What did you build today (Pictures) ?

[robosensor]

Power (lower half) and external interfaces (upper half) PCB for my "entrance" MySensors node (unregulated voltage, +5V, +3.3V, doorbell detector, electronic door lock status, temperature, etc). I'm using conventional 220V=>6V transformers as main power supply and as simple 220V presence detector for doorbell.

[sundberg84]

Let me present - How NOT to deploy a MySensors Node! Here is how you do: 1) Skrew everything solid to a wall 2) Power it up and make sure you have shorted a SDA / GND or VCC on your BMP sensor just because you dont doublecheck the colors 3)Forget to enable # My debug 4)Fetch your last BMP sensor but drop it on the lawn (pitch dark outside) 5) Spend 30min with a flashligh in 5dgr C searching for the sensor and try it out once you find it. 6) Nothing works so Un-screw everything and connect it to FTDI inside at your computer, reupload the sketch with debug. - Now everything works fine (with the first sensor) for some unknown reason. 7) Skrew everything back again! 8) Find out the BMP sensor is not working 9) Debug Serial (atleast I got to use my new logger) 10) Find out a short on the MysX connector due to bent wire.

New and old sensor - side by side.

[Yveaux]

@sundberg84 poor guy... +1 for persistence though :smirk:

[NeverDie]

@sundberg84 Time for you to do a new PCB so you can get rid of all that wiring....

[sundberg84]

@NeverDie Im waiting for someone to create those MysX shields so I just can attach them to my EasyPCB.

[NeverDie]

@sundberg84 Where is the definitive description of MysX? Perhaps I might have a go at making some shields with it, if I knew what it was.

[mfalkvidd]

@NeverDie not sure if https://www.mysensors.org/hardware/mysx is definitive but it should be a good start

[NeverDie]

@mfalkvidd Wow, MYSX 2.6 is a 22 pin connector! That wouldn't be practical on a small shield (such as a pro mini size shield) I don't think.

[mfalkvidd]

@NeverDie from what I've understood, the idea is that you pick the lowest revision that can support the features you want. So you can select 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 or 22 pins.

[gohan]

Non the less, if we start having a more standardized environment on the mysx connector, it would be best. But we are going OT.

[NeverDie]

Put together this pro mini nRF24 shield for testing...

[shabba]

@NeverDie Neat! All I need is a rfm69 version :-)
Where you get pcb?

[NeverDie]

@shabba said in What did you build today (Pictures) ?:

Where you get pcb?

https://www.openhardware.io/view/480/Compact-nRF24L01-Pro-Mini-Bottom-Shield

[NeverDie]

I just now put together the final test configuration:

It's meant to be a "universal" shield that can accept any of the most common nRF24L01 modules, whether they be SMD or the 8-pin variety.

What I want people to know though is that as nice and compact as it is, it's actually much larger and not even as capable as the new nRF51 or nRF52 series. For instance, this nRF51 is quite affordable, and yet is both much smaller, is more energy efficient, and generally packs far more capability (including better range) than an atmega328p+nRF24L01 combo:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/nRF51822-04-BLE4-0-Wireless-Bluetooth-Module-TTL-Low-Power-Consumption/32832511551.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0&aff_platform=aaf&cpt=1509659805775&sk=rvbiMby&aff_trace_key=624250e1222041ebad3af56b86b62771-1509659805775-02431-rvbiMby&terminal_id=29bfb7ff18284b7f96acb3c3884390ce
The way I see it, there's not really much reason to continue using the nRF24L01's, except maybe already existing familiarity.

[Edit: the one area that the nRF24L01's do still hold an edge, though, is in pricing on the PA+LNA versions. Some of those are still comparatively inexpensive compared to what's currently available in PA+LNA nRF5x series.
Luckily, the above shield will work with them too. :) ]

[ileneken3]

One advantage to the "atmega328p+nRF24L01 combo" is the simplicity of choices. A pro-mini is pretty much a pro-mini, etc. Having so many choices makes it hard for a beginner with nrf51.

I really appreciate the recommendation for a reasonably priced nrf51 that can be used for battery powered nodes. Can I also ask for a recommendation on a piece of hardware to program it? (Again, lots of choices).

Thanks ahead of time.

[NeverDie]

@ileneken3 said in What did you build today (Pictures) ?:

Can I also ask for a recommendation on a piece of hardware to program it?

I've tried/attempted a number of different ones, and I've settled on using the nRF52 DK as being the best for programming external modules (at least in my experience). Just be sure you power the modoule independently from the nRF52 DK, because the DK mostly senses the voltage on the module rather than powers it.

[mfalkvidd]

Protecting a ds18b20 tempersture sensor to measure soil temperature for a prototype node.

[sundberg84]

@mfalkvidd what is that in the background - some sort of PCB ruler?

[gohan]

Yes, I have one too. It has all the form factors of chips, wire gauges, etc

[NeverDie]

@mfalkvidd said in What did you build today (Pictures) ?:

Protecting a ds18b20 tempersture sensor

You may already know this, but it's easy to find ds18b20's that are enclosed in sealed metal probes. I've used some, and they don't seem to leak, even when left submerged in water.