233 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

With 45 channels on a P-45 box, it is hard to wire 45 igs even using 2 and 5 metre leads in the radius of the leadwires from one box. 45 connectors is a good plan if you expect to have some unused on the real shows. I've seen a 100 cue box and it was not really usable to even near the 100 connectors, bit it did allow you to select the cues that you fired from each box.

[digger]

It sounds quite similar to the Pyromate system i use whioch has 48 cues on it.

Have you looked at seahorse cases?? Very similar to the peli ones and substantially cheaper.

Are you in the US or the UK?

From a quick look they do look cheaper, but available range in the UK appears a little limited but if you know of a good supplier let me know (I am interested in panel frames to go with them).

I have taken some inspiration from systems such as the Pyromate, but I do intend to move away from centronics type connectors and transmit data across my version of RS485 (except for safety signals) to keep the cable count to a minimum so that it keeps the cost of fully waterproof connectors to a minimum.

[dave]

anyone wanting to make firing system from scratch and wanting basic info should consult the following reference and read all posts.........there are many useful circuits discussed (not wireless or cd )but 12-24 volt battery systems.

i think joeratman did a great job !

http://www.pyrounive...ead.php?t=18109

dave321

[phildunford]

Don't know if anyone's done this...

I've seen single shot candles mounted on 'hedgehogs' which then use up to (say twenty) cues to fire the sequence.

It would be easy to produce a 'stand-alone' box which took one cue and then produced a sequence of cues, the spacing of which could be adjusted. That way you would save a lot of cues on the main board and and keep the cable run to the hedgehog very short - any thoughts...

(PS my midi-based firing system is now up and running in prototype - 32 cue box, expandable to about 1000 cues - will post some details if anyone is interested)

[Arthur Brown]

JoeRatman's systems are all developments of the one wire per cue layout with one common per slat. Digger's system is a digital transmission system where a single digital link can fire hundreds of cues to time.

Digger
http://www.cpspartne.../retailers.html

Do you have a price on this system yet?

[phildunford]

So here is the current state of my firing unit.

Its used in conjunction with Cubase (music program). The music runs on an audio track and a MIDI track is used to trigger the firing pulses. This way, no special software is required.

This is the business end, which decodes the midi signal (later to be transmitted on RS 485).



This is a box that produces any of 1000 odd MIDI codes (mainly for testing, but can be used for manual firing)

[GZ22]

Looks very nice indeed! Using Cubase is an inspired idea too. Have you minimised the risks of MIDI data overflow?

[digger]

Looks like you have a nice finished system there Phil.

So when do we get to see it in action?

Do you have a price on this system yet?

I don't have a final cost. The biggest cost of the system is the embedded control box at maybe about £150 for the electronics. The electronics for the actual firing channels will probably work out at about £30 per 30 cues.

The electronics involved in the system are pretty basic making use of many off the shelf CMOS bits and pieces and a PIC or two.

IF the system turns out well. I may offer circuit boards to anyone that wants to solder one together. The cheapest way to knock the system up without the control box would be to use an old laptop with USB to make a suedo control box, although it would be possible to make a manual firing panel with just the comms unit built in.

[phildunford]

Have you minimised the risks of MIDI data overflow?

Not quite sure what you mean... The system is currently configured only to respond to valid 'note on messages' and then produces a short firing pulse from each one. It ignores all other messages at the moment, so seems pretty stable. If it receives another message while it is firing a pulse, it will stack it up. All this is tweakable in software and will be modded and added to as time and experience permits. As the MIDI track is input by hand as you choreograph the show, it should never receive a flurry of MIDI data. If you sent it a MIDI music track, you would get a short but exciting show !! I plan to use 'note off' messages to read the status of the outputs so I can remotely check the wiring of the fuseheads.

Digger - Ta!

A long way from finished, but usable - Maybe I will try a mini pyro musical at the next shoot...