At least once a year, I try to do some activity along the lines of protecting electronics. In 2023, I launched Experimenting with Waterproof Connectors. In late 2021, we launched the Just Encase Design Challenge. As more electronics are employed outdoors and more IOT solutions are installed in remote locations in the open environment, the need to protect electronics is increasing.
In the challenge I am now planning, I hope to take the idea of "electronics environmental protection" to the extremes.
In brief, the challengers will be given a kit to build something -- anything. They will house their electronic-builds in a durable, IP65-67 enclosure. After doing those the things, the real fun begins.
We would like the participants to experiment with extreme environments such as hot & cold temperatures, light & strong water sprays, vibrations, dust "storms," etc. You get the idea. They will need to design a testing environment to simulate the extreme condition being tested and then put their protected-build in it. And write about it.
Feedback on Proposed Kit
For the remainder of this discussion, I will overview selections for the kit. I have three options each for:
- Electronics
- Enclosure
- Display
- Sensor Connector
Please vote for your preference of each kit component. Now, if you have an alternate suggestion, feel free to post a comment.
I would like the electronic-builds to be battery-powered since a lot of remote monitoring is battery powered. Take a look at the viability of that. If that doesn't work, I may then give special extra credit to those participants that have a battery-powered experiment. At this point, I am in the planning stage. Not everything is cast in stone, so to speak.
Of course, there other parts such as cables, other types of connectors, power supplies, sensors, etc. that I have not included in this preliminary kit. Go ahead and post a comment on the accessories you would like.
Thanks for participating in this discussion.
Here are the polls:
ELECTRONICS under consideration
MICROCHIP EV36W50A WFI32-IOT Board, 32bit, PIC |
Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Lite and I/O Board |
ARDUINO AKX00034 EDGE CONTROL BOARD |
Display under consideration
ADAFRUIT 2260 TFT Display |
MIDAS MC42005A6W-SPTLYI-V2 DISPLAY, ALPHANUMERIC, 20X4 |
MIKROE-55 Display, Character LCD 2x16 |
ENCLOSURES under consideration
HAMMOND 1554VA2GYCL, Plastic Enclosure, IP68 |
HAMMOND 1590Z231GY Metal Enclosure, Small, Diecast Aluminum, IP68 |
HAMMOND 1555HF17GY Plastic Enclosure, Watertight, Industrial, IP67 |
SENSOR CONNECTOR under consideration
AMPHENOL MRDBG02L13000, Circular Connector, 2 Contacts |
|
AMPHENOL MRD-BG04-L13-000, Circular Connector, 4 Contacts |