RenardESP Information Thread

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madsci1016

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Hello all. This is a information thread on the RenardESP WiFi adapter. The development thread can be found here.

What does it do?

The RenardESP adapter will convert any Renard that uses the SS BOM (and most of the non - SS models) from a device controlled by RS-485 Serial to a device controlled by e1.31 or sACN over WiFi. It does this by replacing the RS-485 receiver chip on the Renard board.

So instead of running CAT 5 through your yard and connecting your Renards to a RS-485 USB adapter or an e1.31 bridge, you can cut the cords and stream all your control data over wifi. Here's an illustration:

Presentation1.png


You can continue to daisy chain Renards off the first one with the WiFi adapter, or you can install an adapter in all your Renards to go 'completely wireless'.

Installation is fairly easy. You just remove the 8 pin DIP receiver chip, and replace it with a ribbon cable adapter.

small.JPG


I'll have updated build instructions up shortly on my website here. There should be a group buy starting soon. In the mean time, please use this thread to ask questions and I'll update this post as needed.
 
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Would this work on boards running the Renard boards running the dmx protocol? Also how does the starting dmx address on the picc chip fit in


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I have written a DMX driver but I haven't tested it yet. It doesn't have a way to offset the data to a different start address yet, it would just send the data from the e1.31 universe over to DMX as is.
 
Do the boards need to be oriented in a particular direction for reception


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madsci1016 said:
Hello all. This is a information thread on the RenardESP WiFi adapter. The development thread can be found here.

What does it do?
Here's an illustration:

Presentation1.png

small.JPG
Click to expand...

Are these illustrations available anywhere other than on Google Drive?
Don't have an account on it (and don't want one either.)
 
Is anyone else having trouble seeing the pictures in the first post? Drive said it was visible with no sign in required.

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I would assume it would (as the post states) work but have these been tested with other renard boards such as ren4flood, renard24hc or the simple renard/renard plus boards?
 
imbluenote said:
I would assume it would (as the post states) work but have these been tested with other renard boards such as ren4flood, renard24hc or the simple renard/renard plus boards?
Click to expand...

This will work with any Renard that uses the same 485 receiver chip in the SS series BOM; a ST485BN or 595-SN75176BP. So far the only one we have verified and won't work with is the PX-1. I've looked up the BOM for ren4flood, renard24hc and both are compatible.
 
madsci1016 said:
This will work with any Renard that uses the same 485 receiver chip in the SS series BOM; a ST485BN or 595-SN75176BP. So far the only one we have verified and won't work with is the PX-1. I've looked up the BOM for ren4flood, renard24hc and both are compatible.
Click to expand...

Good deal. Thanks

Just curious is anything in the works to make a e68x Wirless? I know I can get a off the shelf solution already, but didn't know if you were working on something with the same module.
 
Why doesn't the PX1 work I wonder?
madsci1016 said:
This will work with any Renard that uses the same 485 receiver chip in the SS series BOM; a ST485BN or 595-SN75176BP. So far the only one we have verified and won't work with is the PX-1. I've looked up the BOM for ren4flood, renard24hc and both are compatible.
Click to expand...
 
jklingert said:
It uses a dual 485 chip design for space savings and only needs 1 chip for input and output , not two like the typical renard design.
Click to expand...
If all of wanted do was just run a single px1 with no output to another controller you could change the wires around in the connecting wires and it would work. Otherwise you would have to do some hard wiring to the px1 and leave the 485 chip onboard if you wanted to use it with the output enabled.
 
jklingert said:
If all of wanted do was just run a single px1 with no output to another controller you could change the wires around in the connecting wires and it would work. Otherwise you would have to do some hard wiring to the px1 and leave the 485 chip onboard if you wanted to use it with the output enabled.
Click to expand...

There's no point to use this for a PX1. It's silly when you think about it. The ESP can drive pixels directly (See my ESPixel GECE or sporadic's ESPixelStick). It doesn't need to have a renard link in between.
 
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