Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors

[Markus.]

@gohan Sounds good :-) well, I have a 10uF electrolytic there. Hope it makes not the big difference. On the boards with NRF works that fine so far.

[gohan]

I used the ceramic becuse I had a bunch of those :D

[sincze]

@sundberg84: Received the V9 boards and started to work with them. Converting my nodes into smaller ones ;-)

I want to use it with my 5v arduino. So need voltage regulator for the radio. I guess you are using LE33 if I read the thread correctly. I have LM1117 which seems to be a hassle to fix on the board with the 'rough bulky' legs. Suggestions or just buy LE33 ;-)

[gohan]

if you have MCP1700 you can still fit those

[dbemowsk]

@sincze When I first got my rev8 boards a long time ago I had the same issue. I did manage to bend the leads and solder some extensions on one to get it to work, but in the end it was just too much of a pain in the arse. I ended up buying L78L33ACZ regulators which work just fine, but the board was designed using the LE33. The LE33 is an LDO regulator where the L78L33 is not. The quiscent current of the L78L33 regulator, which is something I forgot to look at when I bought them, is 6mA where the LE33 maxes out at 3mA, which is much better when building battery operated nodes.

[sundberg84]

As mentioned above, it works but you need to watch for the right pins... you might have to be careful bending those pins but I think its managable... My suggestion though is to look for volt. regulators with the same pinout.

[sincze]

@dbemowsk said in Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:

LDO regulator

A well that is a clear answer. So I just ordered a few LE33. The project has to wait.
It still will be a tough one getting everyting attached to the pins. ->. 2x Door Sensor / 3x Dallas DS18B20 / 3x Relais / 2x Control LEDS TX/RX. A well part of the game. Already figured out I have to use the A0x pins as digital ones. As i don't plan to use IRQ I'm really hopeful this nicely designed PCB will offer me A0,A1A4,A5 D2,D3,D5,D6. So should fit ;-)

[dbemowsk]

@sincze With that much going on, you may want to connect a set of header pins to the outputs next to the nRF24 radio and run that to an external proto-board for connecting all of your devices. You won't make it on the small proto section of the newbie board for everything you want to add.

[sundberg84]

@dbemowsk @sincze - its a good idea with a proto board or you can build something and add as an shield on the MysX connector... I would also suggest you run a seperate power regulator for the sensors... atleast do some calculactions before adding them in because LE33 can handle maximum of 0.2A i think.

[sincze]

@sundberg84 Ok tnx for the heads up. Currently I have everything in DEMO up and running on a NANO on my desk (using the exact same pins as I would on your PCB.
I was thinking of the following. Power the PCB with 5v and use a 5v arduino mini, use the LE33 to power the Antenna with 3,3v. Hopefully this will enable the pins Mys pins A0 ...Dx with 5v.(Have to look at the schematic to be sure). Keeping your advise in mind to add some extra juice I have to power the RELAIS & Temp sensor separately with 5v and keep the grounds of everything together with the PCB. I think it should work. But maybe I am missing something.

[sundberg84]

@sincze all you can do is test and learn !!

[dbemowsk]

@sundberg84 Couldn't think of the name of the MysX connector when I did that post, but that's what I was talking about putting the header on to connect to the proto-board. Mainly to act as a proto-shield. I would agree to run the sensors from a separate regulator. If he plugs it into the MysX connector he should have access to RAW power if he jumpers the pads next to the MysX connector, and then he may be able to make use of at least one of his LM1117 regulators on his shield, provided that he runs the sensors from 3.3V. I am assuming that his LM1117's are 3.3V regulators and not the 5V versions.

[sincze]

@dbemowsk Got in stock 2 types of LM1117 the 3,3v and 5v. In any case the relais need 5v, the temp sensor as well. So If I read RAW in your answer that triggers me to watch out. ;-) I'll start soldering some pins and measure the voltage. as @sundberg84 said.. "all you can do is test and learn !! hehehe. Part of the Mysensors fun. And ofcourse this forum provides me with experienced feedback.

[sincze]

So this is where the project is at. Using regulated 5V.
Still missing the 0,1u capacitor, but it is on its way,

The voltage divider is working fine 5v -> 3,3v.
Maybe I am missing some(connection)thing as I don't have 3,3v at the Antenna 3,3/GND connector. Did I miss something as I am not a PCB expert, sorry.

[sundberg84]

@sincze

I don't have 3,3v at the Antenna 3,3/GND connector

If you measure these points, what do you have?

• plus (left pin) on blue screw terminal (should be 5v)
• reg jumper (should be 5v)
• Vin voltage reg (should be 5v)
• Vout Voltage reg (should be 3.3v)

You should be able to follow the trace from Vout to VCC(radio) with your eye.
You can do a continuity test from Vout to VCC (radio) and GND(radio) to GND(screw terminal) to comfirm connectiom.

What kind of voltage regulator do you have? Did you check the pinout matched vin/vout/gnd ?

Still missing the 0,1u capacitor, but it is on its way,

No rush, this supports the voltage reg but unless you do some heavy things you will do without.

[sincze]

@sundberg84 I did measure the following:

plus (left pin) on blue screw terminal (should be 5v), is 4,96 V
Vin voltage reg (should be 5v), is 4,96
Vout Voltage reg (should be 3.3v), is 3,3

[sundberg84]

@sincze but still 0v at radio VCC?

[sincze]

@sundberg84 unfortunately yes. However.

You can do a continuity test from Vout to VCC (radio) , (We have no beep for continuity)
and
GND(radio) to GND(screw terminal) to comfirm connectiom. (We have a beep for contiuity)

[sundberg84]

@sincze if this is so you have a broken pcb trace (first time I ever heard of) do you need to replace the trace with a wire.

[sundberg84]

@sincze or a bad solder joint...