DiyLightAnimation

Hi John - postage to Brisbane Australia.

Thanks in advance.  Russell

Payment sent - thanks in advance.

Russell

Woohoo.

I now have the SSR4 responding to channels changes and dimming through the Freestyle.  Replacing the resistor array did the trick.

Checking the part number confirmed I was using a bussed array (long story short - ordered the correct part but supplied with the wrong one). <fp.

It now also works as a SSR4 DMX (dimming does not kick in until 15% but as there is no 50hz firmware I expected this).

Thank you very much Robert, RJ and Kev.  I am confident that I would not have solved this without your help.

As I was thinking all along - it was user error.

Russell
 

Further update.  In checking the SSR4, cables etc, i moved the 240v AC cord from Channel '1' to '4' on the SSR4.  Plugged everything and ta da - there was output on this channel.

My excitement was short lived however when I tried to turn on channel 4 only - the Bobcat Tester had to be set to all channels for it to light up.  To get output from Channel '4', I had to fire up Vixen and have at least 2 channels in the SSR4 group on (e.g. 1&2, 2&3, 2&4, 2&3&4 etc).

I then moved the 240 output cable on the SSR4 to 1,2 & 3 - no output at all (even when set to all channels on).

I again tested the Cat5 cable from the Freestyle to the SSR4 - tester reported cable is ok (and not a cross over).

At least I have some life out of the hardware.  I will post the output voltages from the Freestyle to SSR4 soon.

Thanks RJ & Robert - I didn't get time last night to check.

I'll start on the Freestyle tonight.

Russell

Thanks Kev - I'll see how I go removing the DMX parts first.  I made a rookie mistake of soldering up all 8 SSRs with the DMX option before testing one first and realizing the DMX option is not 50hz aware (the waft of solder must have put me in a trance).

I'll try de-soldering one first - I may need a 'life-line' from you if I mess it up.

I will concentrate on isolating the SSR4 as a cause first before looking any further at the Freestyle.

Fingers crossed... 

SSR4 Board

I have finally had an opportunity to start putting together the hardware for a display this year.  All is going well except for the Freestyle & SSR4 combination.  I have a number of 240v items to control, and whilst I have the Express up and running for some of them, the location of the others requires an SSR4 solution to reduce the length of extension cables required (changing the location of the current Express or additional Expresses is not suitable).

I have made the required modification for 240v usage on the Freestyle (i.e. cut traces).  The SSR4’s have been set up for 240AC with 330ohm resistors (added DMX option before realising there was no firmware for 50hz operation).

Long story short – I am not getting any output from the SSR4 when connected up to the Freestyle.

The Freestyle is plugged into 240v AC - SSR4 plugged into 240v AC – Cat5 cable from Bobcat DMX Tester to DMX In on Freestyle,  Cat5 cable from Freestyle ‘1’ to DMX In on SSR4.  Expecting 240v AC out on Ch1 of SSR4.

Firstly, is what I am trying to achieve available on 240v?

Whilst testing for correct voltages on the Freestyle, I note that the voltages for the ZC Signal and Clock signal were not quite in the range expected in the manual.

Here is the list of troubleshooting steps I have tried so far:

• Plugged the 240v AC element being used for testing directly into the wall – lights as expected;
  
• Bobcat DMX Tester generates channels successfully to an Express – tester set to ALL channels (default channel number on Freestyle not changed after flashing of PIC so it should be from Channel 1);
• I have tested both Cat5 cables with a reliable cable tester – all test ok and work on the Express (also used other new Cat5 cables);
• SSR4 jumpered as per the assembly Manual for SSR (not controller);
  
• Both boards checked for soldering issues (photos next post);
• Programmed the PIC with PICKit 3 using the j1sys ICSP28 Adapter – Jumpered to “L” – used the firmware from the WIKI (Checksum 9AAF) and also a copy of the “50hz” firmware located in another topic (Checksum 922F);
• Checked voltage readings for the Freestyle as per the Assembly Manual – readings were taken for both firmware with results below:

                                      Range expected     Wiki firmware     â€œ50hz” firmware
          5v Power               4.8 to 5.2v            5.01v                 5.01v
          ZC Signal              0.2 to 0.25v           0.133v (5.02)     0.132v (5.02)
          Clock Signal          2.35 to 2.5v           2.56v                 2.54v
          Power supply         >10v                    12.05v                12.05v

• Confirmed with a meter that the 15k resistor for the ZC Signal is correct (measures 15.02k);
• Tried different outputs on the Freestyle;
• I have a second Freestyle that behaves the same with the same results;
• I have tried a second SSR4 (unfortunately I had already built the controllers with the DMX option) and still no output.

Other than the out of range values for the ZC & Clock signals, I am at a loss as to other things to check.
 
Would the fact that I have the DMX option installed be causing this?
 
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
 
Russell