Assembly Instructions The Renard SS8

Board Assembly

The following sequence of steps is by no means the only way to assemble the Renard SS8. It is simply a suggested order of events to achieve the desired goal.

NOTE: The part numbers referenced in the following instructions are those taken from the Renard SS8 BOM.

1 - Start by checking the PCB over for any obvious production faults. Check for traces that end abruptly or have cracks/breaks in them. Also check that all holes are clear.
2 - Install four diodes D1 thru D4 (PN# 511-1N5817). The diodes will have a silver/grey stripe on a black body. Make sure that this stripe lines up with the stripe on the PCB silk screen (to the left).
3 - Install two 750 ohm resistors R1 & R2 (PN# 291-750-RC). Make sure that the resistors have a value of 750 ohms (violet/green/brown/gold stripes). These resistors have no polarity to worry about.
4 - Install the 120 ohm resistor R3 (PN# 291-120-RC). Make sure that the resistor has a value of 120 ohms (brown/red/brown/gold stripes). This resistor have no polarity to worry about.
5 - Install two 1K ohm resistors R4, R7 (PN# 299-1K-RC). Make sure that the resistors have a value of 1K ohm (brown/black/red/gold stripes). These resistors have no polarity to worry about.
6 - Install three 27K ohm resistors R5, R8, R9 (PN# 299-27K-RC). Make sure that the resistors have a value of 27K ohms (red/violet/orange/gold stripes). These resistors have no polarity to worry about.
7 - Install zener diode D5 (PN# 78-1N5229B). The diode must be installed correctly. The diode should have a black stripe on the orange/red body. Make sure that this stripe lines up with the stripe on the PCB silkscreen (to the left).
8 - Install zener diode D6 (PN# 78-1N5239B). The diode must be installed correctly. The diode should have a black stripe on the orange/red body. Make sure that this stripe lines up with the stripe on the PCB silkscreen (to the right).
9 - Install nine 680 ohm resistors R6, R10 thru R17 (PN# 299-680-RC). Make sure that the resistors have a value of 680 ohms (blue/grey/brown/gold stripes). These resistors have no polarity to worry about.
10 - Install eight 180 ohm resistors R18 thru R25 (PN# 291-180-RC). Make sure that the resistors have a value of 180 ohms (brown/grey/brown/gold stripes). These resistors have no polarity to worry about.
11 - Install 0.1uF capacitor C3 (PN# 80-C322C104K5R). This capacitor has no polarity to worry about.
INSTALLATION NOTE: The following resistor network is a "bussed" type resistor network. This means that the five resistor components (pins 2-6) are all connected in a common buss to pin 1. Installing the resistor network backwards will cause a multitude of malfunctions. So please take the time to make sure it is installed correctly.
12 - Install the 330 ohm resistor network RN1 (PN# 652-4606X-AP1-331LF). The resistor network should have a dot on it to indicate pin 1. Insert pin 1 of the resistor network into the square solder pad (to the left). 13a - Install four green LEDs PWR, HB, ZC & SD (PN# 604-WP710A10GT). The LEDs are polarized and must be installed correctly. The short lead is the cathode and must be placed in the square solder pad. 13b - Install two red LEDs FE & OE (PN# 604-WP710A10IT). The LEDs are polarized and must be installed correctly. The short lead is the cathode and must be placed in the square solder pad.
14 - Install three 2-pin vertical headers JP1, JP2 & JP3 (PN# 538-22-03-2021). Install the short end through the board. These headers have no polarity to worry about.
15 - Install the clock oscillator U3 (PN# 815-ACH-18.432-EK). The oscillator must be installed in the correct orientation. The oscillator has three rounded corners and one squared corner, make sure that the squared corner is positioned to match the PCB silkscreen (upper left corner).
16 - Install the voltage regulator U1 (PN# 511-LF50CV). The voltage regulator must be installed correctly. The voltage regulators tab/heat sink must be aligned with wider line of the PCB silkscreen outline (facing towards the PCB top edge).
17 - Install the 2200uF capacitor C1 (PN# 140-REA222M1CBK1320P). This capacitor is polarized and must be installed correctly. The capacitor should have a black stripe on the body to indicate which lead is negative. The positive lead of the capacitor will be the longer lead. Make sure that the positive lead is placed in the square solder pad.
18 - Install the 47uF capacitor C2 (PN# 140-REA470M1CBK0511P). This capacitor is polarized and must be installed correctly. The capacitor should have a silver/grey stripe on the body to indicate which lead is negative. The positive lead of the capacitor will be the longer lead. Make sure that the positive lead is placed in the square solder pad.
19 - Install two fuse clips (PN# 534-3517). Note: they are directional for proper fit of the fuse. A helpful installation tip here would be to put a fuse in the clips when you position them in their mounting holes. This will help keep them correctly aligned so that the fuse will fit properly.
INSTALLATION NOTE: Pin 1 of the following IC sockets must be aligned with the square solder pad. Another way to verify that you installed them correctly is to make sure that the notch on the socket is aligned with the notch on the PCB silkscreen outline.
20 - Install two 8-pin IC sockets for U4 & U5 (PN# 571-1-390261-2).
21 - Install the 14-pin IC socket for U6 (PN# 571-1-2199298-2).
22 - Install nine 6-pin IC sockets for U2, M1 thru M8 (PN# 571-1-2199298-1).
23 - Install eight triacs T1 thru T8 (PN# 511-BTA06-600CW). The triacs must be installed correctly. The triac tab/heat sink must be aligned with wider line of the PCB silkscreen outline. The tab/heat sink will face towards the terminal blocks. Bolting the triacs to the aluminum heat sink can act as a good soldering alignment guide.
24 - Install eight terminal blocks for Ch1 thru Ch8 (PN# 571-2828372). These terminal blocks have a small interlocking tab that allows the terminals to be "stacked" together to create a larger terminal block. It is easier to go ahead and "stack" the eight terminal blocks together first and then mount them on the PCB.
25 - Install the terminal block for 120V input (PN# 571-7969492).
26 - *Install the transformer TF1 (PN# 838-3FS-312).
27 - Install two RJ45 modular jacks J1 & J2 (PN# 571-5556416-1). Due to minor variations in manufacturing, some RJ45 jacks are a tighter fit than others. Care should be taken to ensure that the pins are aligned first before applying too much pressure to seat the locking lugs through the board.
28 - Install the DE9 connector JDP1 (PN# 152-3409).
If you are unsure about your ability to build this board, then you should go to The Beginner's Setup Guide at this point. The Beginner's Setup Guide will walk you thru some initial tests to make sure that everything is working correctly before inserting the IC chips.
INSTALLATION NOTE: Pin 1 of each IC must be aligned with pin 1 of the corresponding socket. This can be verified by noting that the notch on the IC is aligned with the notch on the socket.
29 - Install the H11AA1 optocoupler U2 (PN# 782-H11AA1).
30 - Install the PIC microcontroller U6 (PN# 579-PIC16F688-I/P). The PIC needs to be programmed with the appropriate firmware before installation. More info on programming PICs can be found here.
31 - Install two RS232/RS485 Interface ICs U4 & U5 (PN# 595-SN65LBC176P ~~ previously ST485BN).
32 - Install eight optoisolators M1 thru M8 (PN# 859-MOC3023). NOTE: The optoisolators are too small to have a notch to use as an alignment guide. Pin 1 is usually notated by a white dot next to it.
33 - Install the heat sink (PN# 532-577102B00) on voltage regulator U1. The mounting hardware and heat transfer compound are not included in the BOM since any common hardware can be used to attach the heat sink. If you don't have any heat transfer compound handy, you can use something like PN# 532-249. In the picture the heat sink is attached using a #4-40 x 3/8" machine screw and nut found at home depot.
34 - Install the fuse (PN# 504-BK/GMA-10-R) and fuse cover (PN# 534-3527C)

Completed Renard SS8

Congratulations! You have finished building your Renard SS8!

Triac Heat Sink

A simple heat sink can be fabricated from flat aluminum (1/16” thick) available at your local home improvement store. The heat sinks most commonly included in the Kits and group buys are made in this fashion. You can use a different width flat bar if desired, but you have to keep with the 1/16" thickness. A template for the hole pattern can be found here. The overall dimensions are shown here. The triac listed in the BOM has an isolated tab, so no isolators are needed.

A small amount of heat transfer compound should be applied between the heat sink and the tab of the triacs. You can use the same compounds that are used on computer CPU chips and their heat sinks. If you don't have any available locally, you can always use something like Mouser PN# 532-249.

Parts Listing (BOM)

IMPORTANT BOM INFORMATION:

Mouser part numbers are listed (unless otherwise noted) as a means of simplifying the listing. Mouser is not the only place to get these parts, they are used as the reference since they tend to have all the parts needed to complete the project. However, the parts can be procured from any electronics parts source that you prefer.

In the event that any of the following parts are not in stock at Mouser when you decide to order them, you can check the Part Substitutions wiki page and see if there any suggestions for alternative parts.

PART NUMBER (Mouser PN# unless noted)	QTY	REF	NOMENCLATURE
511-LF50CV	1	U1	5 VDC Voltage Regulator
532-577102B00	1		Heatsink for Voltage Regulator
782-H11AA1	1	U2	Optocoupler, Bi-Directional Input
815-ACH-18.432-EK	1	U3	Crystal Clock Oscillator, 18.432 MHz
595-SN65LBC176P	2	U4, U5	Differential Bus Transceivers
571-1-2199298-2	2		IC Socket, 8 pin (for U4 & U5)
579-PIC16F688-I/P	1	U6	PIC Microcontroller
571-1-2199298-3	1		IC Socket, 14 pin (for U6)
859-MOC3023	8	M1-M8	Optoisolator, Triac Driver
571-1-2199298-1	9		IC Socket, 6 pin (for U2, M1-M8)
511-BTA06-600CW	8	T1-T8	Triac, 6A 600V
291-750-RC	2	R1, R2	Resistor, Carbon Film 750 ohms 1/4W 5%
291-120-RC	1	R3	Resistor, Carbon Film 120 ohms 1/4W 5%
299-1K-RC	2	R4, R7	Resistor, Carbon Film 1K ohms 1/8W 5%
299-27K-RC	3	R5, R8, R9	Resistor, Carbon Film 27K ohms 1/8W 5%
299-680-RC	9	R6, R10-R17	Resistor, Carbon Film 680 ohms 1/8W 5%
291-180-RC	8	R18 – R25	Resistor, Carbon Film 180 ohms 1/4W 5%
652-4606X-AP1-331LF	1	RN1	Resistor Network, 6 pin, 330ohms 2%
511-1N5817	4	D1-D4	Diode
78-1N5239B	1	D6	Diode, Zener 9.1V .5W
78-1N5229B	1	D5	Diode, Zener 4.3V .5W
604-WP710A10IT	2	FE, OE	LED, 3mm Red
604-WP710A10GT	4	PWR, HB, ZC, SD	LED, 3mm Green
140-REA222M1CBK1320P	1	C1	Radial Electrolytic Capacitor 16V 2200uF 20%
140-REA470M1CBK0511P	1	C2	Radial Electrolytic Capacitor 16V 47uF 20%
80-C322C104K5R	1	C3	Capacitor, Radial Ceramic 50V 0.1uF
571-2828372	8	Channel Terminals	Terminal Block, 2 Pos 5.08 mm
571-7969492	1	Power Terminal	Terminal Block, 2 Pos 5.08 mm
152-3409	1	JDP1	D-Sub Connectors, Right Angle DE9
571-5556416-1	2	J1, J2	Jack, Modular RJ45 PCB Mount Top Entry
538-22-03-2021	3	JP1-JP3	Header, 2 Pin
806-SX1100-B	3		Shunt
504-BK/GMA-10-R	1	F1	Fuse, Fast Acting 10A
534-3517	2		Holder, Fuse Clip PCB mount 5mm
534-3527C	1		Cover, Fuse
838-3FS-312	1	TF1	Power Transformers 12.6VCT@.2A 6.3V@.4A Single Primary

If you are planning on ordering from Mouser Electronics you can use this Shared Project to make it easier to order the parts.

Hardcopy Instructions

Click here for a pdf version of these instructions.

Click here for a doc version of these instructions that you can edit to rearrange the instructions to your personal preference.

Related Links

The Renard SS8 Controller Board

Beginners Setup Guide The Renard SS8

Troubleshooting Guide The Renard SS8

Board Availability Information

Renard Main Page

Renard Firmware

Part Substitutions

VIXEN

Glossary of DIYC Terms

Electronic Symbols