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GoodToGo!

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Joined: 23/04/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 188

Posted: 10:44am 27 Dec 2019

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Howdy all, and I hope you are all having a great festive season!

Anyway, one of my christmas light crappy multi-function controllers shat itself.
So enter an Explore 28 module! I designed a quick circuit and roughed up some code to imitate some of the routines the crappy 3-wire multi function controller used to do:-

Quote 'Xmas lights flashing routine v2.1
'by GoodToGo! 06/01/2018
'Program to replicate xmas lights 3-wire multi-function controller via PWM on a Micromite. (driving IRL540N MOSFETS)

'Version 1.0 06/01/18 Rough proof of concept. Tested ok, but never used in actual display.
'Version 2.0 15/12/19 Created Chase routine. Fine tuned other routines. Used to control front fence/gate LED strings in December 2019 display.
'Version 2.1 27/12/19 Cleaned up code, created/fixed up comments.

'pwm format = PWM 2, freq, 2a, 2b where 2a , 2b is the dutycycle

option autorun on
option explicit
option default integer

'********** Setup variables **********

dim i, j, k 'general variables
dim DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'variables for the DutyCycles
Dim Channel1 = 26 'variable for LED string 1
Dim Channel2 = 24 'variable for LED string 2

'********** Main Loop **********

do
Twinkle
Chase
Flash
SlowFade
loop

'********** Twinkle Routine **********

' Creates a twinkle effect by alternately increasing one LED string in brightness while decreasing the other.
' The strings never turn fully off.

sub Twinkle
Print "Twinkle"
for i = 1 to 40 'loop the routine 40 times
DutyCycle2 = 90 'start LED string 2 dutycycle at 90%
for DutyCycle = 5 to 90 step 5 'LED string 1 duty cycle in %, increasing in 5% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'pulse width modulation, pwmchannel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause 20 'wait 20 milliseconds
DutyCycle2 = DutyCycle2 - 5 'decrease LED string 2 dutycycle by 5%
next DutyCycle 'increase LED string 1 dutycycle
DutyCycle2 = 5 'start LED string 2 dutycycle at 5%
for DutyCycle = 90 to 5 step -5 'LED string 1 duty cycle in %, decreasing in 5% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'pulse width modulation, pwmchannel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause 20 'wait 30 milliseconds
DutyCycle2 = DutyCycle2 + 5 'increase LED string 2 dutycycle by 5%
next DutyCycle 'decrease LED string 1 dutycycle
next i 'loop back to start
end sub

'********** Slow Fade Routine **********

' Creates a fade out effect by turning both LED strings on full and then slowly reducing the brightness until they are fully off.
' Then it slowly increases the brightness to full. Cycle repeats.

sub SlowFade
print "SlowFade"
for i = 1 to 3 'loop the routine 3 times
DutyCycle = 100 'start both LED strings dutycycle at 100%
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle 'pulse width modulation, pwmchannel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause 3000 'wait 3 seconds
for DutyCycle = 100 to 0 step -1 'the dutycycle for both LED strings, decreasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle 'pulse width modulation, pwmchannel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause 20 'wait 20 milliseconds
next DutyCycle 'decrease both LED strings dutycycle
pause 2000 'wait 2 seconds
for DutyCycle = 0 to 100 step 1 'the dutycycle for both LED strings, increasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle 'pulse width modulation, pwmchannel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause 20 'wait 20 milliseconds
next DutyCycle 'increase both LED strings dutycycle
next i 'loop back to start
end sub

'********** Flash Routine **********

' Flashes each LED string in turn a few times, then alternates between the two. Switches between full on and full off.

sub Flash
print "Flash"
pwm 2, stop 'shutdown pulse width modulation
setpin Channel1, dout 'set LED string 1 to digital output
setpin Channel2, DOUT 'set LED string 2 to digital output
for k = 1 to 3 'loop the routine 3 times
for j = 1 to 3 'loop first part of routine 3 times
for i = 1 to 3 'loop to flash LED string 1 first
pin(Channel1) = 1 'turn LED string 1 on
pause 60 'wait 60 milliseconds
Pin(Channel1) = 0 'turn LED string 1 off
pause 60 'wait 60 milliseconds
next i 'flash LED string 2 on/off again
for i = 1 to 3 'loop to flash LED string 2 next
pin(Channel2) = 1 'turn LED string 2 on
pause 60 'wait 60 milliseconds
Pin(Channel2) = 0 'turn LED string 2 off
pause 60 'wait 60 milliseconds
next i 'flash LED string 2 on/off again.
next j 'flash LED string's 1 & 2 on/off again
for i = 1 to 6 'loop following alternate flash 6 times
pin(Channel1) = 1 'turn LED string 1 on
pin(Channel2) = 0 'turn LED string 2 off
pause 150 'wait 150 milliseconds
pin(Channel1) = 0 'turn LED string 1 off
pin(Channel2) = 1 'turn LED string 2 on
pause 150 'wait 150 milliseconds
pin(Channel2) = 0 'turn LED string 2 off
next i 'flash LED strings 1 & 2 alternately again
next k 'loop back to start
end sub

'********** Chase Routine **********

' Slowly turns the first LED string on, then the other. Then slowly turns the first LED string off, then the other.
' This cycle repeats but the cycle gets faster and faster because the wait time gets reduced every run of the loop.

sub Chase
Print "Chase"
pause 200 'wait 200 milliseconds
for i = 100 to 10 step -20 'variable "i" is the delay time in milliseconds decreasing in 20 millisecond steps
DutyCycle2 = 0 'Set LED string 2 dutycycle to 0% for start
for DutyCycle = 0 to 70 step 1 'LED string 1 duty cycle in %, increasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle 'increase LED string 1 dutycycle
pause i * 3 'wait 3 times "i" milliseconds
for DutyCycle2 = 0 to 70 step 1 'LED string 2 duty cycle in %, increasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle2 'increase LED string 2 dutycycle
pause i * 3 'wait 3 times "i" milliseconds
for DutyCycle = 70 to 1 step -1 'LED string 1 duty cycle in %, decreasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle 'decrease LED string 1 dutycycle
for DutyCycle2 = 70 to 0 step -1 'LED string 2 duty cycle in %, decreasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle2 'decrease LED string 2 dutycycle
pause i * 3 'wait 3 times "i" milliseconds
next i 'decrease delay variable "i"

for i = 9 to 1 step -1 'variable "i" is the delay time in milliseconds
DutyCycle2 = 0 'Set LED string 2 dutycycle to 0% for start
for DutyCycle = 0 to 70 step 1 'LED string 1 duty cycle in %, increasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle 'increase LED string 1 dutycycle
pause i * 3 'wait 3 times "i" milliseconds
for DutyCycle2 = 0 to 70 step 1 'LED string 2 duty cycle in %, increasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle2 'increase LED string 2 dutycycle
pause i * 3 'wait 3 times "i" milliseconds
for DutyCycle = 70 to 1 step -1 'LED string 1 duty cycle in %, decreasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle 'decrease LED string 1 dutycycle
for DutyCycle2 = 70 to 0 step -1 'LED string 2 duty cycle in %, decreasing in 1% steps
pwm 2, 10000, DutyCycle, DutyCycle2 'Pulse width modulation, channel = 2, frequency = 10khz, duty cycle = variable
pause i 'wait "i" milliseconds
next DutyCycle2 'decrease LED string 2 dutycycle
pause i * 3 'wait 3 times "i" milliseconds
next i 'decrease delay variable "i"
end sub

Works great and is happily driving the 3-wire LED strings on my fence. However I would like to drive another set of 3-wire strings using the other PWM channel in the MM as well. But having the channels run different routines at the same time. e.g. the first 3-wire string on PWM channel 2a/b running, say, the slowfade routine, while the PWM channel 1a/b is running the chase routine.
Is this at all possible? Do I have to timeslice somehow?

Cheers,

GTG!

...... Don't worry mate, it'll be GoodToGo!

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 12:48am 28 Dec 2019

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Hi GTG,

Any video clip of it working.

I have a retiring reindeer that I want to re-jig for next years Christmas either with discrete LEDs or simply the LEDs with inbuilt colour change flashing cct.

Kind Regards

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 639

Posted: 02:12am 29 Dec 2019

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G'Day GTG

I know this will get me shot down but.
Most of the time your MM is doing nothing, pause x, so can you take advantage of that.

Good luck

Peter

Turbo46

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Joined: 24/12/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 1593

Posted: 03:08am 29 Dec 2019

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As PeterB said, there is a lot of PAUSEing in the program. Maybe it could be re-written to use timer interrupts? The thought of it makes me shudder. I would just use another Micromite.

Thanks for sharing the code though. I'd love to see a schematic of the hardware too.

Bill

Keep safe. Live long and prosper.

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 639

Posted: 03:26am 29 Dec 2019

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Now I am sticking my neck out

If you time slice into 10ms blocks you should be able to do quite a lot in a block and it should look good.

Peter

GoodToGo!

Senior Member

Joined: 23/04/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 188

Posted: 10:17am 29 Dec 2019

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Howdy all, a couple of pictures and a schematic for you all:-

As you can see, there's not much to it. An ebay-special buck converter drops the incoming 32Vdc down to 5Vdc for the E28 module. The 32Vdc then just goes to the connector for the LED string. The two negative sides on the strings are driven by 2 logic level N-channel IRL540N MOSFET's, whose Gates are connected to pins 24 & 26 of the E28. A 10K resistor connects each Gate to ground.
BigMik, I'll try to get some video footage for you......

Cheers,

GTG!

...... Don't worry mate, it'll be GoodToGo!

GoodToGo!

Senior Member

Joined: 23/04/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 188

Posted: 11:14am 29 Dec 2019

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bigmik said Hi GTG,

Any video clip of it working.

I have a retiring reindeer that I want to re-jig for next years Christmas either with discrete LEDs or simply the LEDs with inbuilt colour change flashing cct.

Kind Regards

Mick

Uploaded a video clip here.
Forgive the blurriness of it, the phone had trouble focusing....

Cheers,

GTG!

...... Don't worry mate, it'll be GoodToGo!

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 01:23am 01 Jan 2020

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Hi GTG,

I like it..

Dismantling our Christmas tree (sits out the front) I noticed a similar circuit driving the LEDs from 31Vdc... If the controller ever dies I will steal your idea.. In fact I think your display looks better than the original ... well at least in my case.

Kind Regards

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

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