pir and vixen

[darkride]

Allright so i believe i am ready to hook up my pir sensor to my prop1. So far i have the pir on L, it's three pins are plugged into p6 on my prop1, and i removed the set up pins and the pins on my p6 uln. Now it is working but very rarelyand only when it wants to. Where do i go from here? I'm getting real close to finishing my prop now.
thanks in advance

[JonnyMac]

The program created by the Vixen output doesn't debounce a PIR like we would normally want to do.  Let me update those files (I can do that without affecting the Vixen driver) and have you outputs the code from Vixen again.  Give me an hour or two.

[gadget-evilusions]

and i removed the set up pins and the pins on my p6 uln.

I belive you need to have a jumper on the set up pins, in the DN position, according to the document here http://www.efx-tek.com/downloads/pir_docs.pdf

[darkride]

Allright thanks. So I should download vixen again or rewite and download my show again? It sounds like i am the one of the few using vixen lol. I would really like to use my prop1 as a controller and not a sequencer but honestly i am nervous and don't even know where to start (i'm actually not even sure what the differenc between a controller and a sequencer is?).

[JonnyMac]

A sequencer runs the same series of events with every cycle; a controller can make decisions (based on external inputs and events) that change the behavior of the device -- random events are also possible with a controller.  You can turn a controller into a sequencer, but not vice-versa.

Okay, I have updated the source files that work with the Vixen sequence generator addins -- please unzip the new files into the Vixen\Addins folder

Vixen Addins for Prop-1/Prop-2 Sequences

The new source files include debouncing of the trigger input, so the maximum number of records is reduced a bit (it's worth it).  When using a PIR, be sure to select Active-high trigger and move the SETUP jumper to the DN position.

[darkride]

I downloaded and extract the files into addins.  Next I downloaded my show to the prop1.Unfortunately it is still having the same problems. Maybe my problem lies within the ap-8?

[JonnyMac]

Remember, when using the AP-8 with the Prop-1 sequence program generated by Vixen you must:

1. Replace the ULN2803 with a ULN2003, or clip off pin1 of the ULN2803 (see this tread for details: http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=130.0)
2. Remove the P7 SETUP jumper
3. Connect P7 to the Serial input of the AP-8 (not the P (play) input)
4. Remove the AP-8 B/R, A1, and A0 jumpers
5. Record your sound into slot 0 (segment switches 2, 1, and 0 are "closed" or "on"); when finished, open all segment switches ("off")

[darkride]

I did all that. Maybe my pir is'nt working how it should be. the sensor is acting if it only wants to go off when it wants to. at times i walk in front of it and it goes off. other times it does not go off at all, and other times it goes off one after another. On my show i have 6 seconds of dead time before it can get trigered again. What could i be doing wrong?

[JonnyMac]

We've had some trouble with the Parallax PIR sensor this year, so you my in fact have a duff sensor.  The best way to find out is to connect a normally-open switch between the P6.W and P6.R connections -- if this works then it is indeed the sensor.  We've been in touch with Parallax and their working to improve their production testing.  We are now independently testing each PIR we send out.  If you find it's bad, send it back to us for a replacement.

BTW, you should probably have at least 15 to 20 seconds of dead time before retriggering

[JonnyMac]

Whoops... hold the phone.  I connected my AP-8 just to make sure I didn't foul something with my Vixen update and found that I did.  Sorry, gang.  While making the code *pretty* I accidentally erased the line that resets the show pointer -- so it will work the first time, but not after.  Download the Vixen stuff again (sorry) and see if that corrects the problem.  You might still have a funky sensor, but if you don't things should work -- after being properly debounced -- by the new Vixen sequence generator code.