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 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.