💬 Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors
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Bad quality from cheap Chinese suppliers, is always an option
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@keldandorin - could be a weak clone radio yes.
Just to get your hopes up, I got booster driven nodes all around the place with Nrf24l01+ radio and they works great!
I change battery every 1-1.5 years but as I said, the experience is that the radio - booster needs a good teamwork
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@sundberg84 Sounds good, Thats what I'm looking for. Have never worked with tinkers like this befor so everything is new. But this place is great thx for taking time.
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Sorry, I'm a bit slow and maybe a little off-topic: A quicky:
Can I read somewhere how payment is done when ordering from openhardware.io? On the start page for openhardware.io there is no clue. I've also tried to search this section (easy-newbie-pcb-for-mysensors) for "payment".
Yes, I've read that the "order" is more like a forward of orderinformation to the supplier, but do I really need to order first and after that ask what payment solution is present?
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@pellusfromtellus - to get a 100% right answer we ping @hek but I recommend paypal!
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I think most of them handle paypal/card. You can press the "Order" button to find out. Nothing is binding until payment has been done.
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Is there a drilling and outline file available?
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@Paul-Robertson - hi!
Yes, but this is Eagles output gerber files.Drill: SundbergMys9.TXT
Outline can be found in all other files:https://www.pcbway.com/project/share/How_to_generate_Gerber_from_Eagle.html
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Damn. Just missing the 0,1uF capacitor ..... to complete the 5v build. This will be my smallest build yet
using PCB v9
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This post is deleted!
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IS it possible to use TP4056 (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/5-pcs-Micro-USB-5V-1A-18650-TP4056-Lithium-Battery-Charger-Module-Charging-Board-With-Protection/32728720869.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.A0lkC7) this instead of using the step up booster?
Thanks!!
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If you want to use a lipo battery, you need a voltage regulator
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@hiddenuser - well not out of the box as mentioned by gohan. Im not really sure what you want to do. Its not possible to use this instead of step-up booster since it outputs 5v and the step-up needs to output 3.3v. But with a voltage regulator in between maybe? As I said - don really understand so maybe you can explain some more about your project?
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@sundberg84 that tp4056 outputs just the lipo battery voltage
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Thanks @sundberg84 and @gohan
I have used made the board for 3.3v set up as per the instruction. I have usd the output from tp4056 into the Battery connector of the board I have a step board from https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Electric-Unit-1-PC-NEW-DC-0-8-3-3V-to-DC-3-3V-StepUP/32724361266.html According to the specification given in the same link it is supposed to stabilize to 3.3v above 3v but the sensor reports something else back to the gateway.
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@hiddenuser - well, what would a battery measurer be if it reported a constant 3.3v boosted voltage?
It all depends on how everything is connected (pictures?) but if you have connected it as battery instryctions the radio and voltage divider that measured the incoming battery are not a part of the booster circuit. This to prevent noice to the radio and to be able to actually measure the battery voltage and not step-up voltage which is the idea behind the board.
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@hiddenuser I'm missing how can you use a booster to get 3.3v from a lipo battery
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hey, has anyone maybe made a fritzing drawing/component of the board?
I know, I'm lazy as f but.. since the board is that easy, documenting with it could be easy as well
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@sundberg84 interesting question...or maybe stupid question not sure...
i have a tonn of 3v pro mini's but im thinking of mains powering some for motion sensors.... would i set it up as battery, and then just use a voltage regulator on where the step up usually would be? or is there a better way to handle it?
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there is a voltage regulator footprint on the pcb made for that
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ahhh thats cool... so use regulated instead and it will pull down the voltage for antenna over that side
...and the board can handle the voltage anyway so it should be fine....
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@gohan The only voltage regulator that I know of on the board is mainly for the radio. Unless you are talking the one on the pro mini.
@markjgabb If you want to do them from mains power, you might wan t to look at the HLK modules like these
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1Pcs-Power-Supply-Step-Down-Buck-Isolated-Hlk-Pm03-220V-To-3-3V-Module-New-Ic-N/332047987473?epid=571729397&hash=item4d4f9a3311:g:nyMAAOSw4GVYPa8q
Otherwise an old phone charger should work.
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@dbemowsk if I remember well the regulator Vout is also connected to the pro mini vcc
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@gohan Have a bare board right in front of me. Ran continuity and no connection from regulator V-Out to VCC. VCC goes to the REG jumper and V-Out goes to the BAT jumper. VCC ties to the V-In on the regulator.
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@gohan ayou wouldn't want to run the pro mini and the radio both off of that small regulator anyway. Takes too much from the radio.
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@dbemowsk cheers for that...yeah i have a tonn of old 5v bricks lying around from old nokia chargers, so was just going to try use some of them up without having to buy anythiing else, as i have all of it on hand.... i have some LE33a's which should take care of any step down issues i think?
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@markjgabb If you connect your 5V brick to the RAW pin, the onboard regulator on the pro mini will do.
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@dbemowsk cheers mate, thats awesome...now i can blitz out some room based designs
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@gohan @sundberg84
This is my setup. my battery reading is a constant 2.75v, this is not true the multi meter says ~4v
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@markjgabb @dbemowsk @gohan - I dont have much else to add, thanks for the input here. Using mains power I would also use HLK-PM01 and input the 5v to the pro mini. If you only have 3.3v pro mini you need to input this to RAW. I have made a breakout board for the HLK module if needed as well.
https://www.openhardware.io/view/504/HLK-PM01-breakout-board
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Well it looks like your battery goes to some sort of regulator before the Easy board? If so my guess is that that board is providing 2.7 v regardless of battery voltage? Have a look at @gohan and his posts about solar power and different batteries. EasyPCB is designed for 2xAA and it will not work with other voltages out of the box. The voltage divider is also dimensioned for 3.3v max and will not work with higher voltages. Again @gohan has made some experiments with this. Check his posts out. If you re-dimension the voltage divider it will work with your higher voltage.
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@hiddenuser I don't know why you have a booster in place (unless it is a buck boost) and you need to change the voltage divider resistors if you want to read higher voltages (look at my solar project). In addition I'd put in place a LDO regulator if you want to use a lipo battery since a normal voltage regulator would require a higher Vin than a lipo battery can provide.
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@gohan said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:Thanks @gohan for the feedback. Can I have the link to your solar project!
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@hiddenuser look in the my project section (I'm on mobile now)
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Hi Sundberg,
I have read there could be some problem about radio connection if the temperature is ~0C or minus, I have met this issue so I will replace the existing 4.7µ capacitor with a bigger, e.g. ~20µ.
The battery measurement contains a 0.1 uF capacitor, What do you think I do have to replace it with an another bigger one ?
thanksBarna
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@barna - i don't know to be honest. As I wrote I had issues last winter but never with that 0.1 cap. I'm running second winter now (have been as low as -8C so far) without issues.
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@barna check out this thread:
https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/186/new-library-to-read-arduino-vcc-supply-level-without-resistors-for-battery-powered-sensor-nodes-that-do-not-use-a-voltage-regulator-but-connect-directly-to-the-batteries
It is a way to monitor battery voltage without the need for the 0.1 uf capacitor and resistor setup on the board.
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@barna said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:Hi Sundberg,
I have read there could be some problem about radio connection if the temperature is ~0C or minus, I have met this issue so I will replace the existing 4.7µ capacitor with a bigger, e.g. ~20µ.
The battery measurement contains a 0.1 uF capacitor, What do you think I do have to replace it with an another bigger one ?
thanksBarna
I don't think you need, it's made to stabilize the measured voltage, in the worst case the measured voltage will be a little bit unstable but your node will still run fine.
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on the subject of batteries i have to say im really impressed with the setup of these boards....
ive got a DHT and lux resistor measuring every 10 minutes, and i cant even remember how long ago i last changed the batteries...i think its about 3-4 months now....nothing special, just aldi batteries (australian cheap shopping chain)last check they are still 65%
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@markjgabb Don't know if it's the same chain, but we have aldi stores here in the US.
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@dbemowsk It is. It's a german chain though
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@marvin78 Never knew that.
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Hi everybody. Finally got my newb pcb and I soldered everything needed for the pro mini 3.3v. But I ran into problems.
I think it's the cheap chinese pdo mini but I want to ask you guys. Problem id that my node doesn't work. But when I debug my node I plug my pro mini in my computer's usb and then it works.
What I could see is that when it is battery operated I can read a 3.3v value on the vcc pin of the pro mini. When I also connect via usb this value is about 3.5v.
Could it be that my pro mini requires 3.5v.
I did solder the capacitor for the radio and i'm using a 3.3v step up converter also.Thank you
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@akamap an you post a picture of your board setup?
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@akamap without knowing how you are powering the node, it is difficult to say.
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@akamap - listen to the guys above, let us know with pictures
Its the best.
Did you by any chance miss to solder to jumpers?
The best approach is to measure with a multimeter... put the black to GND and measure your way through the circuit from batteries, booster, jumper, pro mini and radio with the red put on each components VCC (or Vout on booster). Then you know where it goes wrong. Try to follow the schematics or the traces in the pcb to figure out how the current flows.
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@sundberg84 That's why I wanted him to send pictures. There are a number of variables that need to be in place depending on the configuration that you are using with this board. Is he using a 3.3 or 5 volt arduino, does he have a regulator, are the correct jumpers in place. Any one of these missing factors can make it not work.
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EDIT : Seeing the pictures this big, I think I know why and it is my fault. I tried to save energy by desoldering the led on the arduino. I followed a post here on mysensors.org. But I just realized I might have desoldered the wrong thing on this arduino. I'm not sure what I desoldered, but it might be what is causing the problems (I desoldered the tiny thing below the led) I'll put a fresh one to see if this is working.
Thanks
Original response :
Ok, thank for all the answers and here is more information.
I power it via 2AA battery. I did put a jumper on the battery point. And I am using a pro mini 3.3v (Cheap chinese clone). I am using a step up regulator to step it up to 3.3v for the arduino.
I measured the voltages and they are as follow :
Without USB programmer (Not working) :
Battery : 3.00V
Input step up : 3.00V
Output Step UP : 3.35V
VCC and GND on arduino : 3.34V
VCC and GND on Radio : 3.01VWith the USB programmer pluggued in (Working) :
Battery : 3.00V
Input step up : 3.00V
Output Step UP : 3.47V
VCC and GND on arduino : 3.48V
VCC and GND on Radio : 3.00VAnother information, I did not solder directly the arduino pro mini (you will see on the pictures). I don't know what the are called but I'll call them "extender". I use them so I can unplug the arduino in case I fried the pro mini.
Here are some pictures with and without the usb programmer plugged in :
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@akamap thats just the resistor... should not be the problem.
I cant see anything obvious. I have some radios without silkscreen and they work....... like a clone. Not the best but most work ok. Try adding a capacitor on the booster - might be a noisy one... I would recommend to try a 0,1uF ceramic if you have. Otherwise just wack in what you have... not to big i think.If you power it from the booster/bat you cant power it the same time from USB! Disconnect VCC from the ftdi adapter.
Connet RX/TX and GND to begin with. RST if you need to upload. Two power sources makes one to much.
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@akamap remember also the cap on the battery measurement side if you want to get good readings. If you want to use batteries you need to remove the voltage regulator from the pro mini, once you done your troubleshooting
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Thank you everyone. Everythings seems to be working now. I did solder a capacitor on the booster.
But I don't think this was all that was bad. I also find out that when I touched the capacitor for the radio, I was having mixed result. So I soldered the capacitor directly on the radio.
Now, everything works fine. I guess I burned the trace or something was creating a short with this part.
I just need to remove the voltage regulator as suggested by gohan now and I can start testing my battery life.
Thanks again. Great library, great forum but most of all, great community.
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So its coming up for a new revision of the EasyPCB (both Nrf + RFM edition).
I have had some suggestions from the community so far and some thoughs of myself:- ATSHA204A (signing)
- Change 0,1uF and 10uF capacitor so now 10uF is on the input and 0,1uF on the output
- Line up MysX connector for a more clean placement of daugherboards.
Anyone have any other input before i start the work?
I will not take any suggestions that will make the board heavy or non user-friendly. Still the same goal - only easy to use components, easy to assemble and easy to understand.
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How about a flash chip + 2 resistors for FOTA ?
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@gohan - interesting. What would be the easiest way to do this do you think? Placement?
Can I avoid SMD components?
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the flash chip is 8 pins smd unless you choose a specific breakout board, resistors are your choice; they could fit unterneath the pro mini or on the back side
Also you may need to work on the NRF5x version too
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Put the battery measurement components under the Arduino. This makes the board more generic and frees up space on the right side of the board that can be used for more sensors. Expand the prototype area so that more sensors can be installed on the board.
And if one uses the board for battery only, the whole right section can be cut off but the battery measurement circuit is still there.
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Now that I think of it, there is a small difference between the NRF and RFM board, the prototype area on the RFM board is not correctly spaced, the holes are a fraction to narrow spaced, one cant fit a header there without bending the pins
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@mickecarlsson said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:Now that I think of it, there is a small difference between the NRF and RFM board, the prototype area on the RFM board is not correctly spaced, the holes are a fraction to narrow spaced, one cant fit a header there without bending the pins
Yes, I noticed that too
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@gohan @mickecarlsson
Thanks for your input! I will probably redo the Nrf version in KiCad since the old in is in eagle so I will line everything upAbout the battery measurement components under the Arduino - I was thinking of putting the signing chip there.
If you want to use the battery divider you need the booster as well so therefore its nessecary to have the board uncut. with this in mind I think it does not matter about the voltage divider placement or?Im not sure a 8 pin SMD component is right for EasyPCB - It seems a bit to advanced and unclear?
Maybe I can do this with a MysX shield?
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If I don’t use the booster and connect both BAT and REG and feed the board with two AA batteries i can use the battery components to measure the voltage of the battery. That is how I use it today.
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@mickecarlsson - ahh, I see - good one!
Let me think and maybe try some in KiCad and i let you know what I descide.
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The flash chip uses pins that are not on the connector.
I understand that you want to keep it simple, but adding the signing chip and the flash chip to a project it is not very easy either
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@gohan - you are right.
Maybe I can use the back side for the smd parts? Again I will test and see how it works out in KiCad. I might do some testing and post to get feedback. Im really afraid I will lose the easy to use function which the pcb is designed for though and if I feel I do the smd parts will be excluded.Maybe I could do a rev 10 which includes more heavy stuff and keep rev 9 as well as the Easy version.
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I don't see it as a complicated thing, since if you don't need it then you just don't use it and you only have a few smd pads unused.
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@gohan - valid point!
What makes it complicated is if you are a new user who sees all these pads and dont understand if they have to be populated or used. But by adding those with clear labels on the bottom side might do the trick.
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@sundberg84 Exactly, maybe a label like "signing" and "FOTA" would make it more obvious to the user (of course it needs to be added to the project page too)
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@mickecarlsson said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:If I don’t use the booster and connect both BAT and REG and feed the board with two AA batteries i can use the battery components to measure the voltage of the battery. That is how I use it today.
Why dont you use the internal library to measure the battery voltage? Im thinking about this and can't find a reason to move the voltage divider since without the booster you could just use the internalref and a library to measure the voltage?
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@sundberg84 said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:Why dont you use the internal library to measure the battery voltage? Im thinking about this and can't find a reason to move the voltage divider since without the booster you could just use the internalref and a library to measure the voltage?
Good point, I have not thought of that. I will test it it. And will probably save some uA in the process. Thanks,
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@sundberg84 I have now a node running with the BAT link removed, the REG link attached and I have used the Arduino_Vcc library.
The battery report are consistent with the battery voltage measured with a digital volt meter.
EDIT: Code below had a bug in it, I have fixed the bug and updated the code. The bug affected the temperature readings
So, to run the RFM69 board on two AA batteries I have done the following:- Removed regulator and led from Arduino
- Burned a new bootloader with a 1.7 volt BOD
- Put a link in REG position
- Solder radio to board
- Solder antenna to board.
- Solder BME280 to power and A5, A6
And that's it.
Here is my code:
/** * The MySensors Arduino library handles the wireless radio link and protocol * between your home built sensors/actuators and HA controller of choice. * The sensors forms a self healing radio network with optional repeaters. Each * repeater and gateway builds a routing tables in EEPROM which keeps track of the * network topology allowing messages to be routed to nodes. * * Created by Henrik Ekblad <henrik.ekblad@mysensors.org> * Copyright (C) 2013-2015 Sensnology AB * Full contributor list: https://github.com/mysensors/Arduino/graphs/contributors * * Documentation: http://www.mysensors.org * Support Forum: http://forum.mysensors.org * * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License * version 2 as published by the Free Software Foundation. * ******************************* * * DESCRIPTION * * This is a sketch I use to measure temperature, battery level and signal level on * my Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors (rev 9) * Hardware used: * Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors * BME280 (I only use temperature and humidity, all code for barometic pressure removed) * */ // Enable debug prints to serial monitor //#define MY_DEBUG #define MY_SPLASH_SCREEN_DISABLED // This saves a couple of bytes // Enable and select radio type attached #define MY_RADIO_RFM69 #define MY_IS_RFM69HW #define MY_RFM69_NEW_DRIVER #define MY_RFM69_FREQUENCY RFM69_868MHZ // #define MY_RFM69_ENABLE_ENCRYPTION #include <MySensors.h> #include <Wire.h> // Enables the Wire communication protocol. // Bosch BME280 Embedded Adventures MOD-1022 weather multi-sensor Arduino code, // written originally by Embedded Adventures. // https://github.com/embeddedadventures/BME280 #include <BME280_MOD-1022.h> // Internal battery measurement https://github.com/Yveaux/arduino_vcc #include <Vcc.h> #define SKETCH_NAME "Test-4" #define SKETCH_VERSION "1.10" // Battery measurements const float VccMin = 2.0*1.0; // Min Vcc level, in Volts. Example for 2xAA Alkaline. const float VccMax = 2.0*1.5; // Max Vcc level, in Volts. Example for 2xAA Alkaline. const float VccCorrection = 3.02/3.12; // Measured Vcc by multimeter divided by reported Vcc Vcc vcc(VccCorrection); // VARIABLES YOU CAN CHANGE // Send temperature only if it has changed? 1 = Yes 0 = No. #define COMPARE_TEMP 0 // Set this value to the minimum change in temperature to measure. // BME280 has +-0.5 degrees precision, so it really doesn't matter that much. float tempThreshold = 0.5; // Send temperature only if changed? 1 = Yes 0 = No. #define COMPARE_HUM 0 // Set this value to the minimum change in humidity to measure. // BME280 has +-3% relative humidity precision, so it really doesn't matter that much. float humThreshold = 0.5; #define TEMP_CHILD_ID 1 #define HUM_CHILD_ID 2 #define VOLTAGE_CHILD_ID 3 float lastTemperature = -1; // Store previous measurement float lastHumidity = -1; // Stores the previous measurement int sendBattery = 6; // report battery level only after 6 loops = 6*4 mintes = 24 minutes int batteryLoop = 0; // Placeholder for batteryloop unsigned long FOUR_MINUTE_SEND_FREQUENCY = 4 * 60000; // Time between send (in milliseconds). // MYSENSORS COMMUNICATION VARIABLES MyMessage temperatureMsg(TEMP_CHILD_ID, V_TEMP); MyMessage humidityMsg(HUM_CHILD_ID, V_HUM); MyMessage voltageMsg(VOLTAGE_CHILD_ID, V_VOLTAGE); void setup() { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.begin(115200); #endif Wire.begin(); // For the BME280 sensor #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("Starting ...")); #endif } void presentation() { // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller sendSketchInfo(SKETCH_NAME, SKETCH_VERSION); // Present the sensors to the gateway and controller present(TEMP_CHILD_ID, S_TEMP, "Temperature Test-4"); present(HUM_CHILD_ID, S_HUM, "Relative humidity Test-4"); present(VOLTAGE_CHILD_ID, S_MULTIMETER, "Battery Test-4" ); } void loop() { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("Read BME280 and report it's values.")); #endif GetTemperatureHumidity(); // Get temperature and humidity if(batteryLoop > sendBattery) { // Is the batteryLoop higher than sendBattery? #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("Read the battery voltage and report it.")); #endif MeasureBattery(); // Measure and report battery level batteryLoop = 0; // Reset batteryLoop count } #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.print(F("Go to sleep for: ")); Serial.print(FOUR_MINUTE_SEND_FREQUENCY / 60000); Serial.println(F(" minutes.")); #endif batteryLoop++; sleep(FOUR_MINUTE_SEND_FREQUENCY); // Sleep for 4 minutes } void GetTemperatureHumidity() { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(""); Serial.println(F("BME280 - Requesting new data from sensor module.")); #endif BME280.readCompensationParams(); // Need to read the NVM compensation parameters. // Normal mode for regular automatic samples BME280.writeStandbyTime(tsb_0p5ms); // tsb = 0.5ms BME280.writeFilterCoefficient(fc_16); // IIR Filter coefficient 16 BME280.writeOversamplingPressure(os16x); // pressure x16 BME280.writeOversamplingTemperature(os8x); // temperature x8 BME280.writeOversamplingHumidity(os8x); // humidity x8 BME280.writeMode(smNormal); #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("Getting new values")); #endif while (BME280.isMeasuring()) { // Wait for BME280 to fininsh reading data #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("Measuring...")); #endif delay(50); } Serial.println(F("Done!")); // Read out the data - must do this before calling the getxxxxx routines BME280.readMeasurements(); float temperature = BME280.getTemperatureMostAccurate(); // Get the temperature first. float humidity = BME280.getHumidityMostAccurate(); // Get the humidity. #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.print(F("BME280 - Temperature = ")); Serial.print(temperature); Serial.println(" °C"); Serial.print(F("BME280 - Humidity = ")); Serial.print(humidity); Serial.println(F(" %")); #endif // Now, let's send the measurements to the gateway. // Send temperature if the temperature difference bigger than the threshold if (COMPARE_TEMP == 1 && abs(temperature - lastTemperature) < tempThreshold) { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.print(temperature - lastTemperature); Serial.println(F(" Temperature difference too small, don't send it to gateway.")); #endif } else { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("Sending new temperature to the gateway.")); #endif send(temperatureMsg.set(temperature, 1)); lastTemperature = temperature; // Save temperatures for compare in the next round. } // Send humidity if the humidity difference is bigger than the threshold. if (COMPARE_TEMP == 1 && abs(humidity - lastHumidity) < humThreshold) { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.print(humidity - lastHumidity); Serial.println(F(" Humidity difference too small, don't send it to the gateway.")); #endif } else { #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("BME280 - Sending the new humidity to the gateway.")); #endif send(humidityMsg.set(humidity, 1)); lastHumidity = humidity; // Save new humidity to be able to compare in the next round. } #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(F("BME280 - Measurement complete. Putting sensor to sleep.")); #endif BME280.writeMode(smSleep); // set the BME280to sleep mode, save battery } // GetTemperatureHumidity /* * * MeasureBattery * * */ void MeasureBattery() //The battery calculations { float Vbat = vcc.Read_Volts(); int batteryPercent = static_cast<int>(vcc.Read_Perc(VccMin, VccMax)); #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.print(F("Battery percent: ")); Serial.print(batteryPercent); Serial.println(" %"); Serial.print(F("Battery Voltage: ")); Serial.print(Vbat); Serial.println(F(" Volts")); #endif sendBatteryLevel(batteryPercent); send(voltageMsg.set(Vbat,2)); //send battery in Volt 2 decimal places }
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@mickecarlsson - nice work! Let us know how it turns out
Any pictures of this you can share?I did see you put VccMin to 1,2V and this might calculate so the battery will be @ 30% when the BOD hits you. I would put this to 2.0v if you are using a internal 8mhz bootloader. https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/7296/how-to-burn-fuses-so-that-pro-mini-3-3v-would-go-down-to-1-8v-solved/15
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@sundberg84 Hi, I soldered a board holding a humidity and temperature sensor. That is working fine and reporting to may gateway (mqtt). Only thing which I do not get working ok is the battery level measurement. As I already posted in an other topic here.
Here are some pictures of my board. The bat jumper is connected with a wire on the bottom. And the code I use on it right now.
I already changed the pro mini for a fresh soldered one but still getting the the same result. Just ones giving the volt and % and after that only giving 0 volt as output.
tried to include delay(500) in the sketch but that did not help. So how to solve this?#define MY_NODE_ID 2 #define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID 0 #define MY_PARENT_NODE_IS_STATIC // Enable debug prints #define MY_DEBUG // Enable and select radio type attached #define MY_RADIO_NRF24 //#define MY_RADIO_RFM69 //#define MY_RS485 #include <SparkFunHTU21D.h> #include <MySensors.h> #include <Wire.h> #include <SPI.h> // Force sending an update of the temperature after n sensor reads, so a controller showing the // timestamp of the last update doesn't show something like 3 hours in the unlikely case, that // the value didn't change since; // i.e. the sensor would force sending an update every UPDATE_INTERVAL*FORCE_UPDATE_N_READS [ms] //static const uint8_t FORCE_UPDATE_N_READS = 10; #define CHILD_ID_HUM 0 #define CHILD_ID_TEMP 1 #define CHILD_ID_BATTERY 2 //#define CHILD_ID_VOLT 2 #define CHILD_ID_PRCNT 3 float lastTemp; float lastHum; uint8_t nNoUpdatesTemp; uint8_t nNoUpdatesHum; boolean metric = true; void presentation() { // Send the Sketch Version Information to the Gateway sendSketchInfo("Humidity", "2.0"); // Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices) present(CHILD_ID_HUM, S_HUM); present(CHILD_ID_TEMP, S_TEMP); present(CHILD_ID_BATTERY, S_MULTIMETER); //metric = getControllerConfig().isMetric; } int BATTERY_SENSE_PIN = A0; // select the input pin for the battery sense point unsigned long SLEEP_TIME = 60000; // Sleep time between reads (in milliseconds) static int oldBatteryPcnt = 0; //Create an instance of the object HTU21D myHumidity; MyMessage msgHum(CHILD_ID_HUM, V_HUM); MyMessage msgTemp(CHILD_ID_TEMP, V_TEMP); MyMessage msgBattery(CHILD_ID_BATTERY, V_VOLTAGE); //MyMessage msgBattery(CHILD_ID_BATTERY, V_PRCNT); void setup() { myHumidity.begin(); // use the 1.1 V internal reference #if defined(__AVR_ATmega2560__) analogReference(INTERNAL1V1); #else analogReference(INTERNAL); #endif } void loop() { float temperature = myHumidity.readTemperature(); //if (!metric) { // temperature = (temperature * 1.8) + 32.0; //} send(msgTemp.set(temperature, 1)); Serial.print("T: "); Serial.println(temperature); float humidity = myHumidity.readHumidity(); send(msgHum.set(humidity, 1)); Serial.print("H: "); Serial.println(humidity); // get the battery Voltage int sensorValue = analogRead(BATTERY_SENSE_PIN); delay(500); #ifdef MY_DEBUG Serial.println(sensorValue); #endif // 1M, 470K divider across battery and using internal ADC ref of 1.1V // Sense point is bypassed with 0.1 uF cap to reduce noise at that point // ((1e6+470e3)/470e3)*1.1 = Vmax = 3.44 Volts // 3.44/1023 = Volts per bit = 0.003363075 int batteryPcnt = sensorValue / 10; #ifdef MY_DEBUG float batteryV = sensorValue * 0.003363075; Serial.print("Child ID "); Serial.print(CHILD_ID_BATTERY); Serial.print("Battery Voltage: "); Serial.print(batteryV); Serial.println(" V"); Serial.print("Battery Percent: "); Serial.print(batteryPcnt); Serial.println(" %"); #endif if (oldBatteryPcnt != batteryPcnt) { // Power up radio after sleep sendBatteryLevel(batteryPcnt); oldBatteryPcnt = batteryPcnt; } sleep(SLEEP_TIME); //sleep a bit }
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I don't think it is PCB related, try to make sure it is not a faulty arduino
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@gohan said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:I don't think it is PCB related, try to make sure it is not a faulty arduino
I already changed the arduino for a fresh soldered one but that did not alter things.
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@mr_sensor - I can not see any errors on the pictures you posted.
Can you measure the voltage on Booster-Vout and also on this pad.
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@sundberg84 said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:@mr_sensor - I can not see any errors on the pictures you posted.
Can you measure the voltage on Booster-Vout and also on this pad.I did measure the parts you mentioned. Booster is 3,36 v and the other pad is 0,00 the input strait from the batteries is 2,80 v
Also, Just for my info, does it matter how the resistors or capacitors are soldered on the board? My biggest problem is always determine the right resistors value and the right way to solder them (+ -). On the pcb some of them are coded (very handy for me as a beginner) with a G but not all of them?
So my worry was that I maybe have soldered the "battery measurer" ones in the wring direction? Could that be the problem here?
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Resistors can be soldered either way, but if you read 0v on that capacitor pin it mean you have a problem between the battery and the capacitor, so you have to backtrack the connection that is missing
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@gohan said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:Resistors can be soldered either way, but if you read 0v on that capacitor pin it mean you have a problem between the battery and the capacitor, so you have to backtrack the connection that is missing
I measured the capacitor again and get a 0,10 output.
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What are the resistor values you used? 0.1v is quite low
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@gohan said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:What are the resistor values you used? 0.1v is quite low
Maybe I used the wrong capacitor it says 1uf (50v) but now I see it has to be 0,1uf could that be the problem here?
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Capacitor value does not change the voltage. The resistors does... I would double check that you use the right resistors. For example it's easy to use a resistor marked 1k instead of 1M. With 3.3v you should have around 1v on the capacitor.
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you are also missing the capacitor on the booster output for better stability
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@gohan said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:you are also missing the capacitor on the booster output for better stability
Ok, I assumed it was not needed when using a battery. Which one to use there?
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It is needed if you use a booster. Look at project page for details.
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@mr_sensor a advice is to measure the resistance again over the resistors.
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@sundberg84 Well I tried that but did not get the measurement straight from the pcb si I decided t solder a new board using the right capacitor this time (0,1uf instead of 1uf) made sure using the right resistors as well and adding a capacitor after the booster. Than with the same mini pro from the other board tested again and wow it is working as intended.
Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.44 V Battery Percent: 102 % 2930 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:102 2938 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 2945 TSF:TDI:TSL 2947 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 2949 TSF:TRI:TSB 3065 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 3178 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 957 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.22 V Battery Percent: 95 % 3690 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:95 3698 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 3704 TSF:TDI:TSL 3706 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 3708 TSF:TRI:TSB 3815 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 3932 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 955 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.21 V Battery Percent: 95 % 4442 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 4452 TSF:TDI:TSL 4454 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 4456 TSF:TRI:TSB 4560 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 4673 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 953 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.21 V Battery Percent: 95 % 5185 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 5193 TSF:TDI:TSL 5195 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 5197 TSF:TRI:TSB 5304 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 5416 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 952 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.20 V Battery Percent: 95 % 5926 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 5935 TSF:TDI:TSL 5939 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 5941 TSF:TRI:TSB 6045 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 6158 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 952 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.20 V Battery Percent: 95 % 6670 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 6678 TSF:TDI:TSL 6680 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 6682 TSF:TRI:TSB 6789 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 6901 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 952 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.20 V Battery Percent: 95 % 7411 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 7419 TSF:TDI:TSL 7424 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 7426 TSF:TRI:TSB 7530 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 7643 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 952 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.20 V Battery Percent: 95 % 8155 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 8163 TSF:TDI:TSL 8165 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 8167 TSF:TRI:TSB 8273 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 8388 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 955 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.21 V Battery Percent: 95 % 8898 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 8908 TSF:TDI:TSL 8910 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 8912 TSF:TRI:TSB 9021 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 9132 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 948 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.19 V Battery Percent: 94 % 9646 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:94 9654 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 9660 TSF:TDI:TSL 9662 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 9664 TSF:TRI:TSB 9771 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 9881 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 952 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.20 V Battery Percent: 95 % 10395 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=255,c=3,t=0,pt=1,l=1,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:95 10403 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 10409 TSF:TDI:TSL 10412 MCO:SLP:WUP=-1 10414 TSF:TRI:TSB 10520 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=1,c=1,t=0,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 T: 998.00 10635 TSF:MSG:SEND,2-2-0-0,s=0,c=1,t=1,pt=7,l=5,sg=0,ft=0,st=OK:998.0 H: 998.00 953 Child ID 2Battery Voltage: 3.21 V Battery Percent: 95 % 11147 MCO:SLP:MS=60000,SMS=0,I1=255,M1=255,I2=255,M2=255 11155 TSF:TDI:TSLNow in mqtt I can see the percentage as:
95 qos : 0, retain : false, cmd : publish, dup : false, topic : **mygateway1-out/2/255/3/0/0**, messageId : , length : 30, Raw payload : 5753``` But not the voltage?
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@mr_sensor good to hear its working.
It looks like you are only sending the % and not the voltage?
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@Mr_sensor It happened to me once that capacitor was just shortening the circuit, it was a smd, but when I removed it and tested it it was constantly making shortage, thus the circuit was never working and luckily my power supply had a low enough protection.
I examined cap very closely, all looked fine, but internally it was not working fine.Since most of us (well, me at least) are buying cheap components I made it a habit now to always measure every passive component before installation, partly eliminates one variable
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A short sneak-peak on the upcoming revision...
Still a long way to go...
Rev 10 - Nrf24l01+ ed.
- Completley redesigned in KiCad.
- MysX location changed to accept more MysX boards and align like RFM version.
- Optional signing added
- Optional SPI flash added.
- Extra pins aligned to 2.45 vertical & horisontal
- Relocated Extra + Bat Measurer some to allow more space to booster
- Changed pull-up resistor from D3 to D5 to have one more pin for Interrupt
- Relocated D5 pullup, MysX and IRQ jumper some.
- Changed footprint (silk-screen) on capacitor to easier show Gnd/Pos side.
Need to change footprint on voltage regulator on both nrf and rfm edition back to a square and not a liniar one. (rev 9 change). Not intended to revert back.
Also a bit worried the 4,7uF cap os to far away from radio.
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@sundberg84 said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:Also a bit worried the 4,7uF cap os to far away from radio.
Putting it underneath the nrf24 module? I know it is not a "clean solution" but there would be still be unused space under the radio module
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@gohan - thanks, not what I want to do - I have descided to have optional/more advanced on bottom side. This is the core idea of the PCB. I might revert back to Rev 9 footprint and squeeze it in like prev. revision.
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maybe a smaller footprint for ceramic instead of electrolitic?
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@sundberg84 said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:- MysX location changed to accept more MysX boards and align like RFM version.
Please don't do like that and follow the guideline for the MYSX connector (location was already wrong in previous versions and it's a bit annoying to make MYSX boards for Easy PCB):
*"The MYSX connector should be placed close to the board edge with a 100 mil spacing from all edges. The footprint has a courtyard outline to emphasize this"Also a bit worried the 4,7uF cap os to far away from radio.
I agree especially with other traces to cross before reaching the radio.
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@nca78 said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:@sundberg84 said in
Easy/Newbie PCB for MySensors:- MysX location changed to accept more MysX boards and align like RFM version.
Please don't do like that and follow the guideline for the MYSX connector (location was already wrong in previous versions and it's a bit annoying to make MYSX boards for Easy PCB):
*"The MYSX connector should be placed close to the board edge with a 100 mil spacing from all edges. The footprint has a courtyard outline to emphasize this"I actually had a long discussion with @Anticimex which is the designer of MysX and he said it is not wrong. Can you please explain why it's wrong ?
I was thinking pin 1 should go towards both vertical and horizontal edge of the pcb (that's why I asked him because I though It should go where the radio is) but he said the only rule is pin 1 should go towards the edge. I looked at the rules and that is what it said so I don't think I'm breaking any rules.
The MYSX connector should be placed close to the board edge with a 100 mil spacing from all edges. The footprint has a courtyard outline to emphasize this. It should be oriented so that pin1 is always closest to the board edge parallel to the connector. This allows a daughter board designed using the same constraints to be facing back "inwards" over the motherboardEither way it has changed like less than 1mm
If we can somehow get Anticimex to recommend and we can agree on a better placement I'm happy to re-think my design.
If you thinks it's hard to create MysX boards for EasyPcb I have created a finished Kicad project with board outlines, connector and drill holes you can use as a template. Check it out on the project page.
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@sundberg84 I cannot see anything wrong with the MYSX placement on that board.
If one could pick freely, ideal placement of the connector would be in the middle of the board side to allow daughter boards to extend both "upward" and "downward".
But the important rule is the one already cited, that pin1 is oriented to ensure daughterboard orientation relative to the motherboard and that there is spacing around the connector so that the daughterboard female connector does not come in contact with main board cirquitry.
Also that the daughterboard does not protrude outside of the mainboard at least along the edge the connector is aligned to.
Daughterboards in general should not be designed to be wider than the MYSX connector used for this reason (avoiding daughterboard protruding outside mainboard area) to allow a mainboard specific case to be reused with daughterboards mounted.Edit: if possible, try to move the components right next to the connector. (remember the 100mil spacing). The resistor below can probably be mounted on the reverse side.
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Back to the drawing desk!
Edit: MysX alignment changed so PCB needs to be redesigned.
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I have moved the discussion about the alignment here :
https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/9060/mysx-connector-alignment
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Thoughs? (Noth Nrf + RFM)
@Nca78 - MysX alignment?
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@sundberg84 be careful about daughterboards colliding with the pro mini.
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@anticimex - thanks for input. Same with radio I guess... ? Don't know how to solve it by fitting all these things into one board.
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@sundberg84 The rfm69 radio can be surface mounted. If one goes for headers, the pitch it uses allow for low profile headers so the radio should go clear under a daughterboard assuming it does not have reverse side mounted components with a high profile.
