What did you build today (Pictures) ?

[sundberg84]

@tbowmo - Thanks!! :) 42mm diameter (round, but the 3d view doesnt show that).
The track - well, it seems like I can only get KiCad to make 45dgr tracks... need to investigate it its possible to make other tracks...

[monte]

@sundberg84 you can also use smd crystal. They are cheaply available on aliexpress. Are you using 0603 caps and resistors?

[sundberg84]

@monte - 0805 res/caps, (for me easy to solder, while 0603 is possible but start to get hard).
I was thinking about SMD crystal but left it since i couldnt find a common size. Do you know a good size for SMD crystal (with multiple brands?) like 0805 or a good searchword? I found HC-49S but they are the same size as the ones with pins.

[Omemanti]

@sundberg84 "well, it seems like I can only get KiCad to make 45dgr tracks"

References => General Settings => Limit graphics lines to 45 degrees

[bjacobse]

I recently hacked my Assa Abloy/Yale smart lock as it could only turn +-90° created a new washer ring, so it now can turn infinitely so it is usable to use a lock
The needed 3D stl file or Freecad drawing is to be found here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3155286

[Nina Baines]

What an inspiring thread!

[monte]

@sundberg84 I've bought these 5032 crystals: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-20pcs-16-000MHZ-16mhz-20pF-2Pin-5032-smd-quartz-resonator-Crystal/32821974003.html but there are plentiful other offers on aliexspress and/or ebay. This 5032 package seems to be the most common. There is another package with the same size but with 4 pins 2 of which are not connected, I bought them from my local distributor, while was waiting a package from aliexpress. But those with 4 pins are harder to solder (obviously) and I don't see any pros of using them.
The most suitable for hand soldering and easiest to find are these:
According to this image the ones I have are TX5 and TG5.

[sundberg84]

Im getting so tired of soldering extra wires and stuff so today im doing a "MysX to All common sensors breakout board"...

Dont know if this will work... but worth a shot.

[alowhum]

@sundberg84 If I'm honest some of those sensors seem 'old' to me.

• I usually go for the BEM280 instead of the BMP085 and DHT22. It's so cheap now.
• I never use pulse soil sensors, only the capacitive kind, as they last much longer and don't pollute the soil.

In fact, I always make all my sensors with the Nano Wireless Expansion Board, which is about $2. You can simply plug in the NRF24 into it.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Nano-328P-IO-wireless-sensor-expansion-board-for-XBEE-and-NRF24L01-Socket-for-arduino/32264665470.html

[sundberg84]

@alowhum thanks for the reply!
I used the sensor in MySensors build section, i somehow believe that is whats used the most. But that does not stop me from adding your suggestion for BEM280. That Wireless board looks great, but Im working with the MysX connector so thats why im making this board.

[Nca78]

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

• I usually go for the BEM280 instead of the BMP085 and DHT22. It's so cheap now.

Unfortunately most of the cheap breakout boards found on AliExpress use clones with much worse specs than the original version

In fact, I always make all my sensors with the Nano Wireless Expansion Board, which is about $2. You can simply plug in the NRF24 into it.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Nano-328P-IO-wireless-sensor-expansion-board-for-XBEE-and-NRF24L01-Socket-for-arduino/32264665470.html

But you can't really make battery-powered sensors with those ? The regulators are AMS1117 with 5mA typical quiescent current.

[monte]

@nca78 said in What did you build today (Pictures) ?:

Unfortunately most of the cheap breakout boards found on AliExpress use clones with much worse specs than the original version

Could you be more specific? How exactly worth specs does they have. Was going to buy a bunch of them. Maybe there is some comparison or tests?

[alowhum]

@sundberg84 yes, sorry about that, I realised too late that it's an expansion board.

@Nca78 Thanks! That 5ma leak current was exactly the kind of info I needed about the board. I was wondering it if could be useful for battery powered things. None of my sensors are. Well, one - I used the BBC Micro:bit as a battery powered motion sensor.

I guess not having a regulator on board is what makes the Arduino Pro Micro so good at being battery powered.

Out of curiosity: if I attached the board to a Usb powerbank (say 10.000 Mah) to operate as an electricity led pulse sensor.. what would be an estimate for how long it would run?

[mfalkvidd]

@alowhum rough calculation: 10,000/5 = 2,000h = 83 days. Lower if other componens also consume power.

[mfalkvidd]

@monte clones use different components, so it depends on which clone.

[gohan]

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

I guess not having a regulator on board is what makes the Arduino Pro Micro so good at being battery powered.

actually the better solution is the pro mini at 3.3v with regulator and led removed, and you can use an LDO regulator to power it with a LiPo cell or no regulator at all if you use a LiFePO4 battery. Using the arduino at 3.3v allows you to use all radio modules and all the low power sensors.

[alexsh1]

This is my new PSU - 3D printed enclosure and a few components
It is very precise.

[Yveaux]

@alexsh1 nice! Why do you have 4 banana sockets and what's the color coding?

[bjacobse]

@alexsh1 Looks awesome

[NeverDie]

Something nice about those power supplies is that for very little extra money (maybe $1-3 extra) you can buy versions with UART and/or even bluetooth data output that you can send to a logger. I'd have to check, but it might even be controllable that way also.