Beginners Setup Guide Renard Boards with External SSR

Introduction

This page was created to help out the new users who aren't fully confident that they have built their Renard 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 with minimal damage to components and rework.

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 TP1 which is the GND Test Point located near J21. 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 Basic Setup Steps

1. Ensure all power is OFF
2. Remove all cables
3. If installed, remove all the removable IC chips. For this example, the REN64 will be used. For other boards, the items will be similar but the chip number may be different. The REN64XC chips to be removed are: U3, U4, U5, U7-U14.
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. Connect a 6.3VAC power supply to Tab1/Tab2. This requires understanding how to wire up the transformer. If you are using this guide, it is suggested that you install an inline fuse for troubleshooting purposes.

   

6. Turn ON AC power
7. Measure DC voltage at U1. This is the lead closest to U4. You can also measure this at the input to R8 next to U5.

   • It should be 5.0 (+/- .1) VDC.
   • If incorrect , then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide.

8. Power LED should be lit.

   • If it didn’t , then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide.

9. Momentarily connect a jumper (small piece of wire) between U10 IC socket pin 13 and pin 14.

   • Channel 2 LED should light-->This is the HB LED. Once again, the chip numbering is specific to the Renard 64XC. Some Renard boards have specific LEDs for the HB or "Heart Beat" Function.

10. Momentarily connect a jumper between U10 IC socket pin 10 and pin 14

    • Channel 5 LED should light -->This is the ZC or "Zero Crossing" LED.

11. Momentarily connect a jumper between U10 IC socket pin 9 and pin 14

    • Channel 6 LED should light -->This is the SD or "Data" LED.

12. Momentarily connect a jumper between U10 IC socket pin 8 and pin 14

    • Channel 7 LED should light -->This is the FE or "Framing Error" LED.

13. Momentarily connect a jumper between U10 IC socket pin 7 and pin 14

    • Channel 8 LED should light -->This is the OE or "Overun" LED.

14. If any of the LEDs in steps 11 thru 15 did not light, then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide.
15. Turn OFF AC power.
16. Install a SSR like the SSRez into J12 with a known good straight through CAT5 cable. If you are not sure that the cable is good, use the DMM to ring out the cable.
17. Attach some test lights to the SSR terminal block for Channel 1.
18. Turn ON AC power.
19. The power LED on the SSR should be on.
20. Test lights should be OFF.
21. Momentarily connect a jumper (small piece of wire) between U10 IC socket pin 3 and pin 14.

    • Test lights should come ON when the jumper is connected.

22. If either step 23 or step 24 failed, then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide.
23. Repeat steps 18 thru 25 using the information in the table. Once again, the IC Chip numbering and the Jack numbering are for the Renard 64XC.
    

    Board Channel	IC Socket Number	Output Jack	Test Lights at SSR Channel	Connect jumper between
    Channel 1	U10	J12	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 2	U10	J12	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 3	U10	J12	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 4	U10	J12	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 5	U10	J8	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 6	U10	J8	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 7	U10	J8	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 8	U10	J8	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 9	U9	J11	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 10	U9	J11	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 11	U9	J11	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 12	U9	J11	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 13	U9	J7	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 14	U9	J7	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 15	U9	J7	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 16	U9	J7	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 17	U8	J10	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 18	U8	J10	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 19	U8	J10	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 20	U8	J10	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 21	U8	J6	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 22	U8	J6	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 23	U8	J6	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 24	U8	J6	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 25	U7	J9	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 26	U7	J9	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 27	U7	J9	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 28	U7	J9	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 29	U7	J5	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 30	U7	J5	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 31	U7	J5	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 32	U7	J5	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 33	U14	J21	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 34	U14	J21	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 35	U14	J21	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 36	U14	J21	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 37	U14	J16	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 38	U14	J16	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 39	U14	J16	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 40	U14	J16	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 41	U13	J20	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 42	U13	J20	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 43	U13	J20	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 44	U13	J20	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 45	U13	J15	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 46	U13	J15	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 47	U13	J15	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 48	U13	J15	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 49	U12	J19	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 50	U12	J19	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 51	U12	J19	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 52	U12	J19	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 53	U12	J14	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 54	U12	J14	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 55	U12	J14	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 56	U12	J14	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 57	U11	J18	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 3 -> Pin 14
    Channel 58	U11	J18	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 13 -> Pin 14
    Channel 59	U11	J18	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 12 -> Pin 14
    Channel 60	U11	J18	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 11 -> Pin 14
    Channel 61	U11	J13	Channel 1	IC Socket Pin 10 -> Pin 14
    Channel 62	U11	J13	Channel 2	IC Socket Pin 9 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 63	U11	J13	Channel 3	IC Socket Pin 8 and -> Pin 14
    Channel 64	U11	J13	Channel 4	IC Socket Pin 7 and -> Pin 14

    
    

24. Turn OFF AC power.
25. Install optocoupler U2.
26. Install two (2) RS232/RS485 Interface ICs U4 and U5.
    
    
    

    If you have a PIC programmed with the Renard Diagnostic Firmware continue with step 27.

    
    

    If you only have a PIC programmed with the Renard Operational Firmware then go to step 43.

    
    
    
27. Install PIC microcontroller U10 programmed with the Renard Diagnostic Firmware.
28. If desired, attach SSRs with lights to J12 and J8 with CAT5 Cable. The diagnostics can be done with only the on-board Channel LEDs.
29. Turn ON AC power
    
    

    NOTE:
    

    The following step only applies if you are using the Beta Renard Diagnostic Firmware.
    

    If you are using the proven/existing Renard Diagnostic Firmware just skip this step.

    
    

30. 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 LED and Channel 1 turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 2 LED and Channel 2 (HB LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 3 LED and Channel 3 turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 4 LED and Channel 4 turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 5 LED and Channel 5 (ZC LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 6 LED and Channel 6 (SD LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 7 LED and Channel 7 (FE LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.
    • Channel 8 LED and Channel 8 (OE LED) turns ON for approx. 1 second then turns OFF.

      The above routine is done three times.
      

31. 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.
32. If either step 30 or step 31 failed, then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide.
33. Turn OFF AC power.
34. Connect a data cable to the computer running Vixen to either J4 or J22 on the Renard board..
35. If receiving RS232 data from the computer place a shunt on JP1.
36. Turn ON AC power.
37. Wait for the diagnostics routine in steps 30/31 to complete.
    

    REMINDER:
    Make sure that Vixen is configured correctly before attempting the next step.
    The settings for the Renard Dimmer Plug-In should be set as shown on
    The Renard 64XC Controller Board wiki page. The only difference would be to
    set the baud rate to 19200 for the non-beta Renard Diagnostic Firmware.

    
    

38. Run a Vixen sequence.
    

    NOTE:
    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..

    
    

39. SD LED (Channel 6) will be ON whenever Vixen sends data to the Renard 64XC. The FE (Channel 7) and OE LEDs (Channel 8) should remain OFF.

    • If incorrect , then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide

40. Turn OFF AC power
41. Remove U10
42. To verify other functional PICs, repeat steps 27 thru 40 with the other seven (7) PICs
43. Install PIC microcontrollers U7-U14 programmed with the Renard Operational Firmware.
44. Turn ON AC power
    

    REMINDER:
    Make sure that Vixen is configured correctly before attempting the next step.
    The settings for the Renard Dimmer Plug-In should be set as shown on
    The Renard 64XC Controller Board wiki page.

    
    

45. Run a Vixen sequence

    • If the outputs do not respond correctly, then go to the Renard 64XC Troubleshooting Guide

Your Renard Controller should now be fully operational!

Related Links

The Renard 64XC Controller

Assembly Instructions The Renard 64XC

Troubleshooting Guide The Renard 64XC

Renard Main Page

Renard Firmware

Part Substitutions

VIXEN

Glossary of DIYC Terms

Electronic Symbols