 |
Layout
all your tools and the kit on a clean
surface. Since some parts are very tiny and easy to get mixed in
with
any debris, I recommend the cleaner and more open the better.
|
|
Empty
out the kit and carefully
check to make sure you have all the parts. Your part list should
include:
- 1 mRGBLED Driver PC Board
- 16 & 18 pin DIP socket (in packaging)
- 1 MAX232 and 1 PIC 16LF87 chips (in packaging)
- 1 LM7805 5 Volt regulator (optional)
- 3 3 pin jumper posts
- 3 jumpers
- 1 RED LED
- 1 100 ohm resistor
- 2 2-position terminal blocks
- 1 9-position terminal block
- 2 .01uf capacitors
|
|
Install the DIP sockets
first. Insure the notches in the sockets face the left ofthe
board (where the 9 terminal block will go). Turn the board over
and bend the pins at each of the 4 corners for each socket, keeping the
socket pressed flush to the PCB. Now solder the socket in place.
|
|
Install
the RED LED and the 100ohm resistor. The LED will have a flat
side (usually where the shorter pin is) -- make sure that matches the
silkscreen LED graphic to insure the correct polarity. The leads
for the resistor should be folded down tight along the side of the
resistor. Insert them, solder them, insuring the stay flush to
the board and clip their leads.
|
|
Next, install the two
capacitors. These are non-polarized, so you really can't get it
wrong. Again, be sure they are flush against the board before and
while you solder them in. Clip their leads.
|
|
If
you are going to use the LM7805 regulator, install a 2 pin screw
terminal into the space marked UNREG. If you are not installing a
regulator, put the 2 pin terminal block into the holes around the +5
sign. Be sure the screw holes face out and it stays flush as you
solder it.
|
|
Install the RS232 2-pin terminal
block on the lower right side of the board. Be sure the screw
holes face out and ther terminal block stays flush while it's being
soldered in.
|
|
Install
the three, 3-pin headers (for the jumpers) and solder them. Be
careful they are flush to the board when being soldered.
|
|
Install the 9-pin terminal block
on the left side of the board. Be sure the screw holes face out
and the terminal block stays flush to the board while being soldered.
|
|
If
you are going to be using a voltage regulator (and you installed the
power terminal block near the center of the board where the word UNREG
appears), install the regulator now. The metal tab side of the
regulator should be facing the IC sockets (there is a "thick" line on
the PC board showing where the metal tab side should be). You may
have to form the leads a bit to get it in as low as it can go.
Solder it and clip the excess leads.
|
|
Congratulations -- you are
done! Take a moment to look at your handiwork. Check
for solder bridges. There should be no globs of solder, just a
nice shiny "tented" coating of solder over each connection.
|
|
Install
the PIC chip and the MAX232 chip. Be careful not to touch their
pins. Also, make sure the notches in the chips are aligned with
the notches in the sockets -- all notches should point left (toward the
9-pin terminal block). You have have to gently compress the pins
on the chips to get them to go into the sockets -- be very careful!
|
|
Now time to try things
out. With no LEDs hooked up, hook up either a 5 volt power supply
(to the +5 terminal) or any 7.5 volt to 12 volt supply to the UNREG
terminal block. Check the PIC chip to see if it's getting at all
warm -- if so, cut the power and check -- you probably have the chip in
backwards (and you may have fried it).
|
|
Now
hook the RS232 lines up to a PC. The GND line should go to pin 5
of a female DB9 serial connector, the RX line to pin 3.
Install the jumpers for the baudrate you'd prefer
|
 |
You will need to set the
baudrate on the board to match your hosts speed. The baudrate is
set witht he 3 jumpers on the lower left side of the board and the
values are lset per the image to the left (click for larger one).
Do be aware that 57600 baud is slightly error prone as the oscillator
in the chip isn't an even multiple of the needed baudrate. It'll
usually work, but the error is like 3% from standard, so for some
systems, no deal.
Also, the maximum sustained baud rate the controller can handle is
19200 (though that can slow a bit if there are commands with lots of
animation color manipulation). At 38400, the best bet is to
insert a 1ms delay between each command (at which point the board can
generally keep up).
Finally, keep in mind that the lower the baudrate, the longer the run
of wire can be. High baudrates and long wire runs often don't
work (or don't work reliably). So if you've got a major run,
consider a more conservative baudrate. |
 |
Next,
hook up a test LED. Use a common anode LED to make things
simple. You will have to figure out the resistors. If you
are using one of the SuperBright LEDs, the green and blue colors should
have 67ohm resistors and the red leg should be 150ohm. Hook the
anode to the +5 volts on the board (if you are using a regulator,
attach it to the terminal marked +5 which will provide a regulated
supply. Use the R/G/B connections at the bottom of the 9 pin
terminal block -- that will be LED #0
When you power up the LED, the LED should briefly flash white and then
start cycling through colors (that is the built-in self test). If
there is no light at all, check the PIC and insure it's installed
correctly.
Then, connect the RS232/DB9 to your computer and run the jRGBLED
configurator program. Check the File->Properties to make sure
the correct serial port and speed is selected. The go to the
Board menu and pick Clear Board. When you clear it, the LED
should go off.
Now, select LED 0 and type in a color of FF0000, insure the "Led ON" is
checked and press Upload LED. The LED should light up red.
Then try 00FF00 and the LED should light up green. Finally, try
0000FF and the LED should light up blue. If the colors do not
match that sequence, check your wiring to your LED -- you may have
swapped some wires.
|
|
If
you have any questions or
problems, please ask on the RGBLED forum. Please DO NOT SEND
EMAIL to me. Any support email I receive will be replied to with
a form letter asking you to post the question on the forum. The
Forum allows multiple people to help answer questions and acts as a
repository of knowledge that future builders can consult.
|
