GRINCH Controller Assembly Instructions
Background
There are a myriad of computer based controller hardware available that will run under the Vixen software While Robert Jordan was working on his LEDTRIKs, a LED panel based display, he noted that the same driver IC chip could replace two different types of chips used on the Olsen 595 COOP board.
Robert’s aim was to come up with a circuit design for a controller that was smaller, cheaper, and easier to construct than the Olsen 595. He had to give it a name and decided on the ‘GRINCH’ after his favourite Christmas movie. The details of his prototype are detailed on the Computer Christmas website.
The GRINCH does what you expect it to do – it makes lights flash under control of Vixen. It does not have Channel LEDs, it does not dim lights, and it does not use PICs. The GRINCH does work and it is cheap!
Circuit Diagram
The circuit Diagram for the GRINCH is attached to this document and shown below, and can be downloaded here.
The circuit is based on four MBI5027-GN-5027 16 Bit Constant current LED Sink Driver Integrated Circuits. The PC is connected to the GRINCH via the RJ45 connector IN. You will need to assemble an interface cable to connect from the PC to the IN socket on the GRINCH controller. The cable details are specified in the Building the Interface Cable section.
Components
The parts List for the GRINCH is fairly basic.
1 PC Board, Code GRINCH V1.0 (Supplied by John Wilson) 18 RJ45-8/8 right angle sockets (Mouser # 571-5202514) 1 Molex .100 KK. Vertical Header 2 Pin (Mouser # 538-22-03-2021) 1 FCI Bergcon PCB shunt (jumper) (Mouser #649-65474-002LF) 1 Molex SL connector Vertical Header 2 Pin (Mouser # 538-70543-0001) 1 Molex SL Connector Vertical Plug 2 Pin (Mouser # 538-50-57-9402) 2 Molex SL Connectors Female (Mouser # 538-16-02-0102) 4 Axial Ceramic 50V 0.1uF (Mouser # 581-sa105e104z) 1 Green LED 3 mm (Mouser # 604-wp7104gc) 1 470 Ohm 1/4 Watt Resistor (Mouser # 660-cf1/4c471j) 4 24 Pin IC Socket (Mouser # 571-3902618) 4 MBI5027-GN (From King Electronics)