Prop1 triggering Cowlacious Designs CAR/p 300 - proper connections

[meadowcreek]

Hi Jon,


I know this is a busy time... I've been staring at this and know you can probably give me the best answer in a second


After reading your extensive warnings on connecting the prop1 to other boards, I am confused about the best approach.  What is the safest way to trigger the Cowlacious designs CAR/P300 from the Prop1 (12v power supply to prop1)?

The CAR/P300 has a voltage trigger, V-Trig (with Opto-Isolator) The V-Trig input allows the unit to be triggered by a voltage level trigger such as, a 5v output from a microcontroller, a 9-12 volt battery, a 24 volt power source, or 120V outlet or output from a 120V motion sensor by setting a jumper to indicate which power source is being used.

The CAR/P300 documentation states that the polarity of the VTRIG pins (which is positive and which is negative) is irrelevant to the trigger connection.


Which is the best connection method? 


1.  Power the CAR/P300 from its own supply and trigger the CAR/P300 by connecting the VTRIG header cable (jumpers set to 9-12v) to the prop1 V+ and one of the prop1 out0-7. 


2.  Power the CAR/P300 from the prop1 by connecting the v+ from the prop1 to the CAR/P300 power input (+) and the CAR/P300 power input (-) to the prop1 ground & connecting the VTRIG (Jumper set to 9-12v) to the prop1 out0 (-) and the other pin connect to the Prop1 V+.


3. Prop1 TTL pins to the VTRIG with the Jumper at 5V.  Connecting the V-TRIG two pin header cable to the servo cable Red (+) and Black (-).


4.  Prop1 TTL pins to the motion sensor on the CAR/P300 via a servo cable (white to signal)?  Documentations says that this pins can be used to connect a motion sensor or be used to trigger the board from a 5VDC microcontroller.... HOWEVER...  that this connection is designed to provide power to the motion sensor... I think this is exactly what you are concerned about... am I correct?


Thanks for your help!

[JonnyMac]

"Best" is a very subjective term.  Since the CAR/P-300 doesn't use a lot of current (due to using external amplification) I would be inclined to use power from the Prop-1.  Let me suggest you connect the boards like this:

1. Connect V+ to the positive power input of the CAR/P
2. Connect GND to the negative (ground) power input of the CAR/P
3. Connect V+ to one side of the V-Trig input
4. Connect the OUTx terminal of your choice to the other side of the V-Trig input
5. Set the V-Trig voltage to 12v

Let's say you use OUT0 to control V-Trig.  This means that when P0 is an output and HIGH the CAR/P will be triggered.  The CAR/P-200 takes a 250ms pulse but Carl told me that the CAR/P-300 doesn't take a pulse that long -- start with 50ms and see how it goes (again, I don't have one of these boards so I cannot test).

[meadowcreek]

Thanks Jon!

Do you have time for a little code help?

I have a PIR on 6 and an RC4 on 7 (with lights, strobe, fogger, and a wiper Motor...K1-4 respectively)
out0 & out1 are wickLEDs
out3 is attached to a trigger for the CAR/P300

I would like to have the candles going constantly...before and after the trigger.
After the trigger, start the fogger, lights, strobe and trigger the CAR/P300
wait 3 seconds and start the wiper motor
run for 8 seconds
Turn off lights, strobe, fogger, and a wiper Motor
Turn off CAR/P300
Wait 10 second delay and back to main to wait for next PIR trigger

[livinlowe]

Meadowcreek-
You might want to start a new topic on the code help

[JonnyMac]

Of course I'm happy to help out, but as Shawn (and our forums guidelines) point out, you should start a new thread; threads are based on topic, not on customer -- this is the only way to keep then searchable by topic.  Thanks for understanding.