Author Topic: What is the Lynx Express?  (Read 70045 times)

Offline vairmoose

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #30 on: August 29, 2008, »
Giant leaps are allowed and seem to happen here way too often.   


Larry
3 today (standing at light switch, holding two lighters)
Going live in 2012

Offline RJ

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #31 on: August 29, 2008, »
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Giant leaps are allowed and seem to happen here way too often.   


Larry

No problem we can slow it down!

RJ
Innovation beats imitation - and it's more satisfying

Offline rrowan

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #32 on: August 29, 2008, »
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Giant leaps are allowed and seem to happen here way too often.   


Larry

No problem we can slow it down!

RJ

What?????

No way, having too much fun

Rick R.
Light Animation Hobby - Having fun and Learning at the same time. (21st member of DLA)
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Warning SOME assembly required

Offline RJ

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #33 on: August 29, 2008, »
After much thought about what I am after with the Express I decided to go ahead and add the second option I wanted on it. Now first this is optional, it is not required but this will be most likely the last dimmer I do for a while so I want something I am proud to stick my name on.

As you already know their is the option to have an Led for each channel so you can test and see the channels trigger as on the 595 boards for example. They will dim with the channels. This option cost about $2 for the 16 Led's.

Then I thought about how I need to add a power indicator on the Express. But what I really wanted was a way to tell what channel the board is programmed to instead of writing it down or not knowing and having to reprogram it just to know what channel it is programmed to.

So I added 3 LED digits to the board and the driver for it. This way once the board is boots up the start channel is always displayed so you know it is powered up and the channel. It will also show when you are in program mode. And it opens other possibilitys with just firmware changes to use it for diagnostics etc in the future.

This option is a pricey one at about $5 but I will have it on mine as I see it being worth it.

The nice part is you can build it with or without either or both options, your choice.

RJ
 
Innovation beats imitation - and it's more satisfying

Offline Mufassa

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #34 on: August 30, 2008, »
Looks REALLY cool!  This really opens up a whole new world!  I have a question about the Triac's.  Is there enough room there for heat sinks or are you figuring they wont be necessary?  Just havent seen them aligned that direction and made me wonder.

--Greg

Just curious more than anything.

Offline ThaiWay

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #35 on: August 30, 2008, »
Keep on keepin' on RJ... it's all good!  Better to think it through now than "woulda shoulda coulda..."
Chok Dee! (Thai "good luck" greeting)
John

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Offline rrowan

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #36 on: August 30, 2008, »
Hi RJ,

Looking Awesome

One question: The hole pattern for the fuse is different then your other designs. I am assuming you are using a different fuse holder. Right?


Many thanks

Can't wait to have some Express to play with.

Rick R.
Light Animation Hobby - Having fun and Learning at the same time. (21st member of DLA)
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Warning SOME assembly required

Offline christmas_in_VA

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #37 on: August 30, 2008, »
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Hi RJ,

Looking Awesome

One question: The hole pattern for the fuse is different then your other designs. I am assuming you are using a different fuse holder. Right?


Many thanks

Can't wait to have some Express to play with.

Rick R.

looks like it might be for a little higher Amp fuse? 15A?

Ben
Ben Ullman

Offline RJ

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #38 on: August 30, 2008, »
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Hi RJ,

Looking Awesome

One question: The hole pattern for the fuse is different then your other designs. I am assuming you are using a different fuse holder. Right?


Many thanks

Can't wait to have some Express to play with.

Rick R.

It's the same Fuse setup I used on the Lynx. It is a little larger but room was no problem. Yes it is 20 amps as thay is what the load will be limited to with the single power cord inlet.

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Looks REALLY cool!  This really opens up a whole new world!  I have a question about the Triac's.  Is there enough room there for heat sinks or are you figuring they wont be necessary?  Just havent seen them aligned that direction and made me wonder.

--Greg

Just curious more than anything.


 At this level with a 2 amp limit per channel no heats sinks will be needed. This is the common for commerical units like LOR is to allow 2 amps on these triac with out heat sink and I have operated them that way. This is 600 minis a channel or about 5000 Leds per channel so I think that is acceptable. If you tried to run 2 amps on them all this would be 32 amps so I feel it is plenty.
 
RJ
Innovation beats imitation - and it's more satisfying

Offline mrlights2000

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #39 on: August 31, 2008, »
id be in for aleast 10 of these if not more if the coop starts next year. my budget is well maxed out this year.


danny

Offline RJ

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #40 on: September 01, 2008, »
I have the firmware mostly done. The exception is the program mode to write the start channel and the dimming curves.

I went ahead while I was at it and made it handle multiple curves per controller. This lets you run different types of lights on a Express and associate that channel to the correct curve for the lights you have attached to it. I set the express up to handle four different curves at the same time. This means you can use four different types of lights on a express with their own curve.

My plan is in the programming software you will have four curves with pull downs to choose which curve that slot uses.

Then you have a drop down for each channel with the four choices you made available.

I attached a pic of something I threw together to show kinda what I am thinking.

RJ
Innovation beats imitation - and it's more satisfying

Offline rrowan

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #41 on: September 01, 2008, »
Hi RJ,

That looks Great!!!

and Very COOL!!

btw: Many thanks for spending all of this time working on another dimmer. I for one really appreciate all that you do for all of us.

Thanks

Rick R.
Light Animation Hobby - Having fun and Learning at the same time. (21st member of DLA)
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Warning SOME assembly required

Offline vairmoose

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #42 on: September 01, 2008, »
That curve selection program looks to be readily adapatable for RGB LEDs    ;D
 

One more addin - a hue vs RGB table   >:D   


Larry

P.S.  Absolutely Excllent RJ...        (hm      I just may have to jump on the bandwagon here)   
« Last Edit: September 01, 2008, by vairmoose »
3 today (standing at light switch, holding two lighters)
Going live in 2012

Offline ThaiWay

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #43 on: September 01, 2008, »
I don't know how you do it all RJ... but all you do is ab-fab!

Thanks for all your time and effort on behalf of us mere mortals!
Chok Dee! (Thai "good luck" greeting)
John

Unofficial 220V 50Hz Beta Tester

Offline wbuehler

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Re: What is the Lynx Express?
« Reply #44 on: September 02, 2008, »
Very nice RJ

Bill