Best posts made by Omemanti

After 4 months of finishing the new house, i finally started to build in my sensors

Do need to build a new repeater, since a part of the sensors are out of reach.

After months of slow painstaking work (day job is somewhat busy, o and the kids ) I finally completed my Domoticz server(case) with Dashticz as frontend.

The Endgame; when my new house is finished every room is monitored for motion, RH and Temperature using my MySensors PCB's. (Jung AS500 Node)

Everything is monitored using a raspberry with a MySensors serial gateway (NRF52) and an RFLink controller for my KAKU switches.

To make everything nice and shiny I use Dasticz to interface the data in a proper way using a tablet that somehow will be mounted on a wall or something.

So far the introduction;
To put everything away nice and tidy I used a box to install everything using 2 pieces of din-rail.
It has a 230V inlet that is converted to 5V using an off the shelf (safety sake) MeanWell RS-15-5 converter. This powers everything using a couple of din-Rail terminals.

• Terminal => USB-micro => Raspberry
• Terminal => just a couple of wires => old nrf52 prototype => FTDI => Raspberry
• Raspberry => RF-link (ard. Mega +433mhz)

Since the Raspberry has Wifi no other cable then power is needed to operate

Second part: the 2 screenshots of dasthicsz.

The best part, it took some work, but the WAF incread big time, because everything looks clean

For those who are, just like me, trying to switch form Eagle to KiCad.

I found : https://www.snapeda.com/parts/add/

You can upload Eagle parts etc, and convert them to their KiCad counterparts.
Its not flawless, as far as I can see it seems OK to give it a try.

For anyone interested, and to correct my mistakes, I just put up an NRF52 node that is powered by an off the shelf ac/dc converter to be used as a repeater node.. feel free to comment

https://www.openhardware.io/view/613/NRF52-Wall-Node-ACDC

This topic did most of the research for me, so thank you

Today I finally assembled some of my new PCB's

2 New front PCB's (a repeater and a LED-Dimmer)
1 New Back PCB that can be used as just an AC/DC power supply or as part of the AC current side of the LED-Dimmer

The last inwall repeater I made was just one PCB, and during installation, I got zapped , so I tried to make a 3D design to counter that.
The part that is the furthest in the wall is the AC side, and the microcontrollers, etc (DC-side) are at the front. Both are connected using 4 pins and are fastened by 4, 3m standoffs

I think this is much safer when, for instance, the front cover is taken off. (i use the same design as: LINK)

Pictures show the FL5150 dimmer at the front and its compatible backside.
When the testing is done, I also want to connect a touch sensor to it, so the dimmer can be controlled remotely as well by touch.

https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/6961/nrf5-action/1659

That fixed it.

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

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

@neverdie it's the AM612, and in the little tests I did so far, it did great.

Here in the Netherlands, schools and daycares are closed for a week now, and stays so at least until the 6th of April. Only people with vital occupations can drop their kids off (hospital personal, and people who work for food companies etc. )

For the rest, they advise to stay at home and if you need to go out, stay at least 1,5m away from one another. No lockdown yet, they hope these measures will help flatten the curve.

But people are so very stupid atm. "hey its sunny, let's all go to the park/beach/(fill in crowded place)". I fear that for this reason, they will have a lockdown anytime soon.

@Nca78
Getting rid of the ground plains around the entire module hugely improved the range. Had to stap back to AAA batteries to fit on the board. But I'm happy with the way it's going (AA is still possible but not soldered on it just doesn't fit enough in the wall socket)

@maciekczwa said in nRF5 action!:

Licensed under GNU GPL v2
For bug reports, read
http://openocd.org/doc/doxygen/bugs.html
debug_level: 2
0x4000
Info : The selected transport took over low-level target control. The results might differ compared to plain JTAG/SWD
adapter speed: 10000 kHz
Info : Unable to match requested speed 10000 kHz, using 4000 kHz
Info : Unable to match requested speed 10000 kHz, using 4000 kHz
Info : clock speed 4000 kHz
Info : STLINK v2 JTAG v17 API v2 SWIM v4 VID 0x0483 PID 0x3748
Info : using stlink api v2
Info : Target voltage: 3.241270
Info : nrf52.cpu: hardware has 0 breakpoints, 2 watchpoints
Error: timed out while waiting for target halted
TARGET: nrf52.cpu - Not halted
in procedure 'program'
in procedure 'reset' called at file "embedded:startup.tcl", line 478
in procedure 'ocd_bouncer'

**embedded:startup.tcl:454: Error: ** Unable to reset target ****
in procedure 'program'
in procedure 'program_error' called at file "embedded:startup.tcl", line 479
at file "embedded:startup.tcl", line 454
wybrany port szeregowy at file "embedded:startup.tcl", line 454

maybe someone else already found the solution, but it took me a while to figure it out for myself.

So for documentation sake:

Just had the exact same things with new Ebyte NRF52832 modules, ST-Link v2 couldn't erase it. (the old once did erase without a single problem )

After some digging, I found the following:
(I'm using my NRF52832-DK for it, maybe other devices work as well, just tested this one)

DK => Ebyte module
GND(detect) => GND
SWDIO => SWDIO
SWDCLK => SWCLK
VTG => 3,3V
3,3V => 3,3V
GND =>GND

you can erase the protection using nRFgo Studio

1. On the left, you can find a header named Segger, click on that.
2. then it shows that it is locked, and you can click recover.
3. after that you can erase it
4. upload a new sketch using an ST-link V2 or the DK while you are still at it.

@gohan said in Help: Some explanation requested regarding NACK:

the node can't receive the ack message so it assumes it's lost: could the the gateway did

mjah, ofcourse,
Well I'll build me some more of these, see If the same things happen with some other nodes.

thnx for the help so far!

@mfalkvidd oké, clear!
Unfortunate.
Guess a couple esp8266 couldn't hurt.

@NeverDie said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

From the view count, it does seem that people are reading this thread, even if not many are posting.

I follow your journey with great interest, one day Ill find the time to do something with it

Hey, Welcome,

If you just want to get started, prepare for some trial and error (that's almost half the fun if you ask me :)).

I suggest you start with a serial monitor and use myscontroller as a controller.
If you ask me this is the easiest way to test if everything is working.

when you are confident on your progress, hook up a wifi gateway and link that to whatever you like (I only have experiences with domotics + dachticz in combination with a wifi-gateway ( ESP8266+NRF52832))

@neverdie, Indeed, I checked and it was false. well goes to show that late-night prototyping has some disadvantages, my bad,

Deleted Following up question..
DK =>Ebyte module
GND(detect) => GND
SWDIO => SWDIO
SWDCLK => SWCLK
VTG => 3,3V
3,3V => 3,3V
GND =>GND

@mfalkvidd

Does this give me more information compared to the normal #MY_DEBUG? Skip that, had to change things in MyConig.. lets see what happens

to be complete; I used: #define MY_DEBUG_VERBOSE_NRF5_ESB

@sundberg84 that board looks nice and crisp

@gohan LOL, i need to stop buying these things, got 12 just waiting to be used.. but at this price, its almost impossible to not buy them

FYI:

Yesterday I tried to use the MY_ENCRYPTION_SIMPLE_PASSWD and SIGNING (so not MY_SECURITY, everything separate), the gateway also crashes after a couple of hours.

So reverted all my sketches and now only have MY_ENCRYPTION_SIMPLE_PASSWD on all my nodes. Since that time I've been receiving everything and had no crashes.

@dbemowsk

If someone would be interested:
Enclosure
Ard. Mega enclosure
Raspberry enclosure

Had to do some modifications for the mega, but the cost of this enclosure was more than worth it.

Hmz.. normaly don't buy stuff at conrad but apparently they have good prices on cases...

@gohan sure, I bought some of those. Works great. One crashed so now I bought a couple, just to be sure..

@kiesel said in Help: Some explanation requested regarding NACK:

e you able to solve this? I am also experiencing a lot of NACKs in my rfm69 network (868mhz)

Nope, not that I can remember.
BTW: I ditched the rfm69 and moved over to the NRF52.

Oke, thnx!

Then I need to search somewhere else.
It says that my radio is oke, so I guess the wiring was right..
Ill connect an extra power supply then! maybe that works.

@nca78 I'm trying to create a node that fits inside a standard wallsocket. (I'll post it when it's done) it got a motion and moisture sensor.

For the next version I'm moving the module more to the outside but I need to take the screwholes into account.
The groundplane I used filled the entire PCB, next one will have less ground around the antenna or even holes.

It's designed to hold 3 AA batteries to have a couple years of service.

But cutting away that spot around the antenna gave me reception throughout the entire house

@xmonika I use the ST-Link, mine is always greyed out. The only time im able to select a port, it's when I'm using an FTDI to use the serial monitor. So I think everything looks normal.

@rozpruwacz it looks pretty workable for testing purposes. For a final product my choice is something lika fanstel or ebyte module. Those are just easier to get into smaller cases etc. (Just my personal preference)

@alowhum said in nRF5 Bluetooth action!:

@Omemanti I didn't realise the nRF52-DK was a hardware device. I thought it was a software program.

The nrf52 dev kit= > NRF52 Dev kit

To connect the DK to a module :
DK Ebyte module
GND(detect) => GND
SWDIO => SWDIO
SWDCLK => SWCLK
VTG => 3,3V
3,3V => 3,3V
GND =>GND

select J-link and there you go.

On the picture you provided (thanks!), are pin 6 and 8 connected to a serial port to read what's going on?

I used Pin 6 and 8 to connect to a FTDI to read out the serial. Since you can tell the sketch where to put the RX and TX I just connected them to 6 & 8.

Your ground is connected in a different place than mine (I connect it next to the VCC pin).

the Ebyte module has multiple GND connections, I messed the one next to the VCC up so I connected them next to the antenna. Just because I was easy

I suspect both those side-pins near the antenna, at the top, where you have soldered something, are ground too, right?

Indeed!

@ileneken3 sorry, can't help you anymore.

I can only tell that I installed the segger drivers, and everything as described by @d00616

Most issues I have, happen when I did some soldering wrong or when I've been messing around with drivers. A clean setup almost always solve my problems

I used both old and new ebyte modules and they work like a charm.

Upload looks fine indeed,

I'm not sure if they hang, I just think the pinout wasn't right.

Whenever Pins are not working correctly I check the files again (to be sure), then close down the Arduino IDE. And open the sketch you want to upload. somehow it looks like the pinout isn't coming through correctly when a different version is also opened.

@NeverDie
Great, Thnx! , 2323 looks great, dont get the the errors

I still need to test it, but so far, so great.

@alowhum

Hey, sorry, I'm not familiar with your error messages.

Can you please sum everything up what you did so far and what your setup looks like (pic)

• Drivers
• Libraries
• what software you use
• Number of modules you tested
• etc

just to retrace your steps ( It might be useful to post it in a separate topic to keep this one cleaner ) => https://forum.mysensors.org/category/5/troubleshooting

@olision said in Choosing the right NRF chip for MySensors:

think the only advantages choosing a nrf52840 over the nrf52832 is the range according to the spec sheets and the possibility to connect a LiPo battery directly without using a voltage regulator. On that later, is it more energy efficient to use the LiPo battery directly than using an external LDO?
Has anyone tried those chips on a MySensor sketch or built their own sensors using those chips? Any other recommendations or one I should go with for my custom PCB?
Thanks for your help making that component choice!

hey,
I don't think the NRF52840 is working with MySensors yet.. But I don't know what happened in de last months on the development side. I believe @NeverDie was working with those chips in combination with micropython.

I personally stuck with the NRF52832, I have a couple of nodes working with Ebyte modules. It suits my needs and I stockpiled some modules for future projects.. Just browse openhardware.io and you can find a couple of examples. @berkseo made also some things you want to take a look at.

@nca78 I don't use ATAES132A. I put it in just in case I wanted to invest some more time using it.
I now just use SimpleEncryption, it's secure enough for my purpose atm.
(since the area I live in uses KAKU a lot, an insecure 433MHz lightswitch, I don't think anyone would be bothered to hack my temperature sensors. I found 163 433Mhz devices when I left domoticz logging for a couple of days.)

Not sure if it is allowed, else I remove this post, but the nrf52832's at ebyte are for sale (50% off)the coming 2 days.cdebyte AliExpress I sure grab myself some (max 2 at a time, but last time I ordered multiple times :)) only €2,62 a piece

@omemanti i did some digging, looks like a DAC will solve my problem. If it works I'll close this request. Fingers crossed.