Controlling an LED via VSA on a Prop-SX

[HauntedWolf]

Hi all,

I have a couple of VSA routines I run through the Prop-SX.  I am wanting to add a 12VDC LED spotlight the will blink on and off during part of the show...basically making the light in a Jack O Lantern turn on and off with it's part of the show.  I have tried everthing I can think of and the LED lights but will never be controlled.  Want am I missing?  Probably something simple, it usually is.  ;)

Thanks in advance!

[JonnyMac]

Probably, I've been working the past couple days with local haunt that is using a reprogrammed EZ-8 and VSA -- they have four servos and four PWM channels and everything works great.

1) Which program are you using in the Prop-SX?
2) How do you have the channel defined in VSA? -- should be MiniSSC Dimmer with a 0 to 254 range

[HauntedWolf]

I'm not sure of which program since I loaded it last year.  However, I have servos in P1 - P8, so I think I might be using the prop-sx_servo_16 file...I need to use the servo8-Digital8 file instead, huh?  My problem is that P0 is loose and the connection is not reliable. 

I just tried setting the channel as you suggested, and no luck.

Thanks again!

[HauntedWolf]

Sorry, I meant to say I should probably use Servo8_PWM8 instead, right?

How hard is it to modify to only have p13-p15 be pwm?

[JonnyMac]

Keep in mind that JB and I are great programmers but we played hooky on the day that mind reading was taught!  ;D

What do you want?  Servos plus digital outputs or servos plus PWM outputs?  I can easily whip up a custom program for you to dump into your Prop-SX, you just need to tell me what the outputs are supposed to do.

[HauntedWolf]

OK...fine!!!!    ;D

My routines currently use servos in p1-p8.  I need 3 outputs that can control LEDs (PWM, right?).  P0 is not available to me because it is loose.  So lets make P13-P15 LED outputs.

Also, I'm going to need a link to the "how to put this new, awesome program into the SX" instructions...it's been too long ago for me to remember how I did it last time.   :)

Thanks again!

[HauntedWolf]

Let's leave everything but p13-p15 servos...I just wanted to be clear.

[JonnyMac]

Clear as mud, my friend!

I just updated one of the original VSA programs for the Prop-SX that does what you want.  You can find it in this thread:

http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=517.msg2631#msg2631

It does eight servos (P0 - P7) and eight pwm/digital (P8 - P15).  You can use a pwm channel in digital mode by defining the channel in VSA as a MiniSSC relay (0 = off, 254 = on).

Now... I'm betting you don't have the latest version of SX/B installed so I pre-compiled the program and attached it to that thread (VSA_Servo8_PWM8.SXH).  To load this into your Prop-SX:

1. Open the SX-Key IDE
2. Run\Device\Load Hex
   -- load the .SXH file
3. Connect your SX-Key or Blitz to the Prop-SX
4. Click the Program button on the Device dialog -- the program will be downloaded
5. Disconnect the SX-Key and have a good time!

[HauntedWolf]

Clear as mud, my friend!


It does eight servos (P0 - P7) and eight pwm/digital (P8 - P15).  You can use a pwm channel in digital mode by defining the channel in VSA as a MiniSSC relay (0 = off, 254 = on).

I did see this one, the problem with it is that I have a bad connection on P0, so I cannot use that as one of my servos.  I need P8 to be a servo control.  

So Ideally for me, what I need is P0-P12 to be servo control and P13-P15 to be able to handle LEDs.  Is that possible?  ;)

Thanks for your help, I REALLY do appreciate it!

[JonnyMac]

No it's not clear.  How many servos do you need?  How many PWM channels?

[HauntedWolf]

13 Servos, 3 PWM.  Please make P13, P14, P15 the PWM channels.

Thanks again!  Sorry for not communicating well.  ;)

[JonnyMac]

Okay, this was a little easier with some sleep.  Give this a go -- and I hope to Heaven that you have an external power supply for all those servos because there is no way the regulator on the Prop-SX can handle that many.

[HauntedWolf]

Thanks Jon!  I'll give this a try tonight when I get home!

I have a power supply for every 4 servos....works great!!!  ;)

As always, you guys rock!

[HauntedWolf]

So all I need to do is load the .SXH file using the instructions above and I'm good to go, right?  Do I need to do something about the .sxb file?  The .vsa file is just a sample VSA routine, right?

Thanks again!

[JonnyMac]

Yes, load the Prop-SX using the Device dialog with the .SXH file.

The .SXB file is for reference -- details the connections and shows off my big brain!  ;D

The VSA file is setup for this program, 13 servos, 3 PWMs, all with the correct settings.  You may have to adjust the COM port for your system.

Have fun, and take pictures and video of your project.  About two weeks ago I delieverd 11 Prop-SX controllers that form a network (using our RS-485 baord) to control 88 channels on a huge animatronic (24 valves, 64 servos!).  I'm looking forward to seeing video of that, too!