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  3. Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors

Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors

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  • A achurak1

    @sundberg84 - thanks for your board, it seems to be almost exactly what I was looking for! What do you think would be the best way to adjust it if I need to boost the batteries not only to 3.3V, but also to 5V to run the pir sensor?

    sundberg84S Offline
    sundberg84S Offline
    sundberg84
    Hardware Contributor
    wrote on last edited by
    #118

    @achurak1 - do you mean running 5v on batteries? Sorry - thats out of my knowledge.
    I guess there are 5v boosters but my guess is also that this will drain the batteries pretty fast.
    I have made test with 9v batteries and voltage regulaters and this has worked for some time but never gives the lifetime as 3.3v on 2xAA.

    Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
    MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
    MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
    RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

    A 1 Reply Last reply
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    • sundberg84S sundberg84

      @achurak1 - do you mean running 5v on batteries? Sorry - thats out of my knowledge.
      I guess there are 5v boosters but my guess is also that this will drain the batteries pretty fast.
      I have made test with 9v batteries and voltage regulaters and this has worked for some time but never gives the lifetime as 3.3v on 2xAA.

      A Offline
      A Offline
      achurak1
      wrote on last edited by
      #119

      @sundberg84 - correct, the 5v booster looks exactly like the 3.3v booster. I have another sensor I've built manually and it works exactly like that, arduino/temp/hum/radio all work from 3.3v and pir works from 5v. I power it all with two rechargeable batteries (so ~2.6 max charged, not even 3) and it's been running good for several months already and still shows 2.45-2.50.

      gohanG 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • A achurak1

        @sundberg84 - correct, the 5v booster looks exactly like the 3.3v booster. I have another sensor I've built manually and it works exactly like that, arduino/temp/hum/radio all work from 3.3v and pir works from 5v. I power it all with two rechargeable batteries (so ~2.6 max charged, not even 3) and it's been running good for several months already and still shows 2.45-2.50.

        gohanG Offline
        gohanG Offline
        gohan
        Mod
        wrote on last edited by
        #120

        @achurak1 do you know you could modify the pir sensor to work directly from batteries by removing the regulator?

        A 1 Reply Last reply
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        • gohanG gohan

          @achurak1 do you know you could modify the pir sensor to work directly from batteries by removing the regulator?

          A Offline
          A Offline
          achurak1
          wrote on last edited by
          #121

          @gohan - I tried to connect the 3.3v to one of the three pins where you'd usually put a jumper (H, L pads) as I've seen people discussing it on this forum and it just didn't work for me, the sensor did work, but very unstable, would fire up every time radio sends or receives something.

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • gohanG Offline
            gohanG Offline
            gohan
            Mod
            wrote on last edited by
            #122

            Because you need to add an extra AA battery to increase voltage to around 4,5v just for the pir sensor

            A 1 Reply Last reply
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            • gohanG gohan

              Because you need to add an extra AA battery to increase voltage to around 4,5v just for the pir sensor

              A Offline
              A Offline
              achurak1
              wrote on last edited by achurak1
              #123

              @gohan - not sure how exactly it answers my question? I thought you meant I could run the pir from 3.3v. I could plug everything to an outlet and don't worry about the batteries at all. The pir works perfectly from two batteries and the 5v booster, so why would I want to add more batteries and make the whole thing much bigger?

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • gohanG Offline
                gohanG Offline
                gohan
                Mod
                wrote on last edited by
                #124

                I was just saying that without regulators/boosters you can still make a working sensor and get a better battery life. If you don't mind battery life or you can make an outlet powered sensor, of course it makes not much sense.

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                • sundberg84S Offline
                  sundberg84S Offline
                  sundberg84
                  Hardware Contributor
                  wrote on last edited by sundberg84
                  #125

                  Im doing a new revision here with RFM69 support.
                  I never used the RFM69 though - is there anything I should take in mind?

                  • Is it the same with IRQ as Nrf24l01+ - not used, but good to have ie. should i have a jumper so the user can connect IRQ ?
                  • The antenna, is it enough with a jumper/hole so the user can solder a antenna of their own? Or is the trace/trace-length also included as the antenna?

                  Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                  MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                  MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                  RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • gohanG Offline
                    gohanG Offline
                    gohan
                    Mod
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #126

                    The problem with rfm69 is that they work on 3 different frequencies, so you have to choose which frequency you want to support. I'm not sure if the correct length for the 433mhz is good also for the 866mhz. Let's hope somebody more expert shows up 😀

                    sundberg84S 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • gohanG gohan

                      The problem with rfm69 is that they work on 3 different frequencies, so you have to choose which frequency you want to support. I'm not sure if the correct length for the 433mhz is good also for the 866mhz. Let's hope somebody more expert shows up 😀

                      sundberg84S Offline
                      sundberg84S Offline
                      sundberg84
                      Hardware Contributor
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #127

                      @gohan - You mean with the antenna? (But the footprint is the same?)
                      Well, if the trace isnt added to the lenght of the antenna and I add a through-hole the user can just add what kind of lenght they want?

                      Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                      MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                      MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                      RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • gohanG Offline
                        gohanG Offline
                        gohan
                        Mod
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #128

                        The trace adds up to the antenna lengths for what I have seen so far, so I'd say to play safe and leave a hole where to solder the wire antenna or even better if it's near the edge of the pcb you could design a place to mount a sma connector for a real antenna. What do you think?

                        sundberg84S 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • gohanG gohan

                          The trace adds up to the antenna lengths for what I have seen so far, so I'd say to play safe and leave a hole where to solder the wire antenna or even better if it's near the edge of the pcb you could design a place to mount a sma connector for a real antenna. What do you think?

                          sundberg84S Offline
                          sundberg84S Offline
                          sundberg84
                          Hardware Contributor
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #129

                          @gohan - the problem is then if you buy a antenna from ebay with the right length. Added to the PCB trace the length will not match. I have to make the antenna hole as close as possible to the module then.

                          Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                          MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                          MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                          RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • gohanG Offline
                            gohanG Offline
                            gohan
                            Mod
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #130

                            by looking around at other PCBs with sma connectors, they are close to radio module, but still a few millimeters away so I'd say you should be ok

                            sundberg84S 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • gohanG gohan

                              by looking around at other PCBs with sma connectors, they are close to radio module, but still a few millimeters away so I'd say you should be ok

                              sundberg84S Offline
                              sundberg84S Offline
                              sundberg84
                              Hardware Contributor
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #131

                              @gohan - notised that as well. I have asked scalz over PM about this, I saw he made alot of RFM projects.

                              Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                              MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                              MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                              RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • sundberg84S Offline
                                sundberg84S Offline
                                sundberg84
                                Hardware Contributor
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #132

                                Sneak-peak at upcoming RFM edition.
                                All input appreciated as usual.

                                • I couldnt fit a SMA connector at this point for external antenna because I dont want to remodel the PCB completley.
                                  I want it to be as close looking to the original as possible to make it easier for newbies.
                                • I went with the HW/W version. I talked to scalz and the CW is smaller and better for low power but HW/W is the one at MySensors website/tutorial/shop and preffered at 5v...

                                Thoughts?

                                0_1494358879620_RFMEd.JPG

                                Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                                MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                                MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                                RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                1
                                • gohanG Offline
                                  gohanG Offline
                                  gohan
                                  Mod
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #133

                                  I thought the SMA connector could fit on the side of the PCB... oh well....
                                  Btw, is the CW really smaller? I thought it was only a different pinout

                                  sundberg84S 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • gohanG gohan

                                    I thought the SMA connector could fit on the side of the PCB... oh well....
                                    Btw, is the CW really smaller? I thought it was only a different pinout

                                    sundberg84S Offline
                                    sundberg84S Offline
                                    sundberg84
                                    Hardware Contributor
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #134

                                    @gohan - Could be - never used them :S I just checked this image and they look smaller: https://www.google.se/search?q=RFM69H&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjdzPDD2OTTAhWqK5oKHW5RCboQ_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=941#tbm=isch&q=RFM69H+pinout&imgrc=c_R-Nh2VtBGlRM:

                                    Im giving it a second try with the SMA tonight... I will rotate it 180dgr and maybe I can fit it there...

                                    Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                                    MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                                    MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                                    RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • S shabba

                                      What is the purpose of the Raw connection under the radio connection? Designed for a jumper to supply RAW to MYSX connection?
                                      Also any other caveats to be aware of when using RAW and a 3.3 mini and skipping the regulator?

                                      dbemowskD Offline
                                      dbemowskD Offline
                                      dbemowsk
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #135

                                      @shabba the purpose is to keep the raw power away from the 16 pin breakout header if it is not needed. If you connect the jumper, you will have raw power available on pin 1 of the header.

                                      Vera Plus running UI7 with MySensors, Sonoffs and 1-Wire devices
                                      Visit my website for more Bits, Bytes and Ramblings from me: http://dan.bemowski.info/

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • dbemowskD Offline
                                        dbemowskD Offline
                                        dbemowsk
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #136

                                        I was working on a project last night and was using an old REV 8 board for it. After wiring it up I needed to check some things with the pins on the breakout header. When I looked at the site, which showed the REV 9 board, I noticed that the breakout header is quite different between the REV 8 and REV 9 boards. I figured that it was worth noting to people here to watch what diagram you are looking at compared to what REV of the board you are using.

                                        Vera Plus running UI7 with MySensors, Sonoffs and 1-Wire devices
                                        Visit my website for more Bits, Bytes and Ramblings from me: http://dan.bemowski.info/

                                        sundberg84S 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • dbemowskD dbemowsk

                                          I was working on a project last night and was using an old REV 8 board for it. After wiring it up I needed to check some things with the pins on the breakout header. When I looked at the site, which showed the REV 9 board, I noticed that the breakout header is quite different between the REV 8 and REV 9 boards. I figured that it was worth noting to people here to watch what diagram you are looking at compared to what REV of the board you are using.

                                          sundberg84S Offline
                                          sundberg84S Offline
                                          sundberg84
                                          Hardware Contributor
                                          wrote on last edited by sundberg84
                                          #137

                                          @dbemowsk - thank you for pointing this out!
                                          Rev 8 is MysX 1.X and one of the reasons I upgraded to Rev 9 is because MysX 2.X came out. The pins are a bit changed but much better in MysX 2.X. For more details can study the changes.txt as well in the project.

                                          I will add this to Q&A for EasyPCB so other users dont miss it!
                                          Thanks again!

                                          Controller: Proxmox VM - Home Assistant
                                          MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - W5100 Ethernet, Gw Shield Nrf24l01+ 2,4Ghz
                                          MySensors GW: Arduino Uno - Gw Shield RFM69, 433mhz
                                          RFLink GW - Arduino Mega + RFLink Shield, 433mhz

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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