Driving 64 TRIACs by a single line - Suggestions are welcome!

[skimask]

Hi friends,
I am having a project to control 64 dimmers (let say 64 TRIACs);
Either Up/Down buttons or POTs can be ok.
The idea is to control (drive) 64 TRIACs by serial comm.
Encoding the control code seems to be no problem.
Decoding the code also seems to be no problem.
How about driving 64 TRIACs ?
I already have some designs in mind, on paper, in trashcan, etc.
Suggestions are highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
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It's probably already on your mind or in the 'round file'
A single TX (PIC16F628A or whatever, as long as it's got a built in UART) and a few receivers (also 16F628A's, same reasoning), each one driving 8 or whatever outputs hooked up to MOC3012's (opti-iso random phase triac drivers). You still have to sync with the main's zero-crossing (if you're dealing with main power), but that could probably be handled at the TX...since I would think that zero-crossing at the TX would most likely be at the same time as all the receivers (unless they were a few miles down the road or something).

[mister_e]

simple Serial comm would be solution. DMX... well, yes and no, depending what you plan to use as Master controller and how the whole thing have to work.

[sayzer]

Thanks Skimask.


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Hi Steve,

Howzit out there? Still cold?


I was considering using your famous dimmer circuit.

64 of them controlled by a few sub-slave F628A.

You have increase/decrease buttons in your dimmer circuit; I can control them by F628A.

With 7 or 8 F628A, I can control 64 dimmer circuit.

But, I have no more info whether there is a way of driving multiple TRIACs with one PIC, say 14 Triacs with one F628A, each TRIAC having individual settings.

I already have a working theory, but the cost is too much.


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