EZ-8 Controlling Prop-1's

[Dark Shadows]

I'm going to be doing a display more like a show and having an EZ8 on repeat and just cycling through switching on the prop-1's I already have (instead of PIRS). I'm going to be using 5 prop-1s, and the other outputs on the EZ8 are going to have solenoids hooked up (since its a simple on off instead of multi-output sequence). I bought an EZ-8 and some 12" servo connectors.. I talked to one of you guys there at the show about what I'm doing, and I want the EZ-8 to trigger each prop-1 via the TTL connections. My question is, how do I write the code for the trigger on my prop-1? From my understanding (Im still new at this stuff, give me a break!) I need to download a new program onto each prop-1 to have an input code from the Ez8 ttl connection instead of the pir code?

What I want each prop-1 to do..

Wait untill triggered from the EZ8 via servo cable.
Activate solenoid
Keep Prop activated for 6 seconds
cut off power to the solenoid
wait until retriggered from the ez 8.

I'm pretty much looking for a template to work off of as far coding the trigger input thru the ttl servo cable instead of the pir code... Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

Mike
Dark Shadows

[JonnyMac]

The great news is that our standard programming template will do the trick.  You see, the Prop-1 doesn't know what the input device is, and doesn't care if it's a PIR, a push-button, or the signal from another processor -- as long as the signal is active-high.

The only thing you have to do is make sure the pulses from your EZ-8 are at least 1/10th of a second, and you do not want them to go longer than the duration of the prop code that you're triggering.

' =========================================================================
'
'   File......
'   Purpose...
'   Author....
'   E-mail....
'   Started...
'   Updated...
'
'   {$STAMP BS1}
'   {$PBASIC 1.0}
'
' =========================================================================


' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------


' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------


' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Sio             = 7                     ' SETUP = UP; no ULN
SYMBOL  Trigger         = PIN6                  ' SETUP = DN

SYMBOL  Solenoid        = PIN0


' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  IsOn            = 1                     ' for active-high in/out
SYMBOL  IsOff           = 0


' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  timer           = B2


' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------

Reset:
  PINS = %00000000                              ' clear all pins
  DIRS = %00000001                              ' make P0/OUT0 an output


' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------

Main:
  timer = 0                                     ' reset debounce timer

Check_Trigger:
  PAUSE 5                                       ' loop pad
  timer = timer + 5 * Trigger                   ' update timer
  IF timer < 100 THEN Check_Trigger             ' wait for 0.1 sec input

  Solenoid = IsOn
  PAUSE 6000
  Solenoid = IsOff

  GOTO Main


' -----[ Subroutines ]-----------------------------------------------------


' -------------------------------------------------------------------------


' -----[ User Data ]-------------------------------------------------------

[Dark Shadows]

Thanks! The perfect respone I was looking for. So I actually dont have to reprogram each prop-1 that I'm already using with a PIR, just connect the servo cable from the EZ-8 to the PIN6 Trigger input (Or which ever I have it programmed for the input already)? I was under the assumption that I had to write a different code for the different trigger device.. Gues not! Thanks! Going to test it today!

[Dark Shadows]

So hooked up the prop-1s... Tested the program with a PIR plugged into PIN 6. Now, If I connect the 3 cable wire from the PIN 6 to the CHANNEL 1 prongs on the EZ 8, it gets power. I had all of the Prop-1's hooked up with the 3 wire cables and they all turned on, with me applyign power to the first prop-1!! Did I wire something up wrong or is this normal?? Maybe wire up relays to the EZ8 channels and only use the red/white cables as the switching on the prop-1s? Im lost..

[JackMan]

 It sounds like you are only using 1 output on each Prop-1?  If that's the case, you could easily run all 5 of your props with a single Prop-1. Use a different OUTx for each prop (you'll need to rewrite the code) and connect your solenoids to the appropriate OUTx. When the Prop-1 is triggered it will cycle though all of your props. Shouldn't be any more wiring than you already have because it sounds like you are wired from the EZ-8 to each of the Prop-1's. With a single Prop-1 you will connect each solenoid instead. Just a thought.  ;)

[JonnyMac]

Mike,

Both the Prop-1 and EZ-8 provide 5vdc on the red wire of those servo headers; what you should do is clip the red wire from at least one end so that you only have ground (black) and signal.  Sorry that I didn't consider this earlier.