My other PIR multisensor, on coin cell
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@Samuel235 humm..sorry maybe I don't understand well what you want to do..AC, battery?? be careful with AC. So what you want to do with bjt or mosfet, depends on your application. With a schematic that would be easier to understand/help you. We or I can't tell you connect this bjt/mosfet like this or like this without seeing what it implie..
@scalz I will be converting 240VAC to 5VDC on board and then i want to have a 'switch enabled motion circuit' so using either a MOSFET or a BJT Transistor to switch the motion module on and off. I think that the MOSFET is the best as you provide me with this information concerning the 'advantages' of a the MOSFET.
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I would gladly pay for several of these boards if possible to buy with all components soldered. Any chance of that happening? What would the price /board be in that case?
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@Samuel235 ok that should work. for price, I often use CJ2305 (8v rated) or si2323ds (20v). These are low rdson and cheap at aliexpress. Si2323 is a little bit better
@Cliff-Karlsson thx for your interest. I guess, once the circuit checked, and as there is no exotic chip, that should not be a big deal for the fabhouse I use. They can run small batch if needed. I should check the bom cost too!
Edit: I have looked briefly at the bom, that might cost to me: 25euros/unit. Without thinking my time and big component lot. Maybe cost could be reduced a little bit by ordering more component. My calculation is based on mouser and aliexpress. Most passives at mouser for quality, and not big difference at ali, it depends which one.
What kill the cost is the sensor+rf part: opt3001+si7021+LHI968+rfm69. Rfm69cw and lhi968 at ali, for the rest mouser. Buying sensors at ali will not change a lot the price. If i wanted to use sensors breakout and stack on it, arduino style, that would not make a big cost change and that would kill the thickness..The price to pay to have a complete thing...not a simple arduino board.. -
Ok, just a question, is rfm69cw compatible with rfm69(h)w? And what frequencies do you plan to use?
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@Cliff-Karlsson
All rfm69x are software compatible, work with the same lib. Just the footprint or size which change that's all. I'm not planning to use 433..maybe on a Lora node that would make more sense but if I remember right 433mhz is something regulated..I live in Europe, and for residential use, we have to use 868Mhz frequency. And for example, 915mhz for US.
When ordering radio modules, you have to tell the seller which frequency. If you forget, he should ask you, but better to ask for this during your order. Then, you can set in mysensors, which frequency you want to use. And cut the Wire antenna at the right length (86mm for 868mhz, 82mm for 915mhz). Use a monopole wire (not those with multiple inside). You can coil it (less db but rfm69 is still very good) or if you don't care, let it straight ->more db and range.
It can be better to solder the antenna directly to the module on antenna pad/hole. Here for instance I have added a hole on pcb, sticked to the antenna pad. It's ok. But sometimes you can see on other boards (I did this too) where the antenna pad is not near. the routing if not well done can detune a little the antenna and have less range. -
@scalz, could you just confirm to me that your PIR circuit is working with the P-Channel MOSFET please?
I'm attempting to get a P-Channel MOSFET in the UK and i just can't source 1 MOSFET below £10. Which, honestly is ridiculous, if i know that your sensor is working as intended I will just design my circuit like this and know it will work without any prototyping.
However, I'm using the motion module (HC-SR501) and propose to have it setup like normal however, i would have my P-Channel MOSFET on the 5V VCC line and switch it using a digital pin.
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@scalz said:
si2323ds
SI1869DH is also worth a look as a very nice, general purpose load switch (low volts all the way up to 20v).
@NeverDie said:
@scalz said:
si2323ds
SI1869DH is also worth a look as a very nice, general purpose load switch (low volts all the way up to 20v).
Not sure why my find function never picked this up to be honest. Thank you for point it out to me, much appreciated :)
Would still like to know if Scalz has this board in working order with the schematic shown.
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@NeverDie thx. I know this sensor. a bit thick. And I had others goals! thin and compact overall with custom box, I like custom box, you can think your assembly, and it's durable source (stl),
for sharing some parts, and fun a to z training/challenge :)@Samuel235 not yet. I have received pcb some days ago. but I'm missing few values to assemble pir. I delayed a bit my order because I have other board/bom, and try to have free shipping each time ;)
but I already use p mosfet on other sensors boards and that works nice...
true, I could have shown you what looks my pcb..so it's white because box will be white and with transparency, I don't want to see the board. But I noticed that each time silkscreen never looks good on white...few ugly things but that will be tiny and thin I think ! I can't wait to assemble it and debug it :)

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@NeverDie thx. I know this sensor. a bit thick. And I had others goals! thin and compact overall with custom box, I like custom box, you can think your assembly, and it's durable source (stl),
for sharing some parts, and fun a to z training/challenge :)@Samuel235 not yet. I have received pcb some days ago. but I'm missing few values to assemble pir. I delayed a bit my order because I have other board/bom, and try to have free shipping each time ;)
but I already use p mosfet on other sensors boards and that works nice...
true, I could have shown you what looks my pcb..so it's white because box will be white and with transparency, I don't want to see the board. But I noticed that each time silkscreen never looks good on white...few ugly things but that will be tiny and thin I think ! I can't wait to assemble it and debug it :)

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I love!
I was reading the other day about using White silkscreen layer on top, and then the names and values where on the top copper layer (being very careful), it gave the effect of pure white and gold plated. It looked beautiful!
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@scalz - Could you take 2 minutes to check this MOSFET for me please, do you think this would work in our application? Once i get the board made i will be using the exact one you have, but i need to breadboard all of this together to learn.
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@samuel235 I think you don't need a 17amp mosfet.. for breadboarding, you could use the common TO92 BS250 instead. just a thought :)
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@samuel235 I think you don't need a 17amp mosfet.. for breadboarding, you could use the common TO92 BS250 instead. just a thought :)
@scalz, i never chose that MOSFET due to its specs, its just the first i came across at the cheapest price available to me. However, i have found this one now and will only have to pay a small shipping fee. http://www.bitsbox.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1018
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@NeverDie thx. I know this sensor. a bit thick. And I had others goals! thin and compact overall with custom box, I like custom box, you can think your assembly, and it's durable source (stl),
for sharing some parts, and fun a to z training/challenge :)@Samuel235 not yet. I have received pcb some days ago. but I'm missing few values to assemble pir. I delayed a bit my order because I have other board/bom, and try to have free shipping each time ;)
but I already use p mosfet on other sensors boards and that works nice...
true, I could have shown you what looks my pcb..so it's white because box will be white and with transparency, I don't want to see the board. But I noticed that each time silkscreen never looks good on white...few ugly things but that will be tiny and thin I think ! I can't wait to assemble it and debug it :)

@scalz said:
@NeverDie thx. I know this sensor. a bit thick.
You're doing a great job, but in my case, I'm currently motivated to move quickly and simply "get it done" and move on. Of course, if your project were already finished, I'd be very much interested in it for possible deployment. However, because it's not finished, I think I'd like to mysensor-enable an existing unit, especially if it works well, has long battery life, and is fairly inexpensive. Also, because motion detectors tend to be visible, having attractive industrial design on the enclosure is not unimportant, and that's hard to accomplish on a DIY basis without turning it into a "project."
So, in the meantime, have you run across any other off-the-shelf motion sensors with good battery life? Or, if not, have you found any with good enclosures? If worse came to worst, I could possibly just make use of a COTS enclosure after upgrading the electronics. For instance, I do have an outdoor Optex motion detector with low(ish) energy requirements and which can run on battery and which, by design, leaves space for inserting my own wireless transceiver.
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@Neverdie
Thx. yep I understand. Each one his way, no way really better I think, your is nice too ;)
And like I said, I am much more interested in complete design. If I would like something complete, I would buy a commercial products for this kind of application or use the ikea molgan for ceiling. And you're right that PIR tends to be visible, but should not be too much visible too..that's why I prefer smaller/thinner box.
I'm now working on things which are more expensive to buy..because you can't save big money on this kind of device...That said I have no problem to design my custom box ;) The 3d box for this one is already designed, simple, for a compact 6m lense.
I enjoy to use Solidworks to design my custom 3d box (for me it's as addicitive as Eagle). I own a 3d printer and filament is cheap! And I would say I'm luckily well equipped to make all sort of diy :) An electronic lab with a reflow oven and nice tools! And a mecha part, with mini lathe, drill press, tig... and more!So you see not a problem on my side, just the time, but I have to relativise, my iot thing is not so hurry compared to my daily job. I should assemble one very soon now, things are coming. And this design is well know from TI, I have just adapted it a bit, just another alternative ;)
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@Neverdie
Thx. yep I understand. Each one his way, no way really better I think, your is nice too ;)
And like I said, I am much more interested in complete design. If I would like something complete, I would buy a commercial products for this kind of application or use the ikea molgan for ceiling. And you're right that PIR tends to be visible, but should not be too much visible too..that's why I prefer smaller/thinner box.
I'm now working on things which are more expensive to buy..because you can't save big money on this kind of device...That said I have no problem to design my custom box ;) The 3d box for this one is already designed, simple, for a compact 6m lense.
I enjoy to use Solidworks to design my custom 3d box (for me it's as addicitive as Eagle). I own a 3d printer and filament is cheap! And I would say I'm luckily well equipped to make all sort of diy :) An electronic lab with a reflow oven and nice tools! And a mecha part, with mini lathe, drill press, tig... and more!So you see not a problem on my side, just the time, but I have to relativise, my iot thing is not so hurry compared to my daily job. I should assemble one very soon now, things are coming. And this design is well know from TI, I have just adapted it a bit, just another alternative ;)