Does Anyone Use Icicle Software - DIY Direct Control of Hardware. Read Only. No more posting. - PlanetChristmas! Forums. Read Only. We've moved to http://talk.planetchristmas.com - The Forums of PlanetChristmas have moved to http://talk.PlanetChristmas.com
I am new to Planet Christmas but have decorated for a while. I have succesfully used the free Icicle Computer Control Software. I have found it very good and very cheap.
This is my first venture into Computer control, and I made an Icicle board to control my candy canes for this year, and use Adams software. All worked well. Some of the parts here in AUS were a little difficult to locate but I got there. All worked well in testing. My candy canes are now up and I just have to finish wiring them to the board.
This software and hardware setup looks good - I am considering ordering the parts to build one in time for this year.
I was wondering if there is any way of setting the sequences to run at a certain time and then stop? So that I can turn the lights on in the evening and then off late at night. I guess I could do this by running all the supplies off a single timer and then having the computer control the sequences, but it's not as nice as having the computer do the lot.
Am going to see if I can get my uni to etch the PCB for me tomorrow, am not sure they will work off an image though. If not is there a chance that you could make me a board, for a fee of course?
Devonlights: where are you in Barnstaple? I will look out for your lights next time i'm going through!
Might be possible, depends on how things go, I'm watching a pcb exposure unit on ebay atm, I'm hopeing I can get that for a good price, because I'm sick of trying to clamp things behind glass and leave it out in the sun, sometimes it doesn't expose properly, and some times the sun gets round the edges, because things arn't clamped too well... I end up destroying quite a bit of board, which results in a swearing fit
Used to use the equipment at school until recently, but since finishing school I no longer have access to that anymore, not that I'm too disappointed, the chemicals were always supidly weak because they got a lot of use and didn't get replaced often, but the exposure unit was useful to have access to
Yeah it's the exposure unit i'm after too. The main way I used to use was to photocopy the layout onto photo paper and iron it onto copper clad. If you were lucky all the toner would be left on the copper and you'd be ready to go! The boards are much nicer when I get the uni to make them though hehe.
I did try the iron method once, didn't work, probably down to me using ordinary copier paper though...
Out of interest, what you studying at Plymouth uni?, Don't suppose you know a guy who calls himself [tw]fox online, drives and mondeo, and is frankly mad about them?
@ Devon, I used the JDM programmer along with IC prog, links to both in the links section of the icicle site, to use the JDM with a 16F627 you have to make a small mod:-
Adam: I'm in my final year of BSc electronics. That name doesn't ring any bells, I used to hang around Ford websites/forums quite a bit though, and go to all the shows in the summer.
Good news, I put your GIF into the PCB layout program we normally use and resized to 160x100, they said it shouldn't be a problem to do. Hopefully it wont make a difference to them even though it is just an image rather than a proper layout. Ordered a load of the parts from uni too, cheaper than Rapid! Now i've just got to find 8 sets of lights to put on it.
Having the ability to control when the lights come on and off would be very helpfull. Last year I just turned them on each night and off in the morning.
ChriX : I am not actually in Barnstaple, more on the edge of Exmoor but we are moving this year closer to Barnstaple so not doing lights this year. It will give me time to make some more icicle boards maybe!
AdamB : I used quasar electronics programmer to program my Pics. Found the links on your page a bit confusing to build.
Adamb wrote: Nice to see another person using it :-)
Adam, is there any way of using other componants for the triacs and a couple of other parts of the icicle board?
I have priced componants here in Australia and it was going to cost me $200 to make one controller (i could import a digital io board with 192 ports on it from the states for $400AU)..
With the cost of parts it puts a strain on a home made product when a comercial one is so much cheaper and gives more ports for my $$$
It might be possible, do you have the web address of a popular electronics supplier in australia? then I can see the prices of different stuff and such.
Also another poster in this thread, Dave Kenny is based in Australia IIRC, he might be able to tell you where the best place to get parts from is.
Clearly its not worth building it if going to cost that much, just for comparison, the boards cost me about £18 each to build, which works out at about 42 Aus Dollars.
If its the fact that 'isolated tab' traics are less available there, then you can use non-isolated tab types, but the heatsinking requirements will change, you'll either have to make sure the thermal pads used on them have insulating properties, or put each triac on a separate heatsink
Are you sure you have checked the prices for the correct parts? I just priced up the triacs, PIC, reg and the optos on au.farnell.com and it came to ~$80. So I cant see how a PCB and some resistors and diodes can make up another $120.
Also, Adam, have you seen 24-0312 on Rapid? Saves making an extra cable for serial-rj45.
Last edited on Friday December 2nd, 2005 11:57 am by ChriX
No, I hadn't actually seen that, I've already got the cable made, but it'll be a usful idea for anyone who hasn't already made one.
I just happened to have a serial connector, some cable and a bag of RJ45 crimp ends laying around... you tend to get that kind of thing when you're into electronics, you can usually find bits bits to do just about anything in the back of the cupboard
How is the board comming along anyway, have the uni etched it yet?
