Mini-Controller (Deluxe)


Mini-Controller (Deluxe)

The Deluxe/V2 Mini-Controller is a controller for displaying effects on a single string of TRIKLITS (up to 500 lights maximum). It can also control multiple strings that are wired in parallel, where each string will display the same thing. The MC has a number of built-in effects, and a USB port that allows live control via a PC. The Deluxe MC uses a 12-button remove control and allows user settable colors and brightness levels.

The instructions and list of effects for the Deluxe Mini-Controller are available here.

The MC is powered by a 9-12vdc power source. It must be able to supply about 30ma per attached light. The power-input jack does not have reverse-polarity protection so care must be taken in wiring up your own power. Connecting power backwards will instantly and permanently damage the lights. The CENTER pin is POSITIVE, the OUTER ring is NEGATIVE.

Mini-Controller Software

Some sample, beta-version software is available for configuring and controlling the MC from a Windows PC. We hope to provide support for MACs and Unix systems in the future. Two programs are available for Windows PCs. TRIKSET allows you to set the number of lights connected to the MC, which is necessary for the built-in effects to function properly. TRIKPLAY is a demo program to show you how to write software to control the lights via the USB port. It plays an MP3 file and makes the lights react to the sound.

Download TRIKSET SOFTWARE v2012-07-25.

Download TRIKPLAY SOFTWARE v2012-07-25.

Download TRIKLITS.INF Windows Driver file.

Driver and Software Installation: 

Download the TRIKLITS software above and unzip it.

Attach Mini-Controller to PC with USB Printer type cable.

For Windows XP
Windows will bring up a message saying it "found new hardware".  It
will ask if it can connect to Windows Update to search for software.
Pick NO, then NEXT.

On the next screen, it will ask what you want to do,
Pick "Install from a list or specific location", then NEXT.

On the next screen, pick "include this location in search", and browse
to the folder containing the TRIKLITS.INF file (download link above).

Windows will warn that the driver has not passed logo testing, and it
never will, so pick CONTINUE.

Pick FINISH and then you are done installing the USB driver.


For Windows 7
Windows 7 makes it harder to install a device driver manually.
It may say it found a new device, but it won't be able to automatically
locate the driver for it and won't give you an option to install it yourself.

Go to the START menu and pick "Control Panel".  In the upper right corner
set the option "View by:" to "Small Icons".  Then click on "Device Manager".
You should see a device listed "USB-DMX", possibly under the "Other Devices" category.
Double-click on "USB-DMX" to bring up its Properties menu.
Now click on "Update Driver" button.
Pick "Browse my computer for driver software".
Click the Browse button and set the directory to the one that contains the TRIKLITS.INF file
you have downloaded.
Windows should find the driver and give you a warning that it can't verify the publisher.
Click "Install this driver software anyway" and then you should be done.


After installing driver
Now you can click on the TRIKSET or TRIKPLAY programs in the software
download directory.  Note that you must have Java installed to use this software.
If not, go to Java.Com to download.

TRIKSET

The TRIKSET program will bring up a pull-down menu listing your available COM ports. You will need to figure out which COM port the MC is attached to. Pick the correct COM port and click on the CONNECT button (if you pick the wrong one, the program will hang). If it succeeds, the MC version number, and number of lights attached will be displayed. Here you can change the number of lights, and also set the address for the remote control. More info on that later. If you make changes, you must hit SAVE to make them permanent.

Remote Control

The remote control has a 12-bit address code. Each of the 12-bits can be Plus, Minus, or NC (No-Connect). The remotes are shipped with all 12-bits being NC. The Mini-Controllers by default only listen to remotes with all 12-bits being NC. The address on the remote control must match the address on the MC.

You can change the MC address through the TRIKSET software. To change the Remote Control Transmitter address, you need to open up the remote unit and make corresponding solder connections for each bit.

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