Thread: Renard based Servo Controller

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I'm not sure if there is any interest in this but I have made a Renard based Servo Controller. For those how are not familiar, the Renard Controller is a Christmas light controller that uses the Renard protocol to talk to a PC. This servo controller can plug directly in line with the Renard controllers.

This means that lights and servo's can be controlled using Vixen in line.

So far there has been limited testing but all seems to be working well.

This would be a do it yourself project, you would need to etch a circuit board and solder everything together.

If there is any interest, let me know and I'll post the circuit diagram, the BOM and the firmware.

Not to rain on your parade but with all the proven tech out there already (BOC, the Medusa board, VSA, Venue Magic, ect, ect, ect), I would have to see a real benefit before even considering switching away from DMX protocols.

Please show me why this is the best system to use (not being rude, make me the sales pitch as to why I should switch).

Originally Posted by Nosferatu lives

Not to rain on your parade but with all the proven tech out there already (BOC, the Medusa board, VSA, Venue Magic, ect, ect, ect), I would have to see a real benefit before even considering switching away from DMX protocols.

Please show me why this is the best system to use (not being rude, make me the sales pitch as to why I should switch).

There is no sales pitch(in fact, as I stated, this is meant as diy so there's no sales)...and it's probably not a better solution than the options that you are using now. If you have invested in your solution I definately wouldn't change as this has not gone under a ton of testing.

That being said...
I know there are a lot of people out there that use the Renard for Christmas decorating and that they are also looking into getting into Halloween. And iI would assume that there are those that would enjoy the diy aproach. This controller is nothing more than an option to make(again diy) which is a cheap alternative and will fit directly into what they already have...a controller that will fit into the Renard network and be controlled by Vixen(which is free software).

I'm not expecting that there are a lot of people out there that would have interest, I just want to propose the option to those that may.

Very cool! I'd love to see the diagram & firmware posted. I use Vixen for ambient background music & lighting already, so this would be a great fit. Now all we need is a servo programming interface for Vixen...

Originally Posted by hedg12

Very cool! I'd love to see the diagram & firmware posted. I use Vixen for ambient background music & lighting already, so this would be a great fit. Now all we need is a servo programming interface for Vixen...

Cool, I'd like to hear how you make out. In the zip file is the bom, the hex file and pdf's of the bottom layer and silkscreen layer. They should be everything you need to self etch it.

Just some information, the board has been tested with Hitec and Futaba servo's but any servo with the same wiring should work. The controller sends out pulses going approximately .5ms to 2.5ms so if your servo doesn't use that wide of a pulse width you'll just have to use Vixen to compensate(i.e. set 10 as the minimum value, etc.).

Here is a picture of the completed one. I don't have all the rs485 chips in and the diodes can be skipped if you are using rs485 instead of rs232 into the board.

Very cool indeed! Making Vixen run servos is the GEEK. I'm impressed.