Blog - All Comments

RE: Smart Doorbell System – Part 8 – FM Sound Synthesizer and XDS110 Debugger and Tag-Connect Adaptor

Fred27 — Thu, 09 May 2019 06:14:42 GMT

Yes - I think you need to temporarily disable Linux from booting to be able to debug the PRU on CCS. I saw that as just for writing / debugging a complicated PRU project in isolation.

You're right that without Linux you're missing the point and might as well have used a microcontroller. I'm sure there are people using the power of a multi-core Sitara bare metal or with an RTOS, but I expect that's the minority.

You have written some really useful PRU stuff in the past which I've read with interest. Thanks. I hope that the thought of that XDS110 and spare headers doesn't distract you and drag you off into the PRU world again! (Or maybe I am hoping that.) I'm trying to resist getting a new XDS110 toy I don't really need , but if I do then I'll let you know how I get on. I normally crumble after about a week.

This TI guide seems useful too:

PRU Training: Hands-on Labs - Texas Instruments Wiki

RE: Smart Doorbell System – Part 8 – FM Sound Synthesizer and XDS110 Debugger and Tag-Connect Adaptor

Fred27 — Wed, 08 May 2019 20:04:24 GMT

I stumbled across this whilst trying to get things working the other way round - trying to connect the 10-pin output of the XDS110 on the LaunchPads to the 20-pin header on the BeagleBone. I was hoping to do some PRU deployment and debugging from CCS. I couldn't get it to work - I suspect some of the other pins like EMU0/1 are needed. Maybe I'll have to get a full XDS110.

£52 for an adapter is ridiculous. The TagConnect isn't cheap for what it is either.

RE: Smart exercise bike computer. Part #9: Hero has come

stevesmythe — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 12:18:53 GMT

Hi Yuri

This is a great project! I have sent you a "follow" request because I am doing a RoadTest involving the KW41Z board and would like to benefit from your experience of using it with MCUXpresso. Would that be OK?

Thanks

Steve

RE: Smart Doorbell System - Part 10 - Complete Project Video

shabaz — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 01:36:48 GMT

For a revision 2 PCB for the bell push, these are the enclosures I'm considering. Any alternate options welcome!

A 3D printed custom version would provide a lot of flexibility, but that can be a revision 3. For now, I wanted to use an off-the-shelf enclosure.

The problem is that most small bell or alarm push boxes are designed for the small old-school A23 sized 12V battery. But this project requires around 3V, and I'd like to use large non-rechargeable cells for longer life, and they would be ideally be a single non-rechargeable Lithium AA sized 3V battery, or two 1.5V AA or two 1.5V AAA batteries. So, space is needed for a holder or clips for the single or double AA, or double AAA.

Around 7mm depth is needed for the PCB (less is possible, but the microswitch needs a few more millimeters for the lever that will need to be implemented. The current PCB is about 77x28mm, and only a few millimetres thickness apart from the microswitch. The PCB could be reduced from 77mm to maybe 60mm if required, by expanding to 35mm width maybe.

These are the current two candidates:

Option 1:

I think it looks quite ugly (I'd rather a more classical shape) but it may be good enough to fit a couple of AAA batteries.

[View:/resized-image/__size/485x298/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-59257057-8c10-4a02-b09e-e89abbb8b58d/8400.contentimage_5F00_188017.jpg:485:298]

This is the other side of it, and I think it could be possible to fashion a plate to connect to the rear to attach to a wall, even if that was with foam tape to the plate screwed on the wall. The battery will last long enough that foam tape wouldn't need replacing often:

[View:/resized-image/__size/400x376/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-59257057-8c10-4a02-b09e-e89abbb8b58d/3632.contentimage_5F00_188018.jpg:400:376]

The enclosure would need spray-painting to blend in, i.e. spray it white or something.

Option 2:

This too looks ugly, but maybe less ugly. It is near-similar size but 10mm wider than Option 1. The cutout ellipse is great for an LED.

[View:/resized-image/__size/494x350/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-59257057-8c10-4a02-b09e-e89abbb8b58d/2146.contentimage_5F00_188019.jpg:494:350]

This enclosure would need spray-painting too, although it does come in a more acceptable color than black:

[View:/resized-image/__size/488x321/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-59257057-8c10-4a02-b09e-e89abbb8b58d/2654.contentimage_5F00_188020.jpg:488:321]

Option B enclosure is slightly unusual, in that it is 3-part, and so I believe has less room inside than Option 1, despite overall being 10mm wider:

[View:/resized-image/__size/620x392/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-59257057-8c10-4a02-b09e-e89abbb8b58d/2158.contentimage_5F00_188021.jpg:620:392]

Both options are not small, they are 120x45x22 and 120x55x22 outside dimensions, and I still need to order them to examine closely. I think the size is still reasonable for a smart bell push though. And leaves some flexibility for adding more features like a display or buzzer.

Both options cost about $5 each.

RE: Smart Doorbell System - Part 10 - Complete Project Video

stevesmythe — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 11:41:40 GMT

A very interesting and useful project for others to learn from. I am always impressed at your circuit board design skills.

Would it use too much energy to have a small piezo sounder on the bell-push end? I'm thinking that the person pressing the bell needs some audible feedback that it has worked (I know there is an LED but the visitor might not appreciate what that means). In some houses (e.g. those with an enclosed porch), the visitor wouldn't be able to hear the sounder from outside the house. It would also act as a quick debugging check that the bell-push end battery has enough power left for a bluetooth transmission. My own wireless bell-push blew a capacitor and wasn't working and that wasn't obvious for a while, until people started hammering on the door!

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed Design Challenge - Finisher Prize Unboxing - blog 15

three-phase — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 20:17:36 GMT

Well deserved set of prizes, I thoroughly enjoyed following you on this project.

Kind regards

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed Design Challenge - Finisher Prize Unboxing - blog 15

mcb1 — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 07:24:07 GMT

Excellent stuff.

Hopefully all the others that met the requirements are on the way.

Mark

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed Design Challenge - Finisher Prize Unboxing - blog 15

dixonselvan — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 03:12:40 GMT

Congratulations [mention:193ac2434c814a24b46635a2210baec1:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] again on completing your project. It really feels as if I open the box whenever I watch your Unboxing videos and this is special because it is full of prizes!

I always had an eye on getting a soldering station ( you got a fume extractor too) would you mind sharing your review after sometime you have used the soldering unit.

RE: Smart Doorbell System - Part 10 - Complete Project Video

aspork42 — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 16:01:25 GMT

What would you estimate the BOM cost for 10 units? I was thinking of using the pushbutton type setup as a home security monitoring device - i.e. window sensor. Instead of a pushbutton, it would be a reed switch & magnet and look for any transition to report. I would need to build up about 20 units; and would possibly use a single sensor and dual sensor unit (for two windows right next to each other). I've seen other units that cost like $40 each, so that is pretty cost prohibitive. If these are in the area of $10/unit it becomes much more feasible.

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed - Wireless Temperature Probe

aspork42 — Sat, 11 Aug 2018 15:58:06 GMT

Awesome re-use!

RE: Stirling Blue - Project Summary - Blog 14

balearicdynamics — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 05:53:12 GMT

Hello Dough,

As I am fascinated by the stirling engines too, I have followed with special attention the evolution of your project. I have a question about. What about the software? Did you plan or already provided somewhere a repository with the software parts? What platform and language did you used for the micro:bit? For the PSoC I suppose that you have approached the native PsocCreator...

Enrico

RE: Smart Doorbell System - Part 10 - Complete Project Video

aspork42 — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 17:58:26 GMT

Hey - Congrats on winning! Very well done!

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed - Wireless Temperature Probe

DAB — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:25:45 GMT

Very good project to show how to connect sensors remotely over Bluetooth.

I am curious, how easy is it to manage multiple sensors with the same type of boards?

DAB

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed - Wireless Temperature Probe

ntewinkel — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:34:55 GMT

I love how you are able to re-use the same hardware for such a different purpose!

Good use of the other 9 PCBs when minimum order is 10 haha! [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-e7b843ea-838b-4933-a4aa-bbafa41dd995/5327.contentimage_5F00_2516.png:16:16]

Have you tested distance limits of the Bluetooth signal?

I tried Bluetooth several years ago to monitor my greenhouse, which is just across the driveway, but I could barely connect to it from the house. Which is why I'm loving the ESP-based WiFi boards now - they seem to have a much better range.

Speaking of WiFi, and you mentioned the Pi3 vs Pi2 with dongle - are you finding the Pi3 WiFi reliable? It seems to be terrible no matter what I do - even when I'm right across from the WiFi router. (using the Raspberry Pi branded power supply too). I'm thinking of just switching to using a dongle for it.

Cheers,

-Nico

RE: Bluetooth Unleashed - Wireless Temperature Probe

genebren — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 14:25:09 GMT

Nice project based on your doorbell chime hardware. It is nice when you get to re-use some of your prior designs. Looking forward to see where this all goes next.

Thanks for sharing.

Gene