Search found 601 matches

by parkview
Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:36 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB
Replies: 3
Views: 16967

Re: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB

Hawk volunteered to design up the the conference badge and is based around the Nations Tech: N32L406 MCU, something like this: https://www.lcsc.com/product-detail/Microcontroller-Units-MCUs-MPUs-SOCs_Nations-Technologies-Inc-N32L406CBL7_C2981444.html This is a low power MCU and in fact the board ran...
by parkview
Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:30 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB
Replies: 3
Views: 16967

Re: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB

I have now designed three SAO hat boards, so initially I designed my SAO Tester PCB with three SAO connectors. In the initial version of the Tester I had one socket configured with a MOSFET switchable power. I think that was so i could test the power side of things, but I never ended up using that f...
by parkview
Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:16 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB
Replies: 3
Views: 16967

Re: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB

Since I was on a SAO Hat making mode, I thought I would have a go at making one for the Shenzhen based TroubleMaker makerspace and a koala for myself: TM_front-working.jpg koala-front.jpg I wanted the front side to be a clean as possible, so I used 0805 0 ohm resistors on the back side as track jump...
by parkview
Tue Dec 19, 2023 10:10 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Simple-Add-On Tester PCB
Replies: 3
Views: 16967

Simple-Add-On Tester PCB

In June 2023 I was chatting with a friend about my idea to lead a tour of the electronics scene in Shenzhen China and he suggested that we make and assemble a PCB as part of the tour. Since a bunch of us where attending the tour I thought it would be fun to hold a KiCad conference as well. We decide...
by parkview
Fri Dec 15, 2023 1:19 pm
Forum: Product Reviews
Topic: Pinecil v2 Soldering Iron
Replies: 0
Views: 15893

Pinecil v2 Soldering Iron

I have been traveling a lot and luggage space is sometimes at a premium. A few years ago I purchased a smallish 240V temperature controlled soldering iron and that has been my handy travel companion. But I know I can go smaller. I recently purchased the Pinecil v2 USB-C based soldering iron and oh y...
by parkview
Fri Dec 15, 2023 12:55 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Power Bank Keep-Alive Load
Replies: 1
Views: 15102

Re: Power Bank Keep-Alive Load

I submitted the design to JLCPCB while I was recently in Shenzhen, China and a few days later I received the blank PCB. Luckily I was I had purchased a new hot plate for the November Asian KiCad Conference, so I could quickly assemble the board. While it pulsed, it didn't keep the Power Bank alive. ...
by parkview
Fri Oct 20, 2023 1:16 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Adjustable USB Power and Measurement Board
Replies: 7
Views: 20462

Re: Adjustable USB Power and Measurement Board

Visited the Penang Science Cluster Makerspace recently and was fortunate to be able to spend three weeks working there on a few projects, one being my USB Power Profiler PCB but mostly working on the software side. Had lots of fun with the latest v0.8 version of the board: 2023-09-10_09-34-50_sml.1....
by parkview
Fri Oct 20, 2023 12:04 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Power Bank Keep-Alive Load
Replies: 1
Views: 15102

Power Bank Keep-Alive Load

It can be infuriating when trying to use a Power Bank battery pack to run small things that don't use much power. I have four phone charger power banks and they all need 40-50mA of load to keep them running, otherwise they turn off. The turn off times range from 5, 30 and 40 seconds. The 5 second on...
by parkview
Wed Aug 16, 2023 9:29 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Universal e-Paper Name Badge
Replies: 8
Views: 30499

Re: Universal e-Paper Name Badge

Yay, the board almost worked straight off the hot-plate. But there was a hidden short between the USB-Micro USB- pin and shield. It took a few attempts with the soldering iron turned up to 410 degrees and lots of flux to clear that one. NameBadge_v0.11_PCB.jpg As I mentioned in the last post, I chan...
by parkview
Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:18 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Universal e-Paper Name Badge
Replies: 8
Views: 30499

Re: Universal e-Paper Name Badge

PCB version 0.10. All the sensors on the board turned out ok. I somehow fixed the SK6812 footprint - but then I must have reverted (CTL+Z) it back to the old footprint and I didn't notice. Ouch! I have coded up the LIS2 3Dof accelerometer so that the display text will be the correct way up to match ...
by parkview
Fri Jul 14, 2023 3:19 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Simon Says - Soldering Practice PCB
Replies: 0
Views: 18107

Simon Says - Soldering Practice PCB

Yes, yet another SW Maker soldering practice PCB. This one is based around the 'Simon Says' game, in which you attempt to press a sequence of buttons following the computers pattern. It's a mixture of thru-hole and 0805 SMD parts and can be powered via a 3V CR2032 battery, or a USB Micro cable. This...
by parkview
Thu Jul 13, 2023 12:27 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: USB-C Variable Boost Power Supply
Replies: 0
Views: 18230

USB-C Variable Boost Power Supply

I am working on a project that requires strips of 12V white LEDs. This all has to run from a phone charger battery pack. The initial strip I tried using had 60 white LEDs on it. Turns out it needs 1A at 12V to run the strip of white LEDs. But this requires 4+A at 5V to be fed into a XL6019 based Boo...
by parkview
Thu Jul 13, 2023 12:09 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: ESP32-C3 Dual Brushed Motor Controller
Replies: 0
Views: 18098

ESP32-C3 Dual Brushed Motor Controller

I needed a small compact single motor controller board that could control a small 5V motor backward and forwards, so I quickly designed up this PCB, based around a DRV8830 i2C motor driver IC: Single-motor-driver_v0.5-sml.jpg There is a magnetic buzzer, OLED display connector, 4 RGB (bling) LEDs and...
by parkview
Wed Jun 28, 2023 9:26 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Basic ESP32-C3 RGB LED Controller
Replies: 2
Views: 13679

Re: Basic ESP32-C3 RGB LED Controller

Ok, the mag sensor didn't make it onto the next design version, but I did add a voltage divider that measures the voltage on the RGB LED string. If the MOSFET sending power to the LED string is switched off, then I should read 0 volts on the RGB LED string, but low and behold, I still measure a redu...
by parkview
Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:42 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Universal e-Paper Name Badge
Replies: 8
Views: 30499

Re: Universal e-Paper Name Badge

For this version, I ditched the ESP32-Pico MCU, and used the ESP32-S3-Mini. This comes with a built in UART, so it saves me having to add on a CP2102 UART and the cost of it. While it's easier to mount correctly, it's still a bit tricky, in that the pads are all hidden underneath, so the fix for an ...
by parkview
Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:12 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Universal e-Paper Name Badge
Replies: 8
Views: 30499

Re: Universal e-Paper Name Badge

Well, this project has been a long journey and been a lot of fun. The Purple v0.8, was tricky to get going properly due to the hand assembled ESP32-Pico MCU. It worked for a few months, then I took it along to the 2022 Bunbury Science Fair and it got zapped by one of the thousands of people that tou...
by parkview
Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:06 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: MOSFET Sampler PCB
Replies: 1
Views: 12461

Re: MOSFET Sampler PCB

Another lovely component sample board:
MOSFET_Footprints_v0.5.jpg
MOSFET_Footprints_v0.5.jpg (89.19 KiB) Viewed 12306 times

The DFN1006 and SOT-883 are very small and fiddly to get into place. I think the SIT-883 has a large pad size, so maybe better to use than a DFN1006?
by parkview
Wed Jun 28, 2023 5:03 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: USB Power Breakout PCB
Replies: 1
Views: 12382

Re: USB Power Breakout PCB

JLCPCB where kind and sent me six of these small PCB's. It didn't take long to assemble two of them and they all work fine. I think if I did another version, I would place the GND pin in the middle, so the pin out would be: 5V - GND - 3.3V That way I could just solder two pins if I only needed one s...
by parkview
Sat May 13, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: USB Power Breakout PCB
Replies: 1
Views: 12382

USB Power Breakout PCB

The other day I wanted to do a quick breadboard circuit test and I needed to get 5V and 3.3V onto the circuit. I have a nice RPi based Hat that could be used to inject power to the breadboard, but it's a monster and I thought all I need is a simple small PCB. So I spent a few hours to make my own on...
by parkview
Fri May 12, 2023 1:09 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: MOSFET Sampler PCB
Replies: 1
Views: 12461

MOSFET Sampler PCB

Over time, my boards have become more dense, as I learn more and try to make things smaller. I started with SOT-23 sized generic MOSFETs and over time have purchased smaller and smaller MOSFETs, with last year getting down to DFN1006 (1mm x 0.6mm) sized components. I place them on the solder pasted ...