New Beta Code - renard-20070811.asm

**P. Short** · 08-13-2007, 11:44 PM

Here is a new version of the code. In addition to some re-organization of the ISR code, it has modest support for zero-crossing SSRs added to the PWM version (regular and DC versions should behave the same as they do now). The change in behavior affects only the PWM code with a brightness level of 255 - the new version will drive the SSR continuously, even through the zero-crossing time, so that zero-crossing SSRs can be turned on. In all other cases the PIC outputs are turned off around the zero-crossing, to prevent some twinkling that xmus noticed under light loads.

--

Phil

**xmus** · 08-14-2007, 02:01 AM

Hi Phil,

I will be evaluating this code with the XMUS board this week.

I need to program some PIC's for some folks next week, so I'm trying to get re-oriented with the status of the FW.

I'm trying to determine if this code has the "user friendly" changes you did a few months back for:
1) "user friendly" Internal/external OSC selection
2) "user friendly" baud rate selection
3) "lockout" (Is it even necessary these days?)

It sounds like this new code has both PWM and "traditional" signaling options in it? Is that true? In the past I tried to stay away from the PWM code because it used a lot more power...

Thanks,
Dave

**xmus** · 08-14-2007, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by xmus

1) "user friendly" Internal/external OSC selection
2) "user friendly" baud rate selection
3) "lockout" (Is it even necessary these days?)
4) It sounds like this new code has both PWM and "traditional" signaling options in it?

Looks like YES YES YES and YES respectively.
Nice work Phil.

And your default is external oscillator at 57600 and PWM=OFF.

I will ship programmed pic's with your defaults unless there is push-back for some reason from you or others:

One noted issue with this code:

With a single C7 load, when going 100% on for 1 second, follwed by 100% off for 1 second, the single C7 bulbs glow slightly. Heavily loaded channels look perfect.

A very slow ramp from 0% to 100% and then 100% to 0% appears to work perfectly, in this case the single C7's do not twinkle inappropriately.

It is almost 2AM on a "school night" so I'm off to bed, i imagine we just need to tweak CTR_LOCKOUT 15 to a higher value? 20? 25?

No other issues noted, code looks GREAT and comments are fantastic as well.

Thanks Phil,
Dave

**P. Short** · 08-14-2007, 11:28 AM

I tried this same test just now with some 4W nightlight bulbs, and they turned on and off without any residual glow (using Renard8 and coop SSRs). I'll try it with the xmus board a little later today.

Is there any chance that you have set the 'minimum' value in Vixen to some number greater than zero?

--

Phil