Beginners Setup Guide The Renard SS8

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Introduction

This page was created to help out the new users who aren't fully confident that they have built their Renard SS8 board correctly. These steps are designed to allow the user to test/verify most components in a manner that should help to eliminate the possibility of damaging any of the components during initial testing.


The following procedures may appear to be tedious and time consuming but they are here for the individuals who are not confident in their soldering skills. By following these steps, the individual will be able to test out individual components and signal paths to verify that everything is working properly.


The following procedures require the individual to be familiar with the operation of a digital multimeter (or voltmeter/ohmmeter if you prefer). If you currently do not know how to measure resistance or how to measure voltage, please take some time now an learn these basic skills before attempting these procedures. This website provides some basic information on using multimeters.


Multimeter Usage Tip
All DC voltages in this document are referenced to GND. So for all measurements, the multimeter negative (-), usually black, lead needs to be connected to a GND point on the PCB. The best location would be the GND Test Point located below U1. The positive lead (+), usually red, gets connected to the location called out in the procedure.


Disclaimers

Due to the nature of the information contained on this page, it is imperative that all individuals read and understand the disclaimers contained here.


Renard SS8 Basic Setup Steps

  1. Ensure all power is OFF
  2. Remove all cables
  3. If installed, remove all 12 removable IC chips (U2, U4 thru U6, and M1 thru M8).
  4. Perform a complete and thorough inspection of the underside of the PCB.
    • Check all the solder pads for clean solder joints, no bridging between adjacent pads and that all pads did get soldered.
    • Make sure the board surface is clean and free from any debris and flux residue.
  5. If not installed already, install an appropriate rated fuse in the fuse holder. Use the smallest value fuse that you have available for this portion of testing.
    • Using a smaller fuse here is for safety during initial power testing. If there are any problems with bad triacs, bridged solder pads or a bad transformer during first power application, a small fuse will blow before any permanent damage to the PCB can occur.
  6. Connect an AC power cable to the [N 120V] terminal block. The 120V neutral line (wide blade on a polarized plug) goes to the N terminal and the 120V hot line goes to the 120V terminal.
  7. Turn ON AC power
  8. Measure DC voltage at the +5 test point (below U1).
  9. Power LED should be lit.
  10. Place a shunt (jumper) on JP3.
  11. Momentarily connect a jumper (small piece of wire) between U6 IC socket pin 13 and pin 14
    • HB LED should light
  12. Momentarily connect a jumper between U6 IC socket pin 10 and pin 14
    • ZC LED should light
  13. Momentarily connect a jumper between U6 IC socket pin 9 and pin 14
    • SD LED should light
  14. Momentarily connect a jumper between U6 IC socket pin 8 and pin 14
    • FE LED should light
  15. Momentarily connect a jumper between U6 IC socket pin 7 and pin 14
    • OE LED should light
  16. If any of the LEDs in steps 11 thru 15 did not light, then go to the Renard SS8 Troubleshooting Guide
  17. Remove the shunt from JP3.
  18. Turn OFF AC power
  19. Install optoisolator M1 (PN# 859-MOC3023)
  20. Attach some test lights to the [N Ch1] terminal block
  21. If you installed a small value fuse in step 5, replace it with an appropriate value fuse in the left side fuse holder.
    • The fuse needs to be rated to handle the load of the lights that will be connected to channels 1 thru 8 but not greater than 15 amps.
  22. Turn ON AC power
  23. Test lights should be OFF
  24. Momentarily connect a jumper (small piece of wire) between U6 IC socket pin 3 and pin 14
    • Test lights should come ON when the jumper is connected
  25. If either step 23 or step 24 failed, then go to the Renard SS8 Troubleshooting Guide
  26. Repeat steps 18 thru 25 using the information in the following table:
    Optoisolator Test Lights at
    Terminal Block    		 Connect jumper between
    M2 [N Ch2]
    U6 IC socket pin 13 and pin 14
    M3 [N Ch3]
    U6 IC socket pin 12 and pin 14
    M4 [N Ch4]
    U6 IC socket pin 11 and pin 14
    M5 [N Ch5]
    U6 IC socket pin 10 and pin 14
    M6 [N Ch6]
    U6 IC socket pin 9 and pin 14
    M7 [N Ch7]
    U6 IC socket pin 8 and pin 14
    M8 [N Ch8]
    U6 IC socket pin 7 and pin 14


  27. Turn OFF AC power
  28. Place a shunt on JP2
  29. Install optocoupler U2 (PN# 782-H11AA1).
  30. Install two RS232/RS485 Interface ICs U4 & U5 (PN# 511-ST485BN).

    If you have a PIC programmed with the Renard Diagnostic Firmware continue with step 31.
    Note... You must use the Beta Firmware from the link with these instructions.

    If you only have a PIC programmed with the Renard Operational Firmware then go to step 47.

  31. Install PIC microcontroller U6 (PN# 579-PIC16F688-I/P) programmed with the Renard Diagnostic Firmware.
    Note... You must use the Beta Firmware from the link with these instructions.
  32. Place a shunt (jumper) on JP3.
  33. If desired, attached lights to terminal blocks [N Ch1] thru [N Ch8]. The diagnostics can be done with only the on-board LEDs.
  34. Turn ON AC power
  35. The Renard Diagnostic Firmware should perform the following channel test:
    • All channels ON for approx. 2 seconds
    • All channels OFF for approx. 2 seconds
    • Channel 1 turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 2 (HB LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 3 turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 4 turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 5 (ZC LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 6 (SD LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 7 (FE LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
    • Channel 8 (OE LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF
      The above routine is done three times
  36. The Renard Diagnostic Firmware should now be blinking the HB LED (channel 2) and ZC LED (channel 5). All other channels/LEDs should be OFF.
  37. If either step 35 or step 36 failed, then go to the Renard SS8 Troubleshooting Guide
  38. Turn OFF AC power
  39. Connect a data cable to the computer running Vixen to either J2 or JDP1 on the Renard SS8.
  40. If receiving RS232 data from the computer place a shunt on JP1
  41. Turn ON AC power
  42. Wait for the diagnostics routine in step 35 to complete
  43. Run a Vixen sequence
    IMPORTANT REMINDER:

    Vixen only sends out data when there is a change in event data. So make sure that the test sequence you are using has frequent changes in the event data.


  44. SD LED will be ON whenever Vixen sends data to the Renard SS8. The FE and OE LEDs should remain OFF.
  45. Turn OFF AC power
  46. Remove U6
  47. Install PIC microcontrollers U6 (PN# 579-PIC16F688-I/P) programmed with the Renard Operational Firmware.
  48. Turn ON AC power
  49. Run a Vixen sequence



Your Renard SS8 should now be fully operational!

Related Links

The Renard SS8 Controller Board
Assembly Instructions - The Renard SS8
Troubleshooting Guide – The Renard SS8
Renard Main Page
Renard Firmware
Part Substitutions
VIXEN
Glossary of DIYC Terms
Electronic Symbols
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