Nuts and Volts - November 2008

PARTS LIST - Holiday Lights mk-II Controller

ITEM DESCRIPTION Digi-Key PART# RESISTORS ❑ R1 P1.00KFCT-ND ❑ R2-R6, R11, R12 P10.0KFCT-ND ❑ R7-R10 ❑ R101, R102, R201, R202 P475FCT-ND ❑ R301, R302, R401, R402 ❑ R701, R702, R801, R802 ❑ R103, R203, R303, R403 330Ω 1/2W 5% P330BBCT-ND ❑ R503, R603, R703, R803 CAPACITORS ❑ C1 PCE3185CT-ND ❑ C3 PCE3062CT-ND SEMICONDUCTORS ❑ D1 ❑ D101-D801 ❑ IC1 ❑ IC101-801 ❑ Q101-Q801 HARDWARE ❑ CN1,CN2 ❑ CN3, CN4 ❑ CN5 ❑ CN6 ❑ S1 ❑ F1 ❑ N/A (x2) ❑ N/A

1.0K 1/4W 1% 1206 SMD
10.0K 1/4W 1% 1206 SMD
Not used
475Ω ¼W 1% 1206 SMD

47mF 25V electrolytic SMD 10mF 16V electrolytic SMD

Green LED 1206 SMD
Yellow LED 1206 SMD
AVR µC (requires programming)
Optocoupler, triac output
Alternistor triac, 400V 8A TO-220AB

160-1404-1-ND 160-1406-1-ND ATTINY261-20PU-ND MOC3010M-ND Q4008LH4-ND

Vertical header conn 0.100” 10 pos
Terminal block, 5mm, horizontal, 6 pos
Terminal block, 5mm, horizontal, 8 pos
Vertical header conn 0.100” 6 pos
DIP switch, 3 pos, sealed
Fuse, 250V IEC FA LBC 5X20 5A
Fuse clip, 10A 5X20mm PC mount
20 pin IC socket

A26573-ND ED2574-ND ED2575-ND A26569-ND GH7182-ND F2395-ND F063-ND ED3120-ND

I/O cards when the AC mains voltage has crossed zero. The monitoring LEDs follow the change in brightness of the lamps connected to the output of each channel. To better visualize this idea, see Figure 5.

Different lamp structures have different heating curves due to the mass of their metal filaments. Commercial stage lighting controllers have profiles that are designed for specific lamp types. This is a moot point in a hobby grade holiday lights controller, but worth remembering if your lights seem a little “notchy” upon a slow fade up or down.

The AVR µC on each I/O card requires its own firmware, so the MkII I/O card has a six pin header for programming. As it’s only needed once, it can be left off the PCB, or use pre-programmed AVR chips and install a 20 pin DIP socket.

we’re dazzling the neighborhood, and if you drive by, please enjoy the show! NV

Have a question? Please contact the author via email at pstonard@ix.netcom.com. Or, join us on-line at the Nuts & Volts forum. ( www.nutsvolts.com)

Holiday Wrap-Up

I hope this article was informative, even though we rehashed details from a year ago. I like to improve projects and correct problems as they crop up so I have been busy with my original Holiday Lights Controller design along side the new one. This year,

November 2008 57

Cover
IFC
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
IBC
BC

one page

print

SlideShow

fullscreen

Click to subscribe to this magazine

Open Article

article text for page

< previous story | next story >

Share this page with a friend
Save to “My Stuff”
Subscribe to this magazine
Search
Help