💬 RFM69 Livolo 2 channels 1 way EU switch(VL-C700X-1_Ver_C2)

[mtiutiu]

@tonnerre33

Ok so this board is basically the same board and it has the same set of components as the previous one(the old one from the old project that I've made) so it should work with both channels or in whatever combination you want. They only changed some components location - that's all. For now I don't know when I'll have time to test - I think only when my boards will arrive from the manufacturer.

[mtiutiu]

@tonnerre33

Did you made those modifications that I mentioned of? Also what board did you made in the end - which revision? what schematic? I know you mentioned some github repo but I can't find it right now.

[tonnerre33]

@mtiutiu I only made the bridge across the resistor marked with 104. My schematic board is here :
https://github.com/tonnerre33/Livolo_EU_2Gang_1way/tree/develop

The board is running perfectly when powering by batteries (12VDC between 12-14VCC pin and GND pin) ;)

I can't do more modifications cause i think the 13003A is broken ;) I'am waiting the new mofset

[shabba]

My boards came with the 14 pin connector as pads not through hole. Not sure how the hell I will solder a connector to that :-(

[mtiutiu]

@shabba

How so? That's impossible. I used the elecrow pcb manufacturer and the boards are all fine with all the required holes. Where did you sent them for fabrication? Can you send some pictures?

[tonnerre33]

@shabba you can buy the 14 pins smd like this https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/100pcs-2x7-P-14-Pin-2-0-mm-Pin-Header-Female-Dual-row-SMT-PCB-surface/32729270520.html

;)

[shabba]

@tonnerre33 Thanks. I will try and source closer. After waiting a couple months for the parts I have it is frustrating to wait another few!

[tonnerre33]

@shabba Did you try to desolder the connectors of the livolo top pcb ? If you can you will try without wait ;) I think you just need an hot air gun but i haven't test it.

In the future, could you tell me if you have some crash with the RFM69 because i have. But it's not the mtitiu's board, don't worry ;)

[shabba]

@tonnerre33 Wow! Never even thought of that! Doh! Will give that a go over next couple days. And for sure I will report how I get on with crashes etc.

[shabba]

@mtiutiu Missed your reply. I used pcbs.io

[mtiutiu]

@shabba

That's very odd and not ok. I think their gerber software doesn't support the format that KiCAD generates. I didn't had any problems with other services I used so far - excepting PCBWay. But SeedStudio, Elecrow and even manufacturers from allpcb.com worked just fine. Yes, I use China mostly because it's waaay cheap than EU and the quality is very-very good for my needs.

And your current problem can't be fixed with smd header connectors as @tonnerre33 suggested because there are traces on both sides for the connector. I assume that those pads aren't connected through the board because there aren't any vias or something to pass through. So I think in the end you need to use a standart THT connector and before that you need to drill the board pads for the connector so that you can solder the connector on both sides. And it can be a little bit difficult.

Anyways you should issue a ticket to the pcbs.io service and tell them about this because it's not right at all...Their online gerber viewer doesn't render the connector holes at all and it even reports that the only drills present on the board are those under the touch pads only..

[tonnerre33]

Oh it's true, i have forgotten there is 2 traces on the opposite side ... The 12V and the GND... I have never had a problem with pcbs.io, and i have ordered my livolo pcb with pcbs.io too !!

I like this seller because even if i did a mistake on my board they cancel my order if i ask it ;)

Did you test the Continuity between the bottom and the top of the 14 pins ?

Can you post the drill picture generated by pcbs.io like this :

https://s3.amazonaws.com/pcbsio/svgs/e793253e45b9fed6f39aa2ed42b7c3be76d1f2aee0ee4f2adeda47340b6d26c9/drl.svg

or share the project and send the link

[mtiutiu]

@shabba @tonnerre33

Ok. I found the issue with pcbs.io service. They don't accept separate files for plated and non plated holes when it comes to gerber files. My default setting when generating gerbers from KiCAD is set to do that.
So here it's a set of gerbers for the boards(1 channel and 2 channel) with PTH and NPTH gerber files merged into one. If you upload these on pcbs.io you'll see that it renders correctly now. And it should be fabricated correctly too if their rendering page corresponds with the real product.

• 1 channel variant:
  0_1496990513816_livolo_1_channel_1way_eu_switch_rev0.1.zip
• 2 channel variant:
  0_1496990268774_livolo_2_channels_1way_eu_switch_rev0.1.zip

@shabba
Oh and the 1 channel board: please don't fabricate it yet because it may not fit from a mechanical point of view - the atmega328p is above the big mosfet from the power/relays board. So I have to see if everything fits there. But anyways don't be so impatient because both projects are marked as Work in progress on openhardware.io. I'm saying this because I don't want you or anyone else to waste money before the boards are tested for real.

[shabba]

@mtiutiu Thanks - and I fully understand WIP. I am just trying to do the little I can by being a tester etc. I am also learning so very happy with that. I really appreciate all the effort you have done here.

[mtiutiu]

@shabba

I see. Yes that's a good thing. Glad I could be of help.

[shabba]

This might be a good place to ask this :)

I bought a few types of switches like the Livolo. One of the generic brands is like this :+1:

https://goo.gl/photos/7tYxJfKFgwEGu4kX6

Does anyone know what the component on the left is with the blue stripe? I was guessing transformer. I have drawn out the schematics to see how I might hack in an arduino radio.

Attempt at drawing the circuit here :
https://easyeda.com/editor#id=933c96a537a446a29d272806876ab5a5

I ma not sure if the diodes marked as zeners are actually zeners.

[Lukaspp]

Shabba,
I can see, you was working three months ago in this project and you have some initial circuit draft. I know about this kind of devices and I can help you if you are still working on it.
We can split the circuit as following:
a. Power supply: TRANS1(You are right, it is high frequency transformer), high voltage transistor MJE13001 (Q1), optocoupler (U7) and some additional components.
b. Optocouplers interface: for signals from the control board: TR1/U2/BRG6, TR2/U3/BRG3 and some additional components.
c. Triacs (Power Circuits) : T1, T2.
Please let me know for working together.

Thanks and best regards

[shabba]

@Lukaspp said in 💬 Livolo 2 channels 1 way EU switch(VL-C700X-1_Ver_C2):

transistor M

I would be delighted to help in any way but I would need direction. My electronics experience is pretty much limited to DC circuits.

[Lukaspp]

@shabba A. Power Supply.
This is the standard circuit for a the power supply.

I redrawn your circuit trying to use the standard form and I can observe it can not provide enough current for both (Atmega328+ nFR24l01)**. So, I adjusted some components for getting 3.3V and 22ma. Atmega328-8Mhz + nFR24l01 Without LEd´s ~ 18ma/3V

**It is Worst for RFM69 which has more consume.

0_1505767324846_SwPowerSupply4.pdf

[Lukaspp]

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