Step 1 : use what you got


This how to shows how you can use just about anything that is just "laying around" to build a compact project that almost looks store bought.

This how to is how i am setting up my first 32 channel system while deployed in iraq. I will submit pics in the pictures section of the completed system.

Start by looking around in your unused computer parts box. I had an old Surecom 16 port network switch that i wasn't using. The nice part about that is it has 48 led's that can be used as channel indicators and a master power led.

Step 2 : save to save


NOTE: THE BOARD SHOWN IN THIS STEP IS THE NETWORK SWITCH BOARD...NOT THE 595

In my case i am using the led's and the rj-45 jacks. I am cutting the board into three pieces. I cut the board on the yellow lines in the pic. the first piece is where the RJ-45 jacks are mounted. The next piece is section that the leds are mounted. the reason i am keeping the board intact where these parts mount is so they will fit into the case. As the led's are inside plastic fittings that match up with the case. the middle section of the board is discarded or used for spare parts.

Step 3 : attach your 595 board to the led and RJ-45 boards

Simply attach the channel outputs to the RJ-45 jacks. in my case each cat5 cable will run to a 4 channel ssr box. each wire pair will be 1 channel. the solid color the positive and the one with the white strip will be my negative ground. using this method you can actually turn this into a 64 channel control box. next wire the led board to the 595 outputs for channel indicators.

Step 4 : power and our "new" box

I am using a computer power supply to run my board. i can use the power jack that is next to the RJ-45 jacks. In this case all you have to do is use the male plug that came with the switch and wire it into the 5v power from the supply.

Step 5 : 32, 64, or more

my setup is a 32 channel 595. This is my prototype. as i said earlier you can use the 16 port network switch case to run 64 channels. its all in how you place the boards inside the case. anything over 48 channels if you wanted indicators you would have to add led's. To add more channels than 64 all im going to do is add a mono headphone jack. and on the next board do the same. then use a mono male-male headphone cable to connect the boards.