Frustration ??

Zeph

Wow, that's very close to the direction I'm taking! (One of the) same boxes, very similar components!
(There'a also smaller box which is similar construction)

I'm guessing the Uno is just to show that the box would actually hold one but you are using the APM in the node.

I was going to put the DHT on the side to expose it to the air, and the PIR motion detector through the cover. I'll be interested in how your project evolves. Are you running at 3.3 or 5V?

And the biggest question: how are you going to mount the boards and battery holder?

bjornhallberg

@Zeph Yeah, I just lined up a couple of things for scale. But I was nevertheless pleased that the UNO did fit since that might come in handy for an ethernet gateway. Still haven't actually managed to find a controller software that I like. Or to get the bridge to Domoticz working.

Don't know if I'll use DHT22s or just the DS18B20. This DHT22 is probably going inside my cctv/raspberry housing to monitor humidity there. I'll give the Raspberry GPIO another try. Couldn't get it working the last time with just a 4k7 resistor. Hope to have better luck with a 10k resisitor. If not, I'm giving up on the GPIO.

For sticking thermometers out of casings I'm thinking plastic Ebay cable glands perhaps, or just a piece of pipe to keep the rain and moisture away. The trick as I see it is drilling large holes without cracking the plastic. I'll give it a shot with the step drill, these things usually go up to 32mm but I've only ever tried them in much softer and thinner plastic.

I hope to run most of the sensors on battery and 3.3V, probably 2xAA alkaline with no boost until the we can get our hands on the proper MySensors designed module with proper quiescent power. There are some exceptions that I considered ... like the pulse power meter which I may not want to sleep etc. I thought about setting up an AC-DC power supply there to power a couple of sensors, including a repeater if necessary. The other non-battery powered point would be the doorbell, and doorbell chime where I figured I could leach power from the 12V AC transformer that is just wasting power anyway on the doorbell button light. That light bulb would be the equivalent of many arduinos I figured. And it would be perfectly situated to listen for doorbell presses, perhaps even replacing the doorbell button with some cool LED button.

I guess I can use the fix points on the bottom of the enclosure to screw the pcb down. Or blu-tack ;-) Or hot glue. Or just have it rattle around in there.

What I'd really like to do is make some enclosures out of wood. Sure, it may not be so fancy as a 3d printer, but the results can be quite stunning.

Zeph

Thanks, some good ideas there.

Any other thoughts on mounting the boards within the enclosure? Hot glue (but harder to remove), or some kind of standoff (requires sealing the hole if it goes through), or what?

Ideally I'd like something which could mount on the plastic where I need it, and hold the boards in place while allowing them to be removed. And some boards don't have screw holes (Arduino Pro Micro). I wonder if there's a glue that would securely hold a threaded nylon standoff to the (PVC?) enclosure?

Yveaux

@Zeph said:

some kind of standoff (requires sealing the hole if it goes through)

Just hot glue the standoffs. Maybe roughen the inside of the box where you glue them. Won't come off unless you plan to throw them around...

Zeph

@Yveaux said:

@Zeph said:

some kind of standoff (requires sealing the hole if it goes through)

Just hot glue the standoffs. Maybe roughen the inside of the box where you glue them. Won't come off unless you plan to throw them around...

OK, I'll try again. I tried hot glueing to a PVC box (not one of these, something much larger) a couple of years ago and was frustrated by weakness (detaching at inconvenient times), which left me skittish. I don't know about these boxes, tho - not sure of the material. (And I gather there are different types of hot glue, so some other hot glue might have worked, but I'm not knowledgeable on that).

lininger

Cases that take into account a NRF2401+ are non existent.

I finally moved my ethernet gateway from breadboard to a case. After looking for months for a case I finally settled on this one.

http://www.crispconcept.com/product-p/ar-uno-e-tr.htm

No glue or screws required it snaps together and can be easily taken apart. I ordered the one that holds the UNU R3, and Wiznet Ethernet Shield. The a NRF2401+ LNA & PA Antenna version also fit nicely into the box, but did have to drill a hole for the antenna.

Yveaux

@lininger Nice case! Looks good!
I see you modded some leds to get feedback. Ever seen these modules ?: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arduino-kit-Multicolor-6-Color-LED-Matrix-AVR-ARM-PIC-MCU-with-UNO-MEGA2560-code/251592321396?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140602152332%26meid%3D807c425bc96142acb67c767f9436c12c%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D20140602152332%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D271303570679

(you would have to mount them 180 degrees rotated btw)

Quite cheap, small and come in multiple colours!

Me like :+1:

lininger

No I had not seen them before, Just ordered a couple. Thanks for the link.

RJ_Make

@lininger That is a sharp looking case.. Nice Neat Work..

hek

Finally!

Just signed up for a build-your-own-3d printer course (with material) that will start end of september.

Yveaux

@hek whoooop! Lucky you ;)

Have fun!

marceltrapman

@hek said:

Just signed up for a build-your-own-3d printer course (with material) that will start end of september.

September is going to be my month too I hope.
Next week Kate Bush and by the end of the month my very own (pre-built) FABtotum (http://www.fabtotum.cc). Me happy :)

samppa

@hek
Lucky bastard :-)

Those that happen to live in Helsinki might check this out (in Finnish):
http://www.helmet.fi/fi-FI/Kirjastot_ja_palvelut/Kaupunkiverstas/Juttuja_kirjastosta/Tervetuloa_kokeilemaan_3Dtulostusta_Kaup(17945)

So the pubic library lets you print your stuff for 0.40€ per piece. I winder what schema or blueprint file that machine imports..

samppa

Actually I went to the nearest library and there you can print 3D objects for free!
So I immediately created a holder scaffold for arduino nano (plate and poles on corners with studs on top for the small holes in the corners of the nano) for easier mounting inside any box. The first prototype tested the precision of the printer and strength of the plastic.

Here is the SketchUp model if someone is interested: ArduinoNano Holder 4.skb

Next I will try to make a snap-on plate that is only cut with scissors to snuggly fit into any case width to hold the nano in place.

With these I hope to resolve my frustration and still use existing boxes.

hek

@samppa said:

Actually I went to the nearest library and there you can print 3D objects for free!

The libraries in Finland seem to prioritize the right things! Fostering a new generation of DIY people.

RJ_Make

That's interesting.. Here in the state I live, (USA) many of our legislators are trying to pass legislation that effective bans the possession of a 3D printer. You gotta love our 'freedom'... ;-(

Yveaux

@ServiceXp there goes your 3d printed gun ;-)

hek

We've been building for 3 hours this evening. This is the result so far. The metal frame is really sturdy!

On sunday I will hopefully have something like this:

marceltrapman

@ServiceXp I am just curious how they are go to do that.
I remember the same paranoia when the first full colour printers became a reality because it was too easy to create counterfeit money.

marceltrapman

@hek So, you are going to enjoy your 3D printer at least one month before I can :(

Frustration ??

19

11.7k

11.2k

113.1k