Renard Main Page

General Information and How-To's

Renard is the name of a computer-controlled, PIC-based dimmer scheme, and also refers to dimming controllers that people have built based on this scheme. The designs all use mid-range PIC micro-controllers, are generally modular in units of eight channels (dimmable circuits), and use medium-speed, daisy-chainable, one-direction serial communications for input. Renard controllers do not have stand-alone show sequencing capabilities, and rely on a separate computer (usually a PC) to send it real-time sequences of dimmer commands.

Renard is strictly a do-it-yourself project, and there aren't any commercial (hardware or software) products available. There are, however, a number of PCB designs that people have created and made available for others to order on a coop basis. These include:

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• Renard8 - a small 8-channel (single PIC) board for use with external SSRs.
• Renard SS8 - a 8-channel (single PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by Wayne J)
• Renard16 - a 16-channel (two-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by xmus)
• Renard SS16 - a 16-channel (two-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by Wayne J)
• Renard24 - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by fkostyun)
• Renard24LV - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board for use with external SSRs (pcb design by fkostyun)
• Renard SS24 - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by Wayne J)
• Renard64 - a 64-channel (eight-PIC) board that uses external SSRs.
• Ren-T - a transformer board for use with Renard to supply power, zero-crossing signal, and/or RS485 conversion
• Ren-C - a board that converts a 595/Grinch (normally non-dimming) board to a dimming 64-channel board.

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General Renard Information

Renard: General Overview

Renard Standard Setup: Simplified Connection Instructions

Renard Firmware: Description and Download

Renard Connection Instructions

PIC Programming Hints: p16f688.inc error, PIC16F688 Programming Socket/Adapter.

Renard Board Designs

Renard8: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM)

Renard SS8: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)

Renard16: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)

Renard SS16: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)

Renard24: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)

Renard24LV: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)

Renard SS24: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM, Assembly Instructions)

Renard64: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM)

Renard-595 Converter: REN-C. Description of a Board for 192-level Dimming of the 64-Channel Olsen Controller or the GRINCH Controller

Ren-T: A transformer board that can supply power and ZC for the Renard boards.