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This controller is now available. Further info to be found here
OK, here's another project I'm working on. It a companion to the DMX to SPI (pixel) controller board.
This one has 4 DMX inputs via RJ45 connectors. Each DMX input is replicated to two outputs, also via RJ45 connectors, so there are 8 DMX + power outputs all up. These output connectors also have pins 3 and 4 used for power injection.
Please note that the DMX pinout is the standard ESTA approved one and is not compatible with LOR, Rennard or your uncle Frank's weirdo pixel board. Please don't ask me to make it compatible - it's not going to happen. :
This new board also accepts a DC voltage input in the 12V - 36V range. This is the voltage that is fed (via individual fuses) to the RJ45 output sockets. The idea is to feed DMX and power to small controllers via CAT5 cables. These new controllers will have a DC-DC converter on-board to drop the 36V down to the 5V or 12V that the pixels require.
Using 36V means that we can send approx 50 Watts of DC down each CAT5 cable while keeping the current (and cables losses) right down. You can use a lower voltage (down to 12V), but the lower you go, the more losses you get. So, 36V would be great, but 24V would also be good.
Via some jumpers however, you can reconfigure the board to do:
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2, I/P 2 to O/P 3+4, I/P 3 to O/P 5+6 and I/P 4 to O/P 7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2+3+4 and I/P 3 to O/P 5+6+7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2+3+4+5+6 and I/P 4 to O/P 7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2, I/P 2 to O/P 3+4 and I/P 3 to O/P 5+6+7+8
Oh, each of the output fuses also has an associated "power good" LED so you can spot a blown fuse easily.
Anyway, I'm about 50% done with the PCB design. Comments welcomed.
OK, here's another project I'm working on. It a companion to the DMX to SPI (pixel) controller board.
This one has 4 DMX inputs via RJ45 connectors. Each DMX input is replicated to two outputs, also via RJ45 connectors, so there are 8 DMX + power outputs all up. These output connectors also have pins 3 and 4 used for power injection.
Please note that the DMX pinout is the standard ESTA approved one and is not compatible with LOR, Rennard or your uncle Frank's weirdo pixel board. Please don't ask me to make it compatible - it's not going to happen. :
This new board also accepts a DC voltage input in the 12V - 36V range. This is the voltage that is fed (via individual fuses) to the RJ45 output sockets. The idea is to feed DMX and power to small controllers via CAT5 cables. These new controllers will have a DC-DC converter on-board to drop the 36V down to the 5V or 12V that the pixels require.
Using 36V means that we can send approx 50 Watts of DC down each CAT5 cable while keeping the current (and cables losses) right down. You can use a lower voltage (down to 12V), but the lower you go, the more losses you get. So, 36V would be great, but 24V would also be good.
Via some jumpers however, you can reconfigure the board to do:
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2, I/P 2 to O/P 3+4, I/P 3 to O/P 5+6 and I/P 4 to O/P 7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2+3+4 and I/P 3 to O/P 5+6+7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2+3+4+5+6 and I/P 4 to O/P 7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8 OR
I/P 1 to O/P 1+2, I/P 2 to O/P 3+4 and I/P 3 to O/P 5+6+7+8
Oh, each of the output fuses also has an associated "power good" LED so you can spot a blown fuse easily.
Anyway, I'm about 50% done with the PCB design. Comments welcomed.
