Renard Main Page
General Information and How-To's
- Renard is the name of a computer-controlled, PIC-based dimmer scheme, and also refers to dimming controllers that people have built based on this scheme. The designs all use mid-range PIC micro-controllers, are generally modular in units of eight channels (dimmable circuits), and use medium-speed, daisy-chainable, one-direction serial communications for input. Renard controllers do not have stand-alone show sequencing capabilities, and rely on a separate computer (usually a PC) to send it real-time sequences of dimmer commands.
- Renard is strictly a do-it-yourself project, and there aren't any commercial (hardware or software) products available. There are, however, a number of PCB designs that people have created and made available for others to order on a coop basis. These include:
- Renard8 - a small 8-channel (single PIC) board for use with external SSRs.
- Renard SS8 - a 8-channel (single PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by Wayne J)
- Renard16 - a 16-channel (two-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by xmus)
- Renard SS16 - a 16-channel (two-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by Wayne J)
- Renard24 - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by fkostyun)
- Renard24LV - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board for use with external SSRs (pcb design by fkostyun)
- Renard SS24 - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by Wayne J)
- Renard64 - a 64-channel (eight-PIC) board that uses external SSRs.
- Ren-T - a transformer board for use with Renard to supply power, zero-crossing signal, and/or RS485 conversion
- Ren-C - a board that converts a 595/Grinch (normally non-dimming) board to a dimming 64-channel board.
General Renard Information
- Renard: General Overview
- Renard Standard Setup: Simplified Connection Instructions
- Renard Firmware: Description and Download
- PIC Programming Hints: p16f688.inc error, PIC16F688 Programming Socket/Adapter.
Renard Board Designs
- Renard8: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM)
- Renard SS8: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)
- Renard16: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)
- Renard SS16: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)
- Renard24: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)
- Renard24LV: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)
- Renard SS24: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)
- Renard64: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM)
- Renard-595 Converter: Description of a Board for 192-level Dimming of the 64-Channel Olsen Controller or the GRINCH Controller
- Ren-T: A transformer board that can supply power and ZC for the Renard boards.