💬 NModule
-
If the "power" board is used, shall I keep the voltage regulator on Arduino? Without it, i think powering the board from RAW pin will not work.
@Haozhi-Wang it will depend how you connect things on the "power" board and/or what regulators you use on the NModule board.
There are 2 reasons to remove the regulator :- save energy if you are running on battery, it's not a big waste so if you are using CR123 or AAA you can keep it so it's possible for you to power from RAW with a higher voltage
- when powering from main, allow higher RAW voltage with a better voltage regulator on the NModule or the "power" board (on promini clones usually the maximum voltage is usually 9V)
There is a connection between the RAW pin of the promini (on the long side) and the RAW on the "power board", so whether it will work if you use a regulator on the "power" board and remove regulator on the promini will depend on the promini you use, if there is a track betwenn the 2 RAW pins or if it goes through the regulator.
I hope it answers your question, if not please describe more clearly what sensor you are building, with what power source and why you want to power it from RAW.
-
I love those shields... to bad they dont use MysX connector ;) Any thoughts about 2.0 rev?
-
I love those shields... to bad they dont use MysX connector ;) Any thoughts about 2.0 rev?
@sundberg84 I'm working on it :)
-
@Nca78 Thanks you for you detailed answer.
The power source i am going to use is a CR2032. My bad, I overlooked the three RAW, VCC and GND connectors (yellow) on the power board site.
For my case, i think shout circuit of JPOWER will be a even better solution -
@Nca78 Thanks you for you detailed answer.
The power source i am going to use is a CR2032. My bad, I overlooked the three RAW, VCC and GND connectors (yellow) on the power board site.
For my case, i think shout circuit of JPOWER will be a even better solution@Haozhi-Wang said in 💬 NModule:
@Nca78 Thanks you for you detailed answer.
The power source i am going to use is a CR2032.
Yes, for that case you need to short JPOWER and JBRD.
And don't forget to double check your USB adapter every time you connect it to your computer, to make sure you have selected 3.3V, else you will fry your radio with 5V. -
Hi there!
I've ordered 10 PCBs from iTEAD, so now... I'm plenty of them to do some tests.
Can you confirm these Minis are ok?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-ATMEGA328P-Pro-Mini-328-Mini-ATMEGA328-3-3V-16-MHz-for-Arduino-3-3V-16/32784455996.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.271.swhWGMBtw, I have some battery boosters, I have used them already with success on breadboard. Have you got any experience about it? Do you think the PCB is hackable to integrate it?
Thanks!
-
Hi there!
I've ordered 10 PCBs from iTEAD, so now... I'm plenty of them to do some tests.
Can you confirm these Minis are ok?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-ATMEGA328P-Pro-Mini-328-Mini-ATMEGA328-3-3V-16-MHz-for-Arduino-3-3V-16/32784455996.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.271.swhWGMBtw, I have some battery boosters, I have used them already with success on breadboard. Have you got any experience about it? Do you think the PCB is hackable to integrate it?
Thanks!
@ghiglie said in 💬 NModule:
Can you confirm these Minis are ok?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-ATMEGA328P-Pro-Mini-328-Mini-ATMEGA328-3-3V-16-MHz-for-Arduino-3-3V-16/32784455996.html?spm=a2g0s.13010208.99999999.271.swhWGMYes they are ok, they seem to use the Sparkfun layout if I believe the reset button and the position of the A6/A7 pins. I use the boards with a smaller, rectangular reset button on my NModule PCB. The only problem I ever had with "different" ProMini board was the connection between the vcc of the programming header was cut when removing the voltage regulator so board was not powered anymore when using FTDI adapter.
Btw, I have some battery boosters, I have used them already with success on breadboard. Have you got any experience about it? Do you think the PCB is hackable to integrate it?
No, if you use a booster you need some extra caps for filtering the output, and a voltage divider to measure battery voltage, there's no space for that on NModule. I made NModule to have a compact "all included" board, so it's made to use low power sensors, that can run at low voltage so you don't need a booster.
If you really want to use a booster try EasyPCB. -
Thanks @Nca78 ! I'll order some a lot of 10. Just in case...
@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
EasyPCB
You'r right. Thanks for this clarification - really don't need to use the boosters or have battery measurements, so I'll keep the sensors small as you designed.
-
Thanks @Nca78 ! I'll order some a lot of 10. Just in case...
@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
EasyPCB
You'r right. Thanks for this clarification - really don't need to use the boosters or have battery measurements, so I'll keep the sensors small as you designed.
@ghiglie said in 💬 NModule:
or have battery measurements
You will have battery measurement, because you will power the atmega with the battery directly so it's possible to read Vcc.
When you use a booster Vcc is always the same so you need a voltage divider on the battery to know it's voltage. -
@ghiglie said in 💬 NModule:
or have battery measurements
You will have battery measurement, because you will power the atmega with the battery directly so it's possible to read Vcc.
When you use a booster Vcc is always the same so you need a voltage divider on the battery to know it's voltage.@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
@ghiglie said in 💬 NModule:
or have battery measurements
You will have battery measurement, because you will power the atmega with the battery directly so it's possible to read Vcc.
When you use a booster Vcc is always the same so you need a voltage divider on the battery to know it's voltage.Sorry, n00b here! :( Thanks again, nca!
-
@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
@ghiglie said in 💬 NModule:
or have battery measurements
You will have battery measurement, because you will power the atmega with the battery directly so it's possible to read Vcc.
When you use a booster Vcc is always the same so you need a voltage divider on the battery to know it's voltage.Sorry, n00b here! :( Thanks again, nca!
-
@nca78 Hi, I am trying to use nmodule without batteries and connect 12v as a power source from usb breakout. I am not sure if I should remove the voltage regulator from pro mini? Also, should I add my own regulator to the nmodule (on BRD section)? Where should I connect my + and - from usb breakout to the nmodule? Thanks alot!
-
@nca78 Hi, I am trying to use nmodule without batteries and connect 12v as a power source from usb breakout. I am not sure if I should remove the voltage regulator from pro mini? Also, should I add my own regulator to the nmodule (on BRD section)? Where should I connect my + and - from usb breakout to the nmodule? Thanks alot!
Hello,
what does that mean ?
@zmatokan said in 💬 NModule:connect 12v as a power source from usb breakout.
Do you power the board from 12V or 5V ?
-
@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
Hello,
what does that mean ?
@zmatokan said in 💬 NModule:connect 12v as a power source from usb breakout.
Do you power the board from 12V or 5V ?
Hi,
thanks for a very quick reply. I am trying to use a 12v external power source to power the arduino + radio + nmodule board. I tried soldering AMS1117 3,3V to the BRD part of the nmodule board, but when I connect my 12v (+ to the RAW pin and - to the ground) I do not get the regulated voltage at the nmodule shield breakout.
In essence I would like to make my nmodule board work without batteries, by using external power source (usb breakout that is connected to android 12v adapter). This 12v would be regulated by AMS1117 that I solder on BRD part of the board. This way both arduino and radio would get 3,3v and nmodule board would push that voltage to the shield trough vcc and gnd. Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way?
This the quote on your OpenHardware page that I am using as a guidance:
"footprint for an AMS1117 regulator (light blue) if your source voltage is too high for Arduino (> 5.5 V or > 3.3V for 8MHz version). AMS1117 can handle up to 15V and 800mA but it consumes a lot of power, so this regulator should be used only for "wired" power (12V, USB, ...) and never with batteries. If you are using only this regulator, the capacitor of the radio should be enough to keep it stable, but if you want to be on the safe side, you can use the capacitor footprints on the other side of the board: C6/C7 for input C8/C9 for output."
I managed to make my double AAA version to work without problems and kudos for great work!
Thanks alot!
-
@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
Hello,
what does that mean ?
@zmatokan said in 💬 NModule:connect 12v as a power source from usb breakout.
Do you power the board from 12V or 5V ?
Hi,
thanks for a very quick reply. I am trying to use a 12v external power source to power the arduino + radio + nmodule board. I tried soldering AMS1117 3,3V to the BRD part of the nmodule board, but when I connect my 12v (+ to the RAW pin and - to the ground) I do not get the regulated voltage at the nmodule shield breakout.
In essence I would like to make my nmodule board work without batteries, by using external power source (usb breakout that is connected to android 12v adapter). This 12v would be regulated by AMS1117 that I solder on BRD part of the board. This way both arduino and radio would get 3,3v and nmodule board would push that voltage to the shield trough vcc and gnd. Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way?
This the quote on your OpenHardware page that I am using as a guidance:
"footprint for an AMS1117 regulator (light blue) if your source voltage is too high for Arduino (> 5.5 V or > 3.3V for 8MHz version). AMS1117 can handle up to 15V and 800mA but it consumes a lot of power, so this regulator should be used only for "wired" power (12V, USB, ...) and never with batteries. If you are using only this regulator, the capacitor of the radio should be enough to keep it stable, but if you want to be on the safe side, you can use the capacitor footprints on the other side of the board: C6/C7 for input C8/C9 for output."
I managed to make my double AAA version to work without problems and kudos for great work!
Thanks alot!
@zmatokan Luckily NCA78 has a really good track record of picking low priced parts that are nonetheless really good parts. If worse came to worst, that AMS1117's thermal protection would turn the AMS1117 off until it could cool down rather than overheat to the point of destroying itself.
-
@nca78 said in 💬 NModule:
Hello,
what does that mean ?
@zmatokan said in 💬 NModule:connect 12v as a power source from usb breakout.
Do you power the board from 12V or 5V ?
Hi,
thanks for a very quick reply. I am trying to use a 12v external power source to power the arduino + radio + nmodule board. I tried soldering AMS1117 3,3V to the BRD part of the nmodule board, but when I connect my 12v (+ to the RAW pin and - to the ground) I do not get the regulated voltage at the nmodule shield breakout.
In essence I would like to make my nmodule board work without batteries, by using external power source (usb breakout that is connected to android 12v adapter). This 12v would be regulated by AMS1117 that I solder on BRD part of the board. This way both arduino and radio would get 3,3v and nmodule board would push that voltage to the shield trough vcc and gnd. Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way?
This the quote on your OpenHardware page that I am using as a guidance:
"footprint for an AMS1117 regulator (light blue) if your source voltage is too high for Arduino (> 5.5 V or > 3.3V for 8MHz version). AMS1117 can handle up to 15V and 800mA but it consumes a lot of power, so this regulator should be used only for "wired" power (12V, USB, ...) and never with batteries. If you are using only this regulator, the capacitor of the radio should be enough to keep it stable, but if you want to be on the safe side, you can use the capacitor footprints on the other side of the board: C6/C7 for input C8/C9 for output."
I managed to make my double AAA version to work without problems and kudos for great work!
Thanks alot!
@zmatokan ok it's clear now.
So yes you should remove the regulator on the pro-mini, because it's also doing voltage regulation from RAW to VCC and it can't work in parallel with the AMS1117.
Then if you have added ceramic capacitors (one for input, one for output, 1uA each) and connect 12V on RAW and GND you should have 3.3V on VCC. Then you can short JRADIO to send the 3.3V to the radio module. -
@zmatokan Luckily NCA78 has a really good track record of picking low priced parts that are nonetheless really good parts. If worse came to worst, that AMS1117's thermal protection would turn the AMS1117 off until it could cool down rather than overheat to the point of destroying itself.
-
@zmatokan ok it's clear now.
So yes you should remove the regulator on the pro-mini, because it's also doing voltage regulation from RAW to VCC and it can't work in parallel with the AMS1117.
Then if you have added ceramic capacitors (one for input, one for output, 1uA each) and connect 12V on RAW and GND you should have 3.3V on VCC. Then you can short JRADIO to send the 3.3V to the radio module. -
@zmatokan ok it's clear now.
So yes you should remove the regulator on the pro-mini, because it's also doing voltage regulation from RAW to VCC and it can't work in parallel with the AMS1117.
Then if you have added ceramic capacitors (one for input, one for output, 1uA each) and connect 12V on RAW and GND you should have 3.3V on VCC. Then you can short JRADIO to send the 3.3V to the radio module.@Nca78 Hi, looks like I am doing something wrong in my last attempts to use your design with 12v external power supply.
I am using:
- Arduino 5v, 16hz
- AMS 1117 5.0V
- 662K XC6206 - 5v to 3.3v voltage regulator for radio
- 10UF-16V CAP for radio
- NRF24L01SMD
As you can see on a picture, I am using a terminal block where i push 12v.

When I connect the power to the terminal, my Voltage regulator get veeery hot and nothing works.
When I connected my FTDI to try to upload a sketch, a capacitor on arduino got fried. You can see it in the next pic.
This happened on tree of my boards.
Can you please take a look and try to see where the problem might be?
Thanks alot!