Is there a schematic of the NRF24 board?

[marceltrapman]

While still playing with the design of my current board I am already thinking of the next project.
I would like this to be a board that I can put behind an electrical outlet (Dutch/German).
That means it should not only be small but also thin.
For that reason I was thinking about skipping the NRF24 board and soldering the components direct on my own board.

Questions:

1. Did any of you already do this?
2. Is there a schematic/eagle file for this somewhere?
3. Are there disadvantages to this approach?
4. Any additional suggestions?

[bjornhallberg]

How about those nrf24l01 "mini" "smd" versions that are sold on Ebay / AliExpress:

Anyone tried them? Do they work as expected?

[hek]

http://upverter.com/upn/570f356b3cb9b668/reference-designs/

[korttoma]

@hek

You link did not work for me but this one did:

https://upverter.com/upn/570f356b3cb9b668/reference-designs/

[marceltrapman]

@hek @korttoma thank you guys!!!

[marceltrapman]

@bjornhallberg said:

How about those nrf24l01 "mini" "smd" versions that are sold on Ebay / AliExpress:

They look nice too.
Guess they make soldering them yourself almost something you should not do.
But, they are more expensive in a range from 2 - 5 times the price of the 'normal' module.

[Yveaux]

Elektor recently published a wall mount capacitive touch switch. They kept repeating it did not contain a microcontroller, but I would say put in an atmega328, an nrf24 and let's go
The power supply and touch sensors seem appealing for an own design.
I only wonder what the range of the nrf will be when integrated inside a wall surrounded by a lot of electronics... Also we know the power supply is critical for the nrf to operate reliable, so a prototype to embed in a real wall seems to be a first step.

[marceltrapman]

@Yveaux said:

I only wonder what the range of the nrf will be when integrated inside a wall surrounded by a lot of electronics... Also we know the power supply is critical for the nrf to operate reliable, so a prototype to embed in a real wall seems to be a first step.

Power supply is 'around the corner' so I don't think that it will be an issue.
I too have my doubts about the range but that is another reason for using my own design.
It will make it easier to play with antenna design.
It works with z-wave components (but) with an external antenna (wire).

[ivan.todorovich]

Hello @marceltrapman, how will you power the board from the mains?

I'm a noob in this things yet.. and I'm trying to make a relay sensor to control lights, also put behind the electrical outlet (220vac).. I'm having trouble figuring out if I should add some kind of transformer for every sensor or maybe distribute a 5vdc line from the controller itself..

[RJ_Make]

@ivan.todorovich

I think finding a solution to fix inside the electrical box with the outlet is going to be difficult, but I'm very interested in what you come up with.

[ivan.todorovich]

@ServiceXp said:

I think finding a solution to fix inside the electrical box with the outlet is going to be difficult, but I'm very interested in what you come up with.

Yeah, I know.. although I know it must be possible otherwise this wouldn't exist:

Dimensions: 49,5 x 48,5 x 15 mm.
Habeetat HPA-2130
Habeetat HPA-2130 Datasheet

That's exactly what I want.. but a cheaper, hack-friendly and MySensors compatible version of it.

[RJ_Make]

@ivan.todorovich
Oh it's possible, but I think you will need to build from the pcb up to meet the goal.

[marceltrapman]

@ServiceXp said:

@ivan.todorovich
Oh it's possible, but I think you will need to build from the pcb up to meet the goal.

And that is what I intend to do.

The first application would be controlling our shutters.

I am not sure yet how I am going to do this.

• In wall behind (or replacing) the current timer that operates the shutters;
• Next to the shutter motor (would give more room);

In any case they will be operated with 220v. There are enough ways to do that...

[RJ_Make]

@marceltrapman
Would love to see the results. What type of chips are planing to use DIP, QFP, QFN.?

If you are successful, it's going to open up another world of possibilities for MySensors users, Providing it doesn't involve SMD work that is...

[marceltrapman]

@ServiceXp all SMD including

ATMEGA328P-AU, TQFP-32
Winbond W25X40, SOP-8

[Yveaux]

@ivan.todorovich I'm thinking about re-using the power supply and possibly touch board of this project: http://www.elektor-magazine.com/en/magazine-contents/previous-issues.html?tx_elektorarticle_listissues[article]=26510&tx_elektorarticle_listissues[action]=show&cHash=830afaabd7423433a83dca9198de8e12

Magazine:http://lasersoft.com.au/books/Archived/rocvm.Elektor.Electronics.USA..June.2014.pdf

[RJ_Make]

@marceltrapman
Bummer. Don't think I would be able to handle the SMD requirement.

[marceltrapman]

@ServiceXp said:

@marceltrapman
Bummer. Don't think I would be able to handle the SMD requirement.

It is really not that hard.
People seem to solder it I use a rework blower.
A real cheap one (to see what it brings me) but with good result.
With the # of components and the # of boards we need it is really doable...

[ivan.todorovich]

@marceltrapman I'd love to see your work when its done.

I'm currently considering wiring 12v around the house to feed sensors, and maybe replace the wireless board by implementing a wired signal protocol (modbus for instance).

I have a feeling it would be more efficient regarding power consumption, and the house wouldn't be so saturated with 2.4ghz radio signals.. which might not be so healthy

I must reiterate though, I'm a noob.. so if anything I just said doesn't make sense please object me I would appreciate

[RJ_Make]

@marceltrapman

Don't know if this will help you with some idea's but I pulled apart my Aeotec Zwave extender and took some pics. If you need me to get any other info from any of the components just let me know.

This thing is pretty small. and is powered from Mains

[Yveaux]

@ServiceXp Very interesting teardown! Apparently it uses a flex-pcb for the antenna -- that's one solution you don't see very often.
Power supply is 'standard' transformer-less capacitor/resistor design.

[marceltrapman]

@ServiceXp Thanks it looks pretty much the same as my AEOTEC range extenders.
The only difference is 220v

[cribben]

@ivan.todorovich

Hi! See this examples how to power it from 220V without tranformer.
http://www.designercircuits.com/DesignNote1a.pdf