GRINCH BOARDS

[wjohn]

Some of you may be aware of the GRINCH design that RJ came up with earlier in the year. Both Wayne and I have designed PCBs (slightly different format) and I have had 50 made and sold thru word of mouth.

To try and make life a bit easier, I was thinking of running a COOP now for GRINCHs as this is now a proven design and a cheap replacement for the 595.

For those who are not aware, the GRINCH connects to the parallel port of the PC, the same as the Olsen, and can control 64 channels. there are only 4 ICs on the board, and a power LED. Unlike the 595, there are no Channel LEDs, this is bare bones, but very functional design.

The ICs are MBIs or allegros and they cost around $1.30 each.

the outputs are RJ45 sockets, which are configured to the SSR defacto standard for our community (SSR or SSROZ boards).

You can cascade the boards together, and there are multiple options for powering the board (runs off 5VDC). If you want more details, I have written a construction manual and I will send it to anyone who is interested (just PM me with your email contact details).

This poll is just to find out what interest there is, and should I place a large order in June.

 

[grages]

John,

Do you have a price structure for some reasonable size orders? I would probably be interested.

I realize that the Grinch was a bare bones design but I sort of wish it had the LED's. I have not even started soldering yet but to test it I will have to build some SSR's or some sort of SSR simulator to plug into the RJ45's. I remember reading somewere that only one resistor per Driver Chip (allegro or MBI) would be needed if they were added.

On the poll I'm sort of partial to my dog and his tail.

 

[Creg]

I probably would have gone for the grinch boards, but at this point have 4 and the parts are soon to be on the way (thanks to Jayson!) Unfortunate timing as it would have been much cheaper.

 

[wjohn]

John,

Do you have a price structure for some reasonable size orders? I would probably be interested.

On the poll I'm sort of partial to my dog and his tail.

I like the idea of my dog controlling the lights ;-)

I did a small run that were 8$ each, I am sure with a reasonable order that 4-5$ is acheiveable (plus postage).

 

[grages]

I like the idea of my dog controlling the lights ;-)

I did a small run that were 8$ each, I am sure with a reasonable order that 4-5$ is acheiveable (plus postage).

I have three of your (& RJ's) Grinch boards as you know and I think at a price point of about $24-$26(coop pricing) for the board and Parts (not including shipping) it's a steal and probably one of the lowest cost solutions for controlling Christmas lights. I think you are close to $0.50 per channel for the controller.

At $5 per board I would probably order 4.

 

[Josh]

if they get to 5ish a board, put me down for 2

 

[wjohn]

I decided to order another batch of boards and these ones will be 5$. I have recovered all the tooling costs in the first batch and that has helped me drop the price. Shipping will be $5, unless it turns from a letter rate to a parcel rate and then the postal charge will go up.

This batch will also be ROHS as well, and the overlay will be YELLOW instead of white, to indicate that they are different.

Let me know if you want to proceed via a PM.

John.

 

[Brad Riley]

coop Grinch boards

I will take 2 Grinch boards.

Brad

 

[grages]

Re: coop Grinch boards

I will take 2 Grinch boards.

Brad

Brad, you will also need 32 SSR boards. If you don't get them from John you should look on the coop sections and jump in there. We are almost to the 400 board mark and the price drops to $1.50/ SSR board + shipping at that point.

 

[wjohn]

Re: coop Grinch boards

I will take 2 Grinch boards.

Brad

Brad, you will also need 32 SSR boards. If you don't get them from John you should look on the coop sections and jump in there. We are almost to the 400 board mark and the price drops to $1.50/ SSR board + shipping at that point.

If I could get an order for 400+ boards, I could do them (SSROZ) at 1$ each. thats 3 for 2. What a bargin.

 

[grages]

Re: coop Grinch boards

I will take 2 Grinch boards.

Brad

Brad, you will also need 32 SSR boards. If you don't get them from John you should look on the coop sections and jump in there. We are almost to the 400 board mark and the price drops to $1.50/ SSR board + shipping at that point.

If I could get an order for 400+ boards, I could do them (SSROZ) at 1$ each. thats 3 for 2. What a bargin.

John,

Why are we not doing it that way? I don't want to stir up trouble with anyone, I know that you and Sean have had discussions. Shipping might be a little more from Australia. I believe that your boards are the same design as Sean's boards. I think you and Sean should discuss this.

Shawn

 

[grages]

John,

Is there a board price for 600, 800, etc? Where is the next price point, or is there one.

Shawn

 

[wjohn]

Here are some projections:

200 - 1.00$
400 - 90c
500 - 80c
1000 - 70c

shipping, i can do it two ways. 10$ ~ 12$ direct to the person. I have also looked at a large drop ship to a US address and getting a 'third person' to break up the order and ship. Jeff in NJ has agreed to help. that would drop the postage to ~8$.

the time frame is 7 days (+plus 2 days shipping), taking it to 12 days (would save about another 10%)


John.

(don't want to rock the boat)

 

[grages]

Here are some projections:

200 - 1.00$
400 - 90c
500 - 80c
1000 - 70c

shipping, i can do it two ways. 10$ ~ 12$ direct to the person. I have also looked at a large drop ship to a US address and getting a 'third person' to break up the order and ship. Jeff in NJ has agreed to help. that would drop the postage to ~8$.

the time frame is 7 days (+plus 2 days shipping), taking it to 12 days (would save about another 10%)


John.

(don't want to rock the boat)

I realize some have said that you have to look at pictures upside down, is it a down under thing putting the dollar signs after the the monatary value? :lol:

 

[Jeff Millard]

OK to drop ship here, that'll save on shipping from AU. I don't know if anyone has discussed this or not, but wjohn's boards are a little smaller than the other board. I'm glad I got 25 of them from him.

John, have you considered changing the fuse to the one used on the SimpleIO SSR's? The part numbers from Mouser for the fuse holder, cover and fuse are as follows:

Holder 534-4527 (65 cents)
Cover 534-4527C (26 cents)
6.3A Fuse 576-021706.3HXP (25 cents)

Jeff

PS Why aren't we discussing this in the SSR section?

 

[Aurbo99]

Sign me up for 2 Grinch boards please

Aurbo99

 

[trevorgreen]

I would like 2 grinch boards please

Regards
Trevor

 

[wjohn]

Sign me up for 2 Grinch boards please

Aurbo99

I would like 2 grinch boards please

Regards
Trevor

Emails sent.

John.

 

[bonuts]

Hi wjohn, if you have any board on hand I'd like two. If not, I would definitely participate in a coop. Thanks. Glynn.

 

[RonnieK]

Hey wjohn, I am new to this and think I'm ready to get started. I think I would like to get 2 boards and give it a try.