Renard PX1 Pixel Controller

General

The Renard PX1 was designed by Phil Short as an inexpensive Pixel controller designed to work with standard Renard systems. It can be daisy chained with other Renard controllers. The design consists of a controller board with a PIC16F1825

Disclaimers

The standard disclaimers pertaining to the information contained on this wiki page are listed here.
THIS BOARD IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
THIS WIKI PAGE IS NOT COMPLETE YET.

Features

• Standard Renard connections
• 5VDC and 12VDC operation
• WS2801 and WS2811 pixels
• Some Design Details:

1. One output (same 3.5mm connector and pinout as jstjohnz's controller), handling up to 200 pixels
2. RS485 input, same RJ45 pinout and protocol as Renard controllers
3. 115200 input baudrate (lower rates provided, but not recommended)
4. Uses PIC16 parts, so existing programmers should work.
5. Supports WS2811 strings at with either 400KHz or 800 KHz data rate, 5V or 12V power input
6. Uses external 5V supply (readily available from Ebay, China, etc).
7. Power, RxD and FE (framing error) indicators
8. Jumper to select pixel speed (400 KHz vs 800 KHz)

Maximum Number of Pixels per Controller

The Renard PX1 can support a maximum of 200 pixels per controller. To achieve more then 200 pixels in a Renard system, multiple Renard PX1 pixel controllers must be used. The total number of pixels that may be supported per serial port depends on both the baud rate and on the frequency of updates that has been programmed into the Vixen sequence. The most common PC control software is Vixen, which easily supports multiple serial ports (including USB-RS232 and USB-485 converters).

Number of Channels (*)

Total Number of Pixels Capable for a given Baud Rate/Refresh Interval*
Baud Rate	Refresh Interval
	100 ms	50 ms	25 ms
460800*	1528	764	382
230400*	764	382	191
115200	382	191	95
57600	191	95	47
38400	127	63	31
19200	63	31	15

The Vixen 2.x Plugin for Renard supports baudrates up to 115200.
*A new plugin is required to support higher baudrates.

Typical Pixels require power injection every 50 pixels. The Renard PX1 only supports up to 50 Pixels directly powered from the controller. If you use more then 50 Pixels, you must provide an off board fused power source to provide power injection downstream.

Schematic

This is a preliminary Renard PX1 schematic. Schematic

PCB Layout

BOM - Bill Of Materials

To build Renard PX1 Pixel Controller you will need parts from Mouser and a Renard PX1 Pixel Controller PCB.

Mouser

Part	Mouser PN	Description	Qty
R6	291-120-RC	Carbon Film Resistors - Through Hole 120ohms 0.05	1
R5,R7	299-1K-RC	Carbon Film Resistors - Through Hole 1Kohms 5%	2
R1,R2	299-27K-RC	Carbon Film Resistors - Through Hole 27Kohms 0.05	2
R4	264-680-RC	Resistor Network, 680 Ohm, Bussed, 6-pin	1
R3,R8	299-47-RC	Carbon Film Resistors - Through Hole 47ohms 0.05	2
C2,C3	810-FK28X5R1C105K	Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors MLCC - Leaded 1.0uF 16volts X5R +/-10%	2
C1	80-C322C104K5R	Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC) - Leaded 50volts 0.1uF 10% X7R	1
D1	78-1N5239B	Diode, Zener 9.1V .5W	1
D2	78-1N5229B	Diode, Zener 4.3V .5W	1
D3,D4	604-WP710A10IT	LED, 3mm Red	2
D5,D6	604-WP710A10GT	LED, 3mm Green	2
IC1	595-SN65LBC179PE4	Buffers & Line Drivers	1
IC2	579-PIC16F1825-I/P	Microcontroller	1
IC3	926-2950CZ-5.0/NOPB	LDO 5.0/100mA	1
U1	571-1-390261-2	IC & Component Sockets 8P ECONOMY TIN	1
U2	571-1-390261-3	IC & Component Sockets 14P ECONOMY TIN	1
J5,J6	571-5556416-1	Jack, Modular RJ45 PCB Mount Top Entry	2
J4	538-22-03-2021	Headers & Wire Housings VERT PCB HDR 2P TIN PLATING	1
J3	649-77313-122-10LF	Headers & Wire Housings 10P STR DR TMT HDR .76 AU .526IN LENGTH	1
J2	538-22-03-2061	Headers & Wire Housings VERT PCB HDR 6P TIN PLATING	1
J1,J7	538-22-03-2031	Headers & Wire Housings VERT PCB HDR 3P TIN PLATING	2
J8	571-2828372	Fixed Terminal Blocks 5.08MM PCB MOUNT 2P	1
Jumpers	151-8000-E	Headers & Wire Housings MINI JUMPER GF 6.0MM OPEN TYPE BLACK	7
J9	538-39501-6004	Pluggable Terminal Blocks 3.5MM EURO HEADER VE HEADER VERT GRN 4CKT	1
Pixel Connector	538-39503-2004	Pluggable Terminal Blocks 3.50MM EURO PLUG VER UG VERT RWE BLK 4CKT	1
Fuse	504-ATM-5	Fuses 5A 32Vdc 1kA IR Tan	1
Fuse Holder	534-3544-2	Fuse Holder	1

The Mouser Project BOM can be found here.

Assembly Instructions

Assembly of the Renard PX1 is done in two steps:

1. Assemble PCB and Solder parts
2. Configure Jumpers
3. Program PIC

Renard PX1 Pixel Controller Assembly

Click on photos to see a larger view.

1. □ Begin by inspecting the PCBs to look for any defects such as cracks or breaks. The holes on the board should be open on both sides. Then inspect and sort out the various parts for the boards.
   
2. □ Install Resistors
   1. □ R1,R2 - 27K ohm (red, violet, orange, gold) resistor.
      
   2. □ R3,R8 - 47 ohm (yellow, violet, black, gold) resistor.
      
   3. □ R5,R7 - 1K ohm (brown, black, red, gold) resistor.
      
   4. □ R6 - 120 ohm (brown, red, brown, gold) resistor.
      
   5. □ R4 - 680 ohm bussed resistor. Note that this resistor is polarized and only can go in one way. The dot on the package denotes pin1.
      Pin 1 goes in the square hole on the left side.
      
3. □ Install Capacitors
   1. □ C1 - 0.1 uf capacitor. The marking on the capacitor says "104".
      It is not polarized and it can go either way.
      
   2. □ C2,C3 - 1.0uf capacitor. The marking on the capacitor says "105".
      It is not polarized and it can go either way.
      
4. □ Install Diodes
   1. □ D1 - 1N5239B diode. Diodes are polarized and they have to be installed with the correct orientation. The end of the diode with the band goes towards the bottom of the board and in the square hole.
      
   2. □ D2 - 1N5229B diode. Diodes are polarized and they have to be installed with the correct orientation. The end of the diode with the band goes towards the bottom of the board and in the square hole.
      
5. □ Instal IC Sockets
   1. □ U1 - 8 pin socket. The socket has a notch on one end and the notch must be installed to match the direction on the silkscreen.
      The notch faces right.
      
   2. □ U2 - 14 pin socket. The socket has a notch on one end and the notch must be installed to match the direction on the silkscreen.
      The Notch faces right.
      
6. □ Install LEDs
   1. □ D3,D4 - Red LED. LEDs are polarized and they have to be installed with the correct orientation. The anode side of the LED with the longer leg goes in the top round hole.
      
   2. □ D5,D6 - Green LED. LEDs are polarized and they have to be installed with the correct orientation. The anode side of the LED with the longer leg goes in the top round hole.
      
7. □ Install Headers. The short end of the header is soldered into the PCB.
   1. □ J4 - 2 pin header.
      
   2. □ J1, J7 - 3 pin header.
      
   3. □ J2 - 6 pin header.
      
   4. □ J3 - 2x5 (10) pin header.
      
8. □ Install Voltage Regulator
   1. □ IC3 - LP2950CZ-5.0/NOPB voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is polarized and it has to be installed with the correct orientation. Install in location U3 with the flatside of the regulator facing the top of the board and mmatching the orientation on the silkscreen.
      
9. □ Install Fuse Holder
   1. □ Fuse holder.
      
10. □ Install Connectors
    1. □ J8 - 2 pin screw terminal. Install so the wire opening faces off the edge of the board.
       
    2. □ J9 - 4 pin euro style header. This connector is polarized.
       The euro style connector is installed with the slotted side to the top.
       
11. □ Install RJ45 Jacks
    1. □ J5,J6 - RJ45 Jack. The jacks are polarized and they have to be installed with the correct orientation. Gently install all 8 pins into the holes and them firmly press down on the socket to seat the plastic pins in the holes in the PCB.
       
12. □ Install Fuse
    1. □ Install 5A fuse.
       
13. □ Install ICs
    1. □ IC1 - SN65LBC179PE4, RS485 line chip. The IC is polarized and it has to be installed with the correct orientation.
       The IC has a notch on one end and the notch must be installed to match the direction on the silkscreen.
       
    2. □ IC2 - PIC16F1825-I/P PIC microprocessor. The IC is polarized and it has to be installed with the correct orientation.
       The IC has a notch on one end and the notch must be installed to match the direction on the silkscreen.
       

Configure Jumpers

You must place the appropriate jumpers on the various headers to configure the Renard PX1 Pixel Controller.

J1- DMX Termination Resistor / RS232 Input

Install a jumper across Pin 1 and Pin2 if you are using RS232 Input to the controller. Install a jumper across Pins 2 and Pin 3 if you are using regular RS485 input.

J3- 2x5 Options Connector

This connector is used to set various options. TBD

J4- Programing?

TBD

J7- 5VDC Regulator Bypass

This 3 pin jumper is used to select the power source of the control circuit on the board. If the power input to the board is 12VDC, then jumper must be placed on the two left pins. If the power input to the board is 5VDC, then the jumper must be placed on the right two pins.

Program PIC

TBD

Congratulations, you have finished constructing your Renard PX1 Pixel Controller.

Connections

J5 and J6-Renard Input and Output

The two RJ45 Connectors J5&J6 near the bottom left of the board are used to bring data signals to and from the board. J5 on the left side is the signal input from the PC or previous Renard controller. J6 on the right side is the output to be daisy-chained to the next Renard controller. The pins on these connectors are used as follows:

RJ45 Pin Assignments

Serial Data Connector Pin Assignments
Pin #	RJ45 Connector
	J5 Input	J6 Output
1,2	GND	GND
3	NC	NC
4	Data- (Rx)	Data- (Tx)
5*	Data+ (Rx)	Data+ (Tx)
6,7,8	NC	NC

*This pin is connected to GND through J5 if a shunt is installed in J5.

J2-ICSP Programming Header

J2 is the 6 pin header located in the top center of the board. J2 allows the PIC microprocessor to be programmed in place on the board by directly connecting a PICKIT2 or PICKIT3 programer.
Pin 1 is the square hole towards the right side of the board.

J2 ICSP Pin Assignments
Pin #
	Signal
1	VPP/MCLR
2	VDD Target
3	VSS (Ground)
4	ICSPDAT/PGD
5	ICSPCLK/PGC
6	N/C

J8-Pixel Power Input

J8 is the 2 pin terminal block located at the bottom center of the PCB. The Renard PX1 can be powered by either 5 or 12VDC (depending on pixel type). If you are using 5VDC, you can omit the voltage regulator and set Jumper J7 to the 5v position.If you are using 12VDC, then you must use the on board voltage regulator and set Jumper J7 to the 12v position.

J8 Power Input
Pin #
	Voltage
1 (square pad on left)	GND (V-)
2 (round pad on right)	V+

J9 - Output to Pixels

J9 is located along the bottom right side of the board and is a 4 pin Euro style plugable connector used to connect to the Pixels. Pin1 of the connector is on the left side and is marked by the square hole on the silkscreen.

J9 Pixel Output Pin Assignments
Pin #
	Signal
1	GND (V-)
2	Clock (C)
3	Data (D)
4	V+

Indicator LEDs

Attn

TBD

Rx

This LED flashes as it is receiving data from the input connector.

FE

This LED flashes if there is a framing error in the incoming data stream. This is likely due to the PIC or the PC output signal using different baud rates.

Pwr

This LED lights if there is power supplied to the board.

Firmware

TBD

Enclosure

The Renard PX1 pixel controller can be mounted in the users choice of enclosures. One common choice is the TA-200 enclosure.

Other Information

Renard PX1 Pixel Controller Discussion Threads

Initial Thread

Video

TBD

FAQ

TBD