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  1. Home
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  3. My Slim 2AA Battery Node

My Slim 2AA Battery Node

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  • m26872M m26872

    @GertSanders Good job! If you go the SMD way I think a lot could be done. Perhaps matching AAA width? Leave some (only few) SMD pads open for sensor connection, no proto area, etc.

    GertSandersG Offline
    GertSandersG Offline
    GertSanders
    Hardware Contributor
    wrote on last edited by GertSanders
    #235

    @m26872 I'm trying to make a full SMD board with the smd variant of the nrf24.

    So far, my first design is a 21mm square.

    I have been thinking about a long 13mm x 100mm variant. That would allow plenty of space, at least 1 AAA, but more importantly would allow panelisation when combining with a 13x100 board for two AAA battery holders.

    This would give 3 sensor nodes + 3 battery holder boards in one 100x100 panel, or 6 sensor boards if we use your technique of "ty-wrapping" batteries.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • Cliff KarlssonC Offline
      Cliff KarlssonC Offline
      Cliff Karlsson
      wrote on last edited by
      #236

      A couple of more questions. In one of the pictures at the top the electrulyte 4,.7 uf capacitator is placed closer to the atmel chip and the 0.1 uf (c5) is placed closest to the edge does it matter witch capacitator goes where?

      The 10k resistor should be 1/4 or 1/8 W according to the bom. I had some small 1/6 W 10k resistors can I use them? I also have some bigger blue 10k resistor that I do not know the W rating on.

      Where did you purchase the female pin-header that are used for the chips? I have some atmega chip-sockets that are quite narrow and it is hard to fit the components underneath. I also have some other female pin-headers but they are atleast twice as high than the ones in the pictures.

      AWIA 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • AWIA AWI

        Currently this is my favorite board. Minimal size, traditional components and just enough breadboard space. A few variations:
        0_1454859878498_upload-23af4fbe-6938-4079-9fc4-d149c8950370 Soldered an 8 mHz resonator (a 'crystal' which does not need the capacitors) for a more stable clock.

        0_1454860192227_upload-c6f3a164-b5cb-43f5-af82-c556674568f4 0_1454860883223_upload-351808cf-868d-4076-80ce-2e4b05ec4898 Soldered a 3.3v LDO (662k) under the radio to have it powered with a rechargeable Lipo (4.1V max) battery. And added a voltage divider to measure the actual battery voltage.

        0_1454860058592_upload-a677913a-22a8-466d-920d-ae620591088b 0_1454860344864_upload-77335242-a0b4-4371-85f5-4d11731c0868
        With a SMD version of the radio. Needs some creative soldering...

        0_1454860702395_upload-e1af1f72-11c5-409d-9eca-762e3c657183 Compared to an other favourite ( @GertSanders )

        It would even be better if the smd radio could be soldered on the board. Kicad is giving me a headache so if anybody wants to volunteer with a panelized design.... (I will reward you with a free batch of 'dirty' boards, just drop me a pm)

        YveauxY Offline
        YveauxY Offline
        Yveaux
        Mod
        wrote on last edited by Yveaux
        #237

        @AWI said:

        panelized design

        If you're struggling with panelizing boards I can recommend the excellent gerber tools from Stijn Kuipers.

        It allows you to create designs like this (10x10cm, DirtyPCBs):

        0_1454871223582_20150501-111911.jpg

        Drop him a message and he'll send you a download link.

        http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

        AWIA ahmedadelhosniA 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • YveauxY Yveaux

          @AWI said:

          panelized design

          If you're struggling with panelizing boards I can recommend the excellent gerber tools from Stijn Kuipers.

          It allows you to create designs like this (10x10cm, DirtyPCBs):

          0_1454871223582_20150501-111911.jpg

          Drop him a message and he'll send you a download link.

          AWIA Offline
          AWIA Offline
          AWI
          Hero Member
          wrote on last edited by
          #238

          @Yveaux Tnhx, but I guess I am not ready for the first step (creating/ adapting a board in Kicad) yet ....

          YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • AWIA AWI

            @Yveaux Tnhx, but I guess I am not ready for the first step (creating/ adapting a board in Kicad) yet ....

            YveauxY Offline
            YveauxY Offline
            Yveaux
            Mod
            wrote on last edited by
            #239

            @AWI Sorry, can't help you with that. All Eagle here :sweat_smile:

            http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • GertSandersG Offline
              GertSandersG Offline
              GertSanders
              Hardware Contributor
              wrote on last edited by
              #240

              @Yveaux I tried to find an email address on the website, but apart from a LinkIn link I could not find anything. Also, in LinkedIn you need a paying version to be able to send InMail, and I do not have a paid account. Would you care to tell me how you were able to send Stijn a message ?

              YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Cliff KarlssonC Cliff Karlsson

                A couple of more questions. In one of the pictures at the top the electrulyte 4,.7 uf capacitator is placed closer to the atmel chip and the 0.1 uf (c5) is placed closest to the edge does it matter witch capacitator goes where?

                The 10k resistor should be 1/4 or 1/8 W according to the bom. I had some small 1/6 W 10k resistors can I use them? I also have some bigger blue 10k resistor that I do not know the W rating on.

                Where did you purchase the female pin-header that are used for the chips? I have some atmega chip-sockets that are quite narrow and it is hard to fit the components underneath. I also have some other female pin-headers but they are atleast twice as high than the ones in the pictures.

                AWIA Offline
                AWIA Offline
                AWI
                Hero Member
                wrote on last edited by
                #241

                @Cliff-Karlsson You can swap the capacitors and use all resistor dissipation values. The pin headers you can find here for example

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • GertSandersG GertSanders

                  @Yveaux I tried to find an email address on the website, but apart from a LinkIn link I could not find anything. Also, in LinkedIn you need a paying version to be able to send InMail, and I do not have a paid account. Would you care to tell me how you were able to send Stijn a message ?

                  YveauxY Offline
                  YveauxY Offline
                  Yveaux
                  Mod
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #242

                  @GertSanders It's been a while, but my first contact was through his Twitter account. Try that first, otherwise ping me.

                  http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

                  GertSandersG 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • YveauxY Yveaux

                    @GertSanders It's been a while, but my first contact was through his Twitter account. Try that first, otherwise ping me.

                    GertSandersG Offline
                    GertSandersG Offline
                    GertSanders
                    Hardware Contributor
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #243

                    @Yveaux I do not have a twitter account, so no joy. And I feel stupid to say so, but how do you ping someone on this forum ?

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • YveauxY Yveaux

                      @AWI said:

                      panelized design

                      If you're struggling with panelizing boards I can recommend the excellent gerber tools from Stijn Kuipers.

                      It allows you to create designs like this (10x10cm, DirtyPCBs):

                      0_1454871223582_20150501-111911.jpg

                      Drop him a message and he'll send you a download link.

                      ahmedadelhosniA Offline
                      ahmedadelhosniA Offline
                      ahmedadelhosni
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #244

                      @Yveaux i remember once that i read that dirtypcbs does not allow for different designs in their panelized boards. Am i correct ?

                      YveauxY 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • ahmedadelhosniA ahmedadelhosni

                        @Yveaux i remember once that i read that dirtypcbs does not allow for different designs in their panelized boards. Am i correct ?

                        YveauxY Offline
                        YveauxY Offline
                        Yveaux
                        Mod
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #245

                        @ahmedadelhosni apparently not :blush:
                        The board above was produced by ditypcb's. In fact they're one of the few (only?) cheap PCB manufacturers that allow panelization.

                        http://yveaux.blogspot.nl

                        ahmedadelhosniA 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • YveauxY Yveaux

                          @ahmedadelhosni apparently not :blush:
                          The board above was produced by ditypcb's. In fact they're one of the few (only?) cheap PCB manufacturers that allow panelization.

                          ahmedadelhosniA Offline
                          ahmedadelhosniA Offline
                          ahmedadelhosni
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #246

                          @Yveaux aha. I thought that this means multiple (same) design not different. Thanks :)

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • m26872M Offline
                            m26872M Offline
                            m26872
                            Hardware Contributor
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #247

                            Updated first post with share stats and info.

                            Feature requests and example links will come asap.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • Cliff KarlssonC Offline
                              Cliff KarlssonC Offline
                              Cliff Karlsson
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #248
                              This post is deleted!
                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • D Offline
                                D Offline
                                drock1985
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #249

                                Just ordered my first set of boards; v2.0 in Red; can't wait to try these out!

                                Thanks @m26872

                                My Projects
                                2 Door Chime Sensor
                                Washing Machine Monitor

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • Matt PittsM Offline
                                  Matt PittsM Offline
                                  Matt Pitts
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #250

                                  Hi

                                  I've just ordered a set of the PCB boards and looking forward to putting these together mainly into reed switches and motion sensors

                                  I have scanned the whole thread and there doesn't seem to be a comprehensive list of exactly which components are required anywhere here, well not all in one place at least.

                                  Can I just confirm exactly what is required to build a senor node.

                                  1 x PDB board
                                  1 x ATMega328p 28pin PDIP
                                  1 x NRF24L01+ radio module
                                  1 x 4.7uF Decoupling-Capacitor for radio (I assume these are still required??)
                                  1 x right angle pin header for connecting to program and connect batteries
                                  1 x Length of cable ducting for housing
                                  2 x AA batteries
                                  Cables for connecting batteries
                                  Battery connector
                                  1 x senor of choice
                                  I notice there seem to be an assortment of capacitors/regulators in most of the photos on this thread, but no definitive list of which are needed. (I am very new to all this so please excuse my ignorance)

                                  Extras needed
                                  1 x FTDI USB to TTL Serial Adapter

                                  Have I missed anything of my list? Also I would be really grateful for links to some of the above components.

                                  Sorry these are very basic noob questions, but I feel it would really helpful for people such as myself to have everything clearly listed in one place, as the main mysensors build pages do. So people know exactly what is needed.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • GertSandersG Offline
                                    GertSandersG Offline
                                    GertSanders
                                    Hardware Contributor
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #251

                                    @Matt-Pitts You can find a BOM for the board here:

                                    https://www.openhardware.io/view/10/My-Slim-2AA-Battery-Node

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • SoloamS Offline
                                      SoloamS Offline
                                      Soloam
                                      Hardware Contributor
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #252

                                      A nice additions would be a place to solder a ATSHA204A on board like the Sensebender! I'll try to make the change in KiCad!

                                      M 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • SoloamS Soloam

                                        A nice additions would be a place to solder a ATSHA204A on board like the Sensebender! I'll try to make the change in KiCad!

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        meddie
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #253

                                        @Soloam
                                        and a flash module for OTA Sketch Uploads :-)

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Matt PittsM Offline
                                          Matt PittsM Offline
                                          Matt Pitts
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #254

                                          Thanks @GertSanders for showing me the BOM I hadn't realised it was there, but do I need everything listed there to get it working properly?

                                          GertSandersG 1 Reply Last reply
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