💬 MySensors Stable Node

[GertSanders]

@Koresh post pictures please :-)

[flozsc]

Hi @Koresh,
Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm new to this. What's the minimum voltage to power this board? Is it the 1.9V from the NRF?
I'm thinking of building a node with this using a LiPo battery with a protected TP4056 charging module.
If me idea isn't impossible I'd be highly interested to buy some assembled units of this PCB. :)
Thanks!

[Koresh]

@flozsc
Hi. Minimum operating voltage depends on clock frequency. Boards contain standard 16MHz crystal oscillator to full pro mini compatibility. If you use default bootloader and 16Mhz clock frequency, the board will work with a voltage above 2.7v (on the verge of stability). But you can use internal oscillator (custom arduino boards settings, for example 8MHz or 1MHz for lowerst operating voltage) with some limitations (like slower serial). In this case operating voltage should be above 2--2.1v (do not forget a little dropout of LDO regulator).

[flozsc]

@Koresh Thanks for your quick reply.
Sleeping sometimes helps. ;-) After thinking over it again, I think I'll prepend a step-up converter to 5V behind the battery as most sensors at least require 3.3V or even 5V... :)
Looking forward to your update on the 20 test boards!

[yury]

So far betatests for two modules soldered manually two weeks ago are good. I was using two analog inputs and 5 digital outputs. Radio is rock stable also.

[fifipil909]

Impressive !!
did you reflow the board, or did you REALLY manually solder the nrf24l chip with an iron ???

[Koresh]

@fifipil909 Thanks.
I've soldered these boards using simple soldering iron and hot air fan (lukey 702).

[Koresh]

First small batch is completed :)

[scalz]

excellent :laughing:

[Slorf]

Nice !!!

I am still waiting for some parts to arrive from china :-(

Alex

[ahmedadelhosni]

Wow ! I really like the color and design.
Waiting for alpha testing of the nrf chip.
Is soldering it more difficult than soldering the atmega as they are not the same package type ?

[robosensor]

@Koresh what about price for assembled boards?

[Koresh]

@robosensor So far 9-10$ for each board. Small batch and not mass production soldering... Negotiating smd services for PCBA. Hope to reduce costs by $2 final. Will see what happens.

[yury]

@ahmedadelhosni said:

Is soldering it more difficult than soldering the atmega as they are not the same package type ?

3 steps process:

1. tin-plating the board contacts
2. tin-plating the chip contacts
3. apply flux-gel and place chip on the board and heat it with soldering Heat Blower - pre-heat-wait-heat-wait . Like standard soldering profile http://www.renesas.eu/products/lead/specific_info/rt/heatproof/index.jsp .

also need to have a good ayes ))) the flux-gel should be the one you do not have to remove after.

[Sander Teunissen]

You make some... I'll buy some... great work!

[yury]

Alfa testing:

Checking radios as various nodes. Currently working as 2 relay nodes, DHT 22 temperature node and gateway.
All is good . Range 1-2 meters less than NRF24 with big antenna in apartment surrounding.
Digital pins cheeked like in the video: https://youtu.be/00fy9amZnt4
Analog pins tested with generic arduino light sensor. So radios and pins are OK.

[yury]

@Sander-Teunissen said:

You make some... I'll buy some... great work!

So far still negotiating\finding reliable PCBA. First batch of 17 boards Koresh and me we were not impressed.

[Sander Stolk]

Keep me posted!
Will order when board comes soldered and ready to use!

[GertSanders]

Congratulations !!! Best hardware project indeed !

[shabba]

I would be all over this (would get a dozen!) if using RF69. Should be handy enough to modify? I better start watching those KiCad tutorials!