Here are links to all of the Visible Signals manuals, which include the BOMs and build guides. Please make sure you use the file which corresponds to the version number that is written on the PCBs you have!
If you have any questions or would like help then please create a new thread in the visible signals category, so this one can reserved for links to all the manuals.
Happy New Year & Beer everyone @VanTa got our group buy in the post here in Berlin today
Everything looks fine so Iām looking forward to soldering up some of these in the coming days/weeks & once theyāre done, seeing them mix up some signals in the rack
Thanks again @VisibleSignals
For anyone looking for #LT1251CN ICs for their #VisibleSingnals RGB Matrix Mixer build, Iāve ordered 25 from Mouser to get the cheaper breakpoint price (perhaps the incorrect term). Iāll happily sell them for a small fraction above cost price, just cover the postage cost of course. Iāve also got 25x #LT1256CN ICs (the #CadetX#Multiplier uses them for example) and plenty of the #Thonk right-angled #PJ302M jacks if youāre in need of a few
The Gainbrain module (my multi-purpose video VCA / crossfader / analog multiplier module) also uses the LT1251 (or LT1256 if you want a more accurate multiplier). They should be back in stock on the web site in about two weeks (the same PCB order includes 9 new prototype module designs so itās going to be a busy January! )
Beyond the connection guide, which it looks like youāre working on, I might also need a little more guidance on how the shims work, as that is something I have not encountered before.
I assume I just stick them in the correct way and solder to the pads on both sidesā¦? But at least seeing some photos of correctly placed/soldered shims would be helpful to reassure myself I am doing it correctly myself. Thanks!
This text is an example from one of the manuals, describing how to fit them. Note that the installation orientation (either the word āBottomā or āTopā showing) varies from module to module.
When installed they look like this (note: this is a photo of a prototype and the 3PDT shim is the wrong way round! Please follow the instructions in the PDF for each module!)
Will probably still be a little while before I actually build this up since I am waiting for a panel/PCB from someone else to arrive as well before ordering the remaining parts I donāt have. But looking forward to it!
A kind person has pointed out that the 1P3T switch in the BOM for the RGB Matrix Input module has a collar that is slightly larger than the panel hole, which makes it difficult to correctly fit the module together.
Solution 1: different switch
If you havenāt already purchased switches for your boards then please get this one instead: 118-1MS3T1B1M2QES (Mouser code). According to the datasheet it doesnāt have collar. Alternatively a suitable switch (much cheaper) is available from Tayda (part number A-3187).
Solution 2: enlarge the hole
If you have the switches already then you can use a āstepped drillā to gently widen the panel holes until itās wide enough for the collar. Drill each one out slowly, from the rear side of the panel, and keep checking and working slowly until the switch body is flush with the panel.
Sorry about this - originally I used Tayda switches, but early feedback was to provide the BOM with single-source of parts, so I found a Mouser part that I thought would be compatible instead
Iāll make the panel holes slightly larger on future designs, so if you bought these switches then hold on to them and they wonāt go to waste.
As always if you have any questions then please get in touch.
Hi, have you finished the RGB Matrix connection guide yet? Would love to see it! I finally got around to ordering my missing parts and Iām midway through the build.
Hi @dondon, I have just finished writing up the RGB Matrix Connection Guide. Iāll PM it to you to so you can beta-test it for me, and if itās all good then Iāll upload it to the web site and in the first post in this thread
Oopsā¦ well you can use a SPDT (all the prototypes did), you just miss out on the mute position in the middle. Iāll update my post above to point this out. Sorry
No worries @VisibleSignals
The mute position is much too useful so I definitely wouldnāt recommend anyone using a DPDT if they had extreme difficulty sourcing a 3DPT switch.
Tayda only had the 3DPT ON-ON last time I looked & not the required ON-OFF-ON as required for the top Bus switch, hopefully thatās changed since I last checked but I was mistaken and didnāt realise that I had focused on the wrong switches