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:

 Renard8 - a small 8-channel (single PIC) board for use with external SSRs.
 Renard16 - a 16-channel (two-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by xmus)
 Renard24 - a 24-channel (three-PIC) board with integrated SSRs (pcb design by fkostyun)
 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.

Renard: General Overview

Renard Firmware: Description and Download

Renard8: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM)

Renard64: PCB Documentation (schematic, layout, BOM)

Renard-595 Converter: Description of a Board for 192-level Dimming of the 64-Channel Olsen Coop Controller

Renard Connection Instructions

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

Co-Op Boards and Assembly Instructions

16 Channel Renard with SSR Assembly Instructions

24 Channel Renard with SSR Assembly Instructions