💬 Mysensors 2.0 ethernet gateway (W5100) build.

[LOST]

Looking good!

How do you power this? From the USB or a separate powersource?

[sundberg84]

@LOST i have cut and stripped a USB kable. So 5v from a phone charger. From 5 to 3.3v I use a le33az with capacitors.
I dont use a usb cable connected to the arduino because the output pins on the arduino cant to provide the radio (PA/LNA version) with enough mA to work good.

(The image is from another project, but like this:

[marcoseduardo]

Hello, may I ask you why do you use wifi and ethernet module? Does this gateway works with both connections type? Regards.

[sundberg84]

@marcoseduardo - you are misstaking, im using a ethernet module and a arduino uno. There isnt any wifi module.

[sundberg84]

Just need to ask a general question about the voltage converter - I think i messed up.
Im using LE33A for 3.3v but i now read here it has a limit of 0.1A. Is this enough for the LA/PNA module?
Maybe i should go with LD111 instead, seems like it can handle 0.8A.

Any thoughts?

[kalina]

@sundberg84 LE33A isn't enough, because in your project also are W5100 Ethernet Module, Arduino and leds. Only NRF24L01+PA+LNA consumes 100 mA in peak. You can look here. LM1117-3.3V looks much better.

[sundberg84]

Thanks @kalina. As i suspected it might be tight.
It works for me so far, but to be sure i think the conclusion would be to use a better voltage regulator.

[kalina]

@sundberg84 One more note, you use long wires to connect NRF24L01+PA+LNA, you must put capacitor 100uF (at least) close to it.

[sundberg84]

@kalina - thanks, good info.
Im using a 4.7uF (only seen in the last picture) connected directly to VCC/GND on the radio. Works great.

[Atilla Y.]

Hello to all,
First thank you for this great project. I'm trying to build this one but I have questions about power supply:
1.I want to use Orange Pi zero as controller and want to use same power supply with Arduino.
Is it possible?
2. If separately used; Is it possible to use only Arduino without -capacitors and LM or LE- by using 5V out on the Arduino for Ethernet module? Just plug the USB to the Arduino and system works?

[sundberg84]

@atilla-y

1. Orange Pi is a controller and not a gateway. If you are suggesting you want to use the 5v adapter to power both controller and gateway I can not answer you. It might work but in the same time it might be to weak or to much interference. Try! If you get alof of random freezes and/or bad network communication you might want to seperate them

2. It might work - but using the nrf24l01+ amplified requiers some more juice than then pro mini/uno/nano can handle so I suggest using a power in with a good voltage regulator (that can provide high current) and then split of to each unit.