Comparison of DIY Boards: Difference between revisions

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== Notes on the use of these charts ==
== Notes on the use of these charts ==


'''The cost estimates are only that, estimates.'''   
:'''The cost estimates are only that, estimates.'''   
*They are generally based on placing a Mouser order for the parts for one board using the BOM that has been provided.  
::*They are generally based on placing a Mouser order for the parts for one board using the BOM that has been provided.  
*They do not include shipping.  
::*They do not include shipping.  
*The costs may significantly lower if the parts are obtained through a coop or from other sources.  
::*The costs may significantly lower if the parts are obtained through a coop or from other sources.  
*The price of electronic components and PCBs changes quickly.
::*The price of electronic components and PCBs changes quickly.
*Individual results will vary.   
::*Individual results will vary.   
'''My apologies to any/all board designers if I omitted some critical information.'''
:'''My apologies to any/all board designers if I omitted some critical information.'''
<br>
 


== Board Comparison ==
== Board Comparison ==
:The following tables have been updated to only include boards that are actively being supported by the DoItYourselfChristmas.com community.  Correct and accurate information concerning boards supported by other forums is best found there.
<br>


=== Light Controllers===
=== Light Controllers===


{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="text-align: center;"  
{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="text-align: center;"  
Line 18: Line 28:
!| Compatible with <br> COOP SSR || Requires External Power Supply || Estimated cost to <br> populate 1 board || Board COOP Status || PCB Dimensions
!| Compatible with <br> COOP SSR || Requires External Power Supply || Estimated cost to <br> populate 1 board || Board COOP Status || PCB Dimensions
|-
|-
| [[Olsen 595|COOP Olsen 595]] || 64 || No¹ || Parallel Port || Yes || Yes || $35-$40 || COOP currently in progress <br> boards available soon
| [[Olsen 595|COOP Olsen 595]] || 64 || No¹ || Parallel Port || Yes || Yes || $40-$50 || COOP complete <br> Contact macrosill || 4.4” x 7.8”
|-
| [[GRINCH_Controller_Assembly_Instructions|Grinch]] || 64 || No¹ || Parallel Port || Yes || Yes || $20-$25 || Boards Available <br> Contact wjohn || 2" x 6.8"
|-
| [[The Renard SS8 Controller Board | Renard SS8]] || 8 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || No || $35-$45 || Boards Available <br> Contact Wayne J || 3.4" x 6"
|-
|-
| [[GRINCH_Controller_Assembly_Instructions|Grinch]] || 64 || No¹ || Parallel Port || Yes || Yes || $17-$23 || COOP on-going <br> Contact wjohn || 2" x 6.8"
| [[Renard16]] <br> (Xmus16) || 16 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || Yes || $50-$60 || Boards Available <br> Contact wjohn || 2.9" x 7"
|-
|-
| [[Renard8]] || 8 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) <br> *Requires a ZC source<br> Ren-T is a good choice || Yes ||  Yes || $10-$12 || Beta COOP only || 1.5" x 2.5"
| [[The Renard SS16 Controller Board | Renard SS16]] || 16 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || No || $50-$60 || Boards Available <br> Contact Wayne J || 4.1" x 8"
|-
|-
| [[Renard16]] <br> (Xmus16) || 16 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) <br> Makes its own ZC|| N/A <br> On-board SSRs || Yes || $45-$55 || 3rd COOP <br> Starting 2009 <br> Contact wjohn || 2.9" x 7"
| [[24 Channel Renard with SSR Assembly Instructions | Renard24]] || 24 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || No || $75-$85 || COOP complete <br> contact fkostyun || 7” x 5.8”
|-
|-
| Renard24 || 24 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || No || $55-$65 || COOP complete <br> New COOP in 2009, contact Frank
| [[The Renard SS24 Controller Board | Renard SS24]] || 24 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || No || $65-$75 || Boards Available <br> Contact Wayne J || 4" x 11"
|-
|-
| [[Renard64]] || 64 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) <br> * Requires LV AC source || Yes || Yes || $75-$85 || COOP on-going <br> Contact wjohn || 4" x 5.35" (revXC) <br" 5" x 6.5" (XC)
| [[Renard64]] || 64 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232/RS-485) || Yes || Yes <br> * Requires LV AC source || $55-$65 || Boards Available <br> Contact wjohn || 5" x 6.5" <br> (Rev XC)
|-
|-
| Firegod <br> W/ 4 field Modules || 128 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232) || Yes <br> (with latest firmware)
| Firegod <br> W/ 4 field Modules || 128 || Yes || Serial Port <br> (RS-232) || Yes <br> (with latest firmware)
| No ||  $135-$145 <br> (w/ 4 field modules) || COOP complete <br> No boards available || 2.5" x 3.8"
| No ||  $135-$145 <br> (w/ 4 field modules) || COOP complete <br> No boards available || 2.5" x 3.8"
|-
|-
| Lynx || 16 || Yes || USB to DMX dongle <br> (DMX)² || N/A <br> On-board SSRs || No || $80 <br> (complete kit w case & pic programmed) || COOPS<br> running <br> Contact RJ
| [[Solid State Relays|COOP SSR]] <br> & <br> SSROZ V2.d || 4 || Yes || 4 Sinking inputs <br> from Controller Boards || N/A || N/A || $10-$12 || SSR COOP complete <br> No boards available <br> SSROZ <br> Boards Available <br> Contact wjohn
|-
| Freestyle|| 128 || Yes || USB to DMX dongle <br> (DMX)² || Yes || No || $75 <BR> (complete kit w case & pic programmed)||  COOPS  <br> running  <br> Contact RJ
|-
| [[Solid State Relays|COOP SSR]] <br> & <br> SSROZ V2.d || 4 || Yes || 4 Sinking inputs <br> from Controller Boards || NA || NA || $10-$12 || SSR COOP complete <br> No boards available <br> SSROZ COOP <br> on-going <br> Contact wjohn


|}
|}
<br>
:*Note¹ - Olsen 595 and Grinch can be dimmed by using a Ren-T (or other Zero Cross source) and Ren-C board
<br>


=== Other Boards Available ===
=== Other Boards Available ===




{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="text-align: center;"  
 
{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="text-align: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"  
|-  
|-  
!| Board || PC Communication Method || Function(s) || Estimated cost to populate board || Board COOP Status
!| Board || PC Communication Method || Function(s) || Estimated cost to populate board || Board COOP Status
|-
| [[Ren-T Assembly Instructions|Ren-T]] || Serial Port <br> (RS-232)
| align="left" | 1) Converts RS232 to RS485 <br> 2) Generates Zero Cross (ZC) signal <br> 3) Enables a RS485 pass-thru <br> 4) not requred for REN64XC || $18-$23 || COOP complete <br> No boards available
|-  
|-  
| [[Renard-595 Converter|Ren-C]] || Serial Port <br> (RS-232)  
| [[Renard-595 Converter|Ren-C]] || Serial Port <br> (RS-232)  
| align="left" | 1) Converts dimming Renard serial data into 595 compatable dimming data <br> 2) Creates dimming for the Olsen 595 and Grinch boards <br> <br> *Requires a ZC signal (Ren-T a good source) || $10-$12 || COOP on-going <br> Contact wjohn
| align="left" |  
#Converts dimming Renard serial data into 595 compatable dimming data  
#Creates dimming for the Olsen 595 and Grinch boards  
<br>
:*Requires a ZC signal  
|| $10-$12 || Boards Available <br> Contact wjohn
|-  
|-  
| LEDTriks || Parallel Port  
| LEDTriks || Parallel Port  
| align="left" | Used to generate messages/effects on a 16 x 48 grid of LEDs || $20-$25 || COOP on-going <br> Contact wjohn
| align="left" | Used to generate messages/effects on a 16 x 48 grid of LEDs || $20-$25 || Boards Available 
|-
<br> Contact wjohn
| Pixel || Serial Port <br> (DMX)³
| align="left" | RGB LED light device || $10 <br> (board comes completely assembled)
| COOP complete <br> Boards available <br> Contact JEC
|}
|}




*Note¹ - Olsen 595 and Grinch can be dimmed by using a Ren-T and Ren-C board
 
*Note² - Requires a Lynx DIY DMX dongle about $60 to control up to 512 channels worth of devices
*Note³ - Requires a DMX dongle to convert PC Serial data into DMX


== Board Construction Difficulty ==
== Board Construction Difficulty ==


'''This information is completely subjective and opinions will vary.''' 


An empty entry does not imply no problems. It only implies that, at this posting, no first-hand experience was available to make an entry.
:'''This information is completely subjective and opinions will vary.''' 
 
:An empty entry does not imply no problems. It only implies that, at this posting, no first-hand experience was available to make an entry.






{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="text-align: center;"  
{| border="1" cellpadding="10" style="text-align: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
!width="125"|  
!width="125"|  
!width="175"|  
!width="175"|  
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| Grinch || Easy || None
| Grinch || Easy || None
|-  
|-  
| Renard8 || Moderate  
| Renard SS8 || Moderate  
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
|-  
|-  
| Renard16 <br> (Xmus16) || Moderate  
| Renard16 <br> (Xmus16) || Moderate  
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
|-
| Renard SS16 || Moderate
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
|-  
|-  
| Renard24 || Moderate  
| Renard24 || Moderate  
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
|-
| Renard SS24 || Moderate
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
| align="left" | - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
|-  
|-  
Line 101: Line 125:
| align="left" |
| align="left" |
|-  
|-  
| Lynx || Easy
| align="left" | - Manual with pics/ basic soldering skills only
|-
| Freestyle || Easy
| align="left" | - Manual with pics/ basic soldering skills only
|-
| COOP SSR <br> & <br> SSROZ V2.d || Easy || None
| COOP SSR <br> & <br> SSROZ V2.d || Easy || None
|-
| Ren-T || Easy <br> To <br> Moderate
| align="left" | - 3 different options/cases that it can be built to
|-  
|-  
| Ren-C || Moderate  
| Ren-C || Moderate  

Revision as of 01:42, 27 February 2009

Notes on the use of these charts

The cost estimates are only that, estimates.
  • They are generally based on placing a Mouser order for the parts for one board using the BOM that has been provided.
  • They do not include shipping.
  • The costs may significantly lower if the parts are obtained through a coop or from other sources.
  • The price of electronic components and PCBs changes quickly.
  • Individual results will vary.
My apologies to any/all board designers if I omitted some critical information.



Board Comparison

The following tables have been updated to only include boards that are actively being supported by the DoItYourselfChristmas.com community. Correct and accurate information concerning boards supported by other forums is best found there.



Light Controllers

Controller Board Number of Channels Dimmable PC Communication Method Compatible with
COOP SSR		 Requires External Power Supply Estimated cost to
populate 1 board		 Board COOP Status PCB Dimensions
COOP Olsen 595 64 No¹ Parallel Port Yes Yes $40-$50 COOP complete
Contact macrosill		 4.4” x 7.8”
Grinch 64 No¹ Parallel Port Yes Yes $20-$25 Boards Available
Contact wjohn		 2" x 6.8"
Renard SS8 8 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232/RS-485)		 N/A
On-board SSRs		 No $35-$45 Boards Available
Contact Wayne J		 3.4" x 6"
Renard16
(Xmus16)		 16 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232/RS-485)		 N/A
On-board SSRs		 Yes $50-$60 Boards Available
Contact wjohn		 2.9" x 7"
Renard SS16 16 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232/RS-485)		 N/A
On-board SSRs		 No $50-$60 Boards Available
Contact Wayne J		 4.1" x 8"
Renard24 24 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232/RS-485)		 N/A
On-board SSRs		 No $75-$85 COOP complete
contact fkostyun		 7” x 5.8”
Renard SS24 24 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232/RS-485)		 N/A
On-board SSRs		 No $65-$75 Boards Available
Contact Wayne J		 4" x 11"
Renard64 64 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232/RS-485)		 Yes Yes
* Requires LV AC source		 $55-$65 Boards Available
Contact wjohn		 5" x 6.5"
(Rev XC)
Firegod
W/ 4 field Modules		 128 Yes Serial Port
(RS-232)		 Yes
(with latest firmware) 		No $135-$145
(w/ 4 field modules)		 COOP complete
No boards available		 2.5" x 3.8"
COOP SSR
&
SSROZ V2.d		 4 Yes 4 Sinking inputs
from Controller Boards		 N/A N/A $10-$12 SSR COOP complete
No boards available
SSROZ
Boards Available
Contact wjohn



  • Note¹ - Olsen 595 and Grinch can be dimmed by using a Ren-T (or other Zero Cross source) and Ren-C board




Other Boards Available

Board PC Communication Method Function(s) Estimated cost to populate board Board COOP Status
Ren-C Serial Port
(RS-232)
  1. Converts dimming Renard serial data into 595 compatable dimming data
  2. Creates dimming for the Olsen 595 and Grinch boards


  • Requires a ZC signal
 $10-$12 Boards Available
Contact wjohn
LEDTriks Parallel Port Used to generate messages/effects on a 16 x 48 grid of LEDs $20-$25 Boards Available


Contact wjohn



Board Construction Difficulty

This information is completely subjective and opinions will vary.
An empty entry does not imply no problems. It only implies that, at this posting, no first-hand experience was available to make an entry.


Board Difficulty Level Construction Issues
COOP Olsen 595 Easy None
Grinch Easy None
Renard SS8 Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
Renard16
(Xmus16)		 Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
Renard SS16 Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
Renard24 Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
Renard SS24 Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
Renard64 Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
Firegod
W/ 4 field Modules		 Moderate
COOP SSR
&
SSROZ V2.d		 Easy None
Ren-C Moderate - Requires a PIC programmer for the PIC IC
LEDTriks Moderate - LED panel itself a large undertaking
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