Search found 601 matches

by parkview
Sat Mar 05, 2022 5:08 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Micro Robot
Replies: 2
Views: 5126

Micro Robot

We have tested quite a few cheap Chinese robots and found each one missing a feature or two that we would like, so a couple of us are having a go at designing a Micro Robot. This will be Raspberry Pi based, but hosts an ESP32-Pico MCU to help out with monitoring and controlling things. Initial Featu...
by parkview
Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:56 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Universal WiFi to IR Remote Control
Replies: 0
Views: 11030

Universal WiFi to IR Remote Control

This H-a-D project popped up last week . It made me think about the remotes we have scattered around the house. We love our Streaming movies/shows etc, so we have a mobile phone on hand, so wouldn't it be handy to be able to control the TV via your mobile phone? Way back when I purchased a dongle fo...
by parkview
Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:28 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Sound Engineering PCB
Replies: 5
Views: 7648

Re: Sound Engineering PCB

The first PCB arrived back from JLCPCB, China last week. I quickly assembled the board, but had no end of trouble getting the ESP32-Pico MCU aligned and correctly into place. I even managed to burn the MCU out and the 1A LDO! I had another crack at it yesterday and found that the LDO had burnt out a...
by parkview
Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:18 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Sound Engineering PCB
Replies: 5
Views: 7648

Re: Sound Engineering PCB

While waiting the three or so weeks for the PCB's to arrive back from JLCPCB, I started working on the software. I used my Arduino Sensor Training Board as it had a similarly designed MEMS microphone and MPU. Enough so that I could test out some Arduino code. I based my initial version on Eric's Git...
by parkview
Thu Feb 17, 2022 11:47 am
Forum: Projects
Topic: Sound Engineering PCB
Replies: 5
Views: 7648

Sound Engineering PCB

This YT Video popped YT Video popped up in early Jan 2022. I love the way the particles flow when he blows on the microphone. Some days later one of us mentioned a (new to me) Open Source gaming engine called Godot. I thought it would be fun trying to replicate the particle project in the Godot engi...
by parkview
Tue Feb 08, 2022 4:43 pm
Forum: Product Reviews
Topic: Programming Clip
Replies: 1
Views: 7145

Re: Programming Clip

You can also purchase a hand held serial programming tool via Aliexpress. Note the Blue USB UART board is sold separately. serial-programmer.jpg You can buy them with 3, 4 or more pins. I like to use a 3 pin (Rx, Tx, GND) as I can supply power via other means. programmer-demo.jpg An action shot :)
by parkview
Tue Feb 08, 2022 2:23 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: X27.168 Low Power Stepper Motor
Replies: 5
Views: 9501

Re: X27.168 Low Power Stepper Motor

I like the look of this board, it's so symmetrical. I spun out a new version V1.0, to fix the buzzer and add in a IC reset pull down resistor. It also allowed me to add a +3.3V pin to the i2C Slave data port, so it can be run from 3.3V, and/or 5V as well. I also enlarged the i2C address (white space...
by parkview
Tue Feb 08, 2022 2:05 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: WS2812 - Neopixel LED Strip PH 2A Connector
Replies: 2
Views: 4523

Re: WS2812 - Neopixel LED Strip PH 2A Connector

Sometimes you just want to display a short segment of WS2812/Neopixel RGB LEDs on a breadboard. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to plug in a short strip of RGB LEDs into a breadboard? I added on a 3-pin right angle pinheader so this adapter can be used on a breadboard: RGB LED Breadboard Adaptor.jpg ...
by parkview
Tue Feb 08, 2022 1:55 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: 3V to 12V MOSFET Switch
Replies: 0
Views: 6882

3V to 12V MOSFET Switch

At our December SW Makers meeting someone wanted to use a relay to switch something on/off. Relays are big and bulky and can draw a relatively large current to toggle the armature. It didn't take long to whip up a simple, small (14mm x 23mm) MOSFET switching PCB. This is designed to plug into a brea...
by parkview
Tue Feb 08, 2022 12:37 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Universal e-Paper Name Badge
Replies: 8
Views: 15214

Re: Universal e-Paper Name Badge

I received the version 0.7 blue PCB, but due to the BME280 and MPU-6050 being unobtanium just now because of the silicon shortage, I decided to spin out another version of the e-Paper Name Badge PCB. Version 0.8 will be centered on a ESP32-Pico MCU, as it has more available pins and can be programme...
by parkview
Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:35 am
Forum: Product Reviews
Topic: programming a Pic18f25j10
Replies: 1
Views: 7162

Re: programming a Pic18f25j10

Did you get your PIC programmed? Never used a PIC before, but happy to help out if I have the tools.
by parkview
Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:44 pm
Forum: Product Reviews
Topic: Programming Clip
Replies: 1
Views: 7145

Programming Clip

On most of my PCB's that I create, if it's going to be a end user programmed, I might place a USB UART, like a CP2102 on there, but as a backup, I will place a 3 pin [Rx-Tx-GND] 1.27mm pin-header onto the board, along with two 0402 0 ohm jumpers, so I can quickly isolate the CP2102 UART from the ESP...
by parkview
Fri Jan 14, 2022 5:20 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: USB Power Controller
Replies: 4
Views: 7128

Re: USB Power Controller

Looks like I forgot to blog about V1.2 version of the board. I made it up in the first half of last year: USB-Power-Controller_Front_V1.2_sml.jpg Everything seems to work on the board and it's been fun to play with, but to show off it's capabilities, I need to bring along a plethora of strips of LED...
by parkview
Mon Jan 10, 2022 12:47 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Arduino Sensor Training Board
Replies: 6
Views: 5244

Re: Arduino Sensor Training Board

So, while the board looks ok to me, it occurred to me yesterday that I have put no thought into how to protect it from bits of metal falling onto the board and shorting things out etc. You and I know not to do that, but accidents can happen and beginners in Electronics might not appreciate the expen...
by parkview
Sun Jan 09, 2022 9:42 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Open source ECU's Highs, lows and blue smoke.
Replies: 5
Views: 6049

Re: Open source ECU's Highs, lows and blue smoke.

Well done with designing it in FreeCAD. It's a clean design!
by parkview
Sun Jan 09, 2022 12:09 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Arduino Sensor Training Board
Replies: 6
Views: 5244

Re: Arduino Sensor Training Board

The version 0.7 blue PCB arrived earlier last year. It's been sitting around waiting for me to assemble it, which I did near the end of the year. After fixing the obvious solder shorts etc, it powered up ok, but for some reason i2C just wouldn't function. By that I mean there was zero clk and data w...
by parkview
Sat Jan 01, 2022 10:17 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: XMAS Tree
Replies: 0
Views: 6567

XMAS Tree

Back in October school holidays my granddaughter and I set out to create a Xmas Tree on a small 10cm high green PCB. The new Espressif ESP32-C3 had been announced earlier in the year, so I thought that with the price of electronic parts going through the roof, maybe I could try using this cheap new ...
by parkview
Fri Dec 24, 2021 5:44 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Remote Weather Station
Replies: 3
Views: 3289

Re: Remote Weather Station

Today was a nice warm day, topping out at 34 deg C, so a great day to test out multiple solar PV panels. I used my Ideal Diode test board: https://forum.swmakers.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2473https://forum.swmakers.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2473 and configured for dual input, with one output. I made u...
by parkview
Wed Dec 22, 2021 3:25 pm
Forum: Projects
Topic: Remote Weather Station
Replies: 3
Views: 3289

Re: Remote Weather Station

The PCB arrived the other day and the charger IC a week later from China. It didn't take long to make up the PCB, but I did need to print out a new battery holder, as my 18650 LiFePO4 (LFP), batteries don't have protection circuit built in, so they are 2mm shorter that my Li-ion batteries. Charger.1...
by parkview
Sat Dec 18, 2021 10:52 pm
Forum: General Electronics
Topic: Exploring Ideal Diodes
Replies: 2
Views: 5854

Re: Exploring Ideal Diodes

That last post was all done with 12V. When I tested the circuits with 5V and RV6 set to 47K and RV5 set to 10K, I measured a 7mV across the RU30L30 MOSFET at a 190mA load current. The gate measured 0.88V to GND. When I fed 5V into the output, I measured -39mV at the input - nice! When I put 3.3V int...