HomeGrownCorals,

Sorry about the delay in replying, I've been getting ready for a winter holiday.

I'm not sure I quite follow your post... The Teensy code I wrote was designed to set an I/O pin high when a channel is selected in vixen (or whatever software package you're using).
With the board my brother and I setup - we are using 5V Solid State Relays with the teensy supplying the 5V required to activate each SSR.

You could certainly reverse the logic in the teensy sketch... but I'm not sure that would help with the problem.

[homegrowncorals]

Hey no hurry , im having fun with it but i am really over my head here.
We are on the right page , is there a way to change the I/O pin to low when the channel is selected in vixen. the mechanical relay module I'm using to make up a prop controller for some reason are set up to trip on low and off on high.. go figure.