I'm designing a four-bit AC controller that has a built-in dimming curve (2048 levels) and communicates using an nRF24L01 radio module. It uses a PIC16HV610 or PIC16HV616 microcontroller, which is a lesser part than the PIC16F688 used in Renard. I know that that AC dimmers are retro not of much interest to people, and this design will never see the light of day in the current era of pixels, pixel controllers and ESP modules, but I'm having fun.
Having fun designing
- Thread starter P. Short
- Start date
ErnieHorning
Supporting Member
I made several controllers, not Christmas related, when I was working at Honeywell. Some started with a purpose, some I was just playing with. The further I got, the more I wanted to see what I could make it do.
An Arduino Nano can control up to 12 servos Nope, I managed to control 23. Not because I had a need, just because I wanted to see if I could. Never used that controller again.
I recently managed to get an obsolete ESP8266 D1 mini to control four PWM outputs with WLED, even though the software was only designed to do three (a blowmold tree shown in another post). I wanted to include the star at the top as another channel but everything I tried, didn't work. I finally gave up and switched to and ESP32-C3. It didn't want to do it either but I found a work around. With that trick, I went back to the ESP0266. The software accepted it and appeared to run but no output. Not until I applied one more apparent undocumented work around. So for 23¢, some free software and a bit of persistence, I have a four color, plus star, blowmold that'll work and and all five channels fully dim with xLights too.
You never know though. Some of those useless projects got resurrected because of a later need.
It's an engineers curse. Everything can be fixed, even if there's not actually a problem.
An Arduino Nano can control up to 12 servos Nope, I managed to control 23. Not because I had a need, just because I wanted to see if I could. Never used that controller again.
I recently managed to get an obsolete ESP8266 D1 mini to control four PWM outputs with WLED, even though the software was only designed to do three (a blowmold tree shown in another post). I wanted to include the star at the top as another channel but everything I tried, didn't work. I finally gave up and switched to and ESP32-C3. It didn't want to do it either but I found a work around. With that trick, I went back to the ESP0266. The software accepted it and appeared to run but no output. Not until I applied one more apparent undocumented work around. So for 23¢, some free software and a bit of persistence, I have a four color, plus star, blowmold that'll work and and all five channels fully dim with xLights too.
You never know though. Some of those useless projects got resurrected because of a later need.
It's an engineers curse. Everything can be fixed, even if there's not actually a problem.
Designing keeps your wits sharp ! Good for you in doing so . I like your play on words ,dimming lights by the light of day shouldn't meet .
AC will always reign supreme . don't give up on her now Phil .
MartinMueller2003
Supporting Member
I think it is safe to say that AC LED will be around for a long time. AC Incans, not so much.
ErnieHorning
Supporting Member
I saw white ones at Walgreens for $1.99 and it looked like none had been taken. Apparently, nobody wants them.
hmmmm .one could print colored covers ........!
ErnieHorning
Supporting Member
I've seen some pretty cool looking displays that were only white. Think of how much easier the sequencing was.
dirknerkle
Supporting Member
You can also find incan minilights at drug stores and hardware stores because nobody will buy them. This excludes Lowes & HD.
JackFrost202
New member
NOT everyone uses pixels and/or LEDs ( and don't have any intentions of doing so either - too old to teach an old dog new tricks - LOL ) and ....... some of us are STILL using REN24 boards AND strings of 100 incans..... and when the colors fade on them ... simpy buy a can or two of "stain glass shaker can paint and touch them up . 
AND ... believe it or not.... some of us are even still using homemade talking/singing Christmas trees , outlined/shaped from rebar with 1/4 hardware cloth so we can mount the incans , to make the different sections of the mouths and eyes for singing/talking ..... AND... some of us remember KC and how he helped out with programming ( for those of us who knows NOTHING about that kind of stuff ) ... AND ... some of us EVEN still have our old clickity on/off relays that we used before zero cross ..... and let us not forget that great parallel port HILL 320 ( which was SOOOO much fun wiring up in an old PC case... LOL those 5 million wires being soldered was NOT so much fun .....LOL I still even have 2 of the Kostykuns original ren 24's - hope I spelled his name correctly )....... any who....... some of us are just old trolls that are stuck in our ways ( still using Vix 2.1 also - LOL )
AND ... believe it or not.... some of us are even still using homemade talking/singing Christmas trees , outlined/shaped from rebar with 1/4 hardware cloth so we can mount the incans , to make the different sections of the mouths and eyes for singing/talking ..... AND... some of us remember KC and how he helped out with programming ( for those of us who knows NOTHING about that kind of stuff ) ... AND ... some of us EVEN still have our old clickity on/off relays that we used before zero cross ..... and let us not forget that great parallel port HILL 320 ( which was SOOOO much fun wiring up in an old PC case... LOL those 5 million wires being soldered was NOT so much fun .....LOL I still even have 2 of the Kostykuns original ren 24's - hope I spelled his name correctly )....... any who....... some of us are just old trolls that are stuck in our ways ( still using Vix 2.1 also - LOL )