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bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946

Posted: 01:03am 04 Jun 2014

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Hi all,

In keeping with the subject matter of this thread,

I now have had my SOT223 3v3 regulators back in stock so all OPTIONS From page 1 of this thread are available again and I am pleased to inform that all preprogrammed PIC32 chips will be 50 MHz units.

Regards,

Mick

Edited by bigmik 2014-06-05

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

4KBO
Newbie

Joined: 06/06/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 3

Posted: 10:27pm 08 Jun 2014

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I have been looking at using Mick's micromite from another perspective. To use it directly on a LiFePO4 cell. Based on the micromite spec 2.3-3.6V This mates pretty well with the LiFePO4 cell. All that is needed is to set the charger to a 3.6V limit and let the micromite manage the low voltage dropout to protect the battery from over discharge. Has anybody tried this.

The next step is to tie this into a small solar panel, use GEOFS preprogrammed function for ultrasonic ranging and add an RF Module (UART-?), and voila a tank monitoring system that should last years if no electrolytics are used to handle the constant 50DegC measured in the top of a Gal tank. Surprising how hot a closed water tank can get.

The JAYCAR module that does this uses alkaline cells that last a month or two at best.

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946

Posted: 12:44pm 09 Jun 2014

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Hi 4K,

Sounds interesting,
Are you going to power the uMite from 3.6V? If so how do you wish to feed it to the uMite?

If on the 5V input then 3.6V is too low as an input with the 3.3v regulator. The dropout voltage (Vin-Vout) is min 1.1V (@100mA), you could, `not fit' the Vreg and feed directly into the 3.3V power input but that is right on the maximum operating voltage of the Pic32 chip. (You could of course run it through a rectifier and drop between .3V -LDO- and .6V)

You could also replace the LM1117-3v3 with a LM1117-2v5 and feed your 3.6v into the 5v input. This would mean that the Pic runs at 2.5v so you will need to be mindful of voltage levels when connecting to other circuitry.

Just curious. I am interested in a diagram of what you are going to do, it sounds interesting.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

4KBO
Newbie

Joined: 06/06/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 3

Posted: 05:59pm 12 Jun 2014

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Hi Mick,
The intent at this stage is to limit the max voltage on the LiFePO4 cell to 3.6 and the minimum to 2.8 so the umite connects direct to the cell. Due to the low consumption of the umite use it to disable all loads when at the minimum, so the only supply needed is a current limited 3.6 power supply connected to the battery - chinese building block number 1. Solar panel up to 30V can connect, limited to 10 watt.
The second is to have boost 5V supply to supply all peripherals, enabled by the umite.
Once the boards I ordered get here will build proto. Results to be published.
Cheers,
4KBO

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946

Posted: 03:27pm 17 Jun 2014

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Hi All,

bigmik said On the plus side I have placed an order for some PIC32MX150's (direct from TZ's Thailand friends at Microchip) these are 50MHz parts so all future PICS I supply will be 50MHz units.

Regards,

Mick

I have only just now discovered that the 50MHz PIC32 parts I thought I had ordered from Microchip are in fact 40MHz units.. I must have clicked on the wrong check box when I placed my order, as my invoice shows that I have actually purchased the 40MHz units. My humble apologies for the misleading statement above and if anyone, who has ordered Programmed uMites from me after I posted that statement wishes to do so I will refund their purchase price on return of their chip.

On the plus side, as MMBasic defaults to 40MHz on power up, the uMite needs to be manually set for 48MHz (the highest setting possible) to actually go beyond the 40MHz spec. Also, as Geoff mentions in the manual, all of the 40MHz parts he has tested has worked faultlessly at 48MHz..

I will now go and stick my head in a bucket of water three times and pull it out twice...

Regards,

Mick

PS. If that doesn't work I will take a long walk off a short pier.

Mik

Edited by bigmik 2014-06-19

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

paceman
Guru

Joined: 07/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1329

Posted: 04:13pm 17 Jun 2014

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I wouldn't be worrying about the self flagellation Mik - I'll bet no one asks for a refund and hands up anyone who hasn't made an order mistake. I'd give the short pier option a miss till summer!

Greg

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946

Posted: 05:36pm 17 Jun 2014

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paceman said I'll bet no one asks for a refund and hands up anyone who hasn't made an order mistake.

Hi Greg,

You are probably right but I don't wish to be known for being a rogue, I just want to do the right thing especially seeing these are people who supported my efforts and put their trust in my work.

paceman said I'd give the short pier option a miss till summer!

How about I light 2 sticks of dynamite (or DuinoMite) and throw one away.

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946

Posted: 01:18am 24 Jun 2014

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Gday All,

MuP-Test is now available, which is a deceptively simple test PCB to confirm that MuP seems to be working and that all 19 general I/O pins are able to be controlled individually.

Unfortunately, for some reason, my gerber files did not have any TEXT on the overlay even though they were on the artwork. I checked the copper layers but didnt look closely enough at the silk screen overlay. In any case it isn't a major drama and I suppose you could say that they are `AD-FREE'.

Here are a couple of pics, showing the overlay (missing the text) and a fully built unit.

Here is the Manual for MuP-Test. 2014-06-24_105750_MuP-Test.pdf

As I didn't buy a large QTY of these, and I couldn't get `dirty rotten PCBs' to accept my artwork I had to revert to my normal supplier, hence I have to price this a bit higher than I had hoped.

I will be selling MuP-Test in the following configurations:

Option 1:
Bare PCBs will be $2AUS each (but subject to a $3AUS minimum order due to the Paypal commission)

Option 2:
PCB with All components provided and either RED or GREEN LEDs *specify choice* ($10AUS)

Option 3:
PCB with All components provided and either BLUE or WHITE LEDs *specify choice* ($12AUS)

Postage for Option 1 will be $1AUS for upto 8 PCBs In Australia or $3AUS international
Postage for Option 2 or 3 will be $2AUS In Australia or $7AUS international

Why Choose BLUE or WHITE LEDs?

Well with the higher FWD voltage of these LEDs each LED will only draw 2mA and if you wanted to create playful LED demo's the maximum current draw due to all LEDs being on will be only 38mA compared to the RED or GREEN LEDs with a 76mA draw (4mA each). It is entirely user's choice.

PM me or email me if you are interested or require more information.

Kind Regards,

Mick
bigmick58@bigpond.com

EDIT***

Changed Pictures to side view as they came out HUGE

Mick
Edited by bigmik 2014-06-25

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

centrex

Guru

Joined: 13/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 320

Posted: 10:38pm 25 Jun 2014

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Hi Mick and others
If I buy a preprogrammed unit and Geoff comes up with upgrade to the software for whatever reason how would one upgrade if one does not own a Pickit3 programmer.
Is anybody out in cyber space offering an upgrade path.
Regards
Cliff

Cliff

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946

Posted: 11:10pm 25 Jun 2014

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Hi Cliff,

If a uMite chip is purchased from me I will be pleased to always reflash the latest firmware in if you can get it to me and are prepared to pay the return postage, or you drop in personally.

If you have a chip that you didnt get from me, or just bought, I will, generally, be happy to program it for you for no charge or a beer if you drop in and would like to chat.

Note the difference between the two offers are the words always and generally..

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

centrex

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Joined: 13/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 320

Posted: 11:57pm 25 Jun 2014

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Thanks Mick that has always been a concern.
Sydney to Melbourne bit far to drop in but I will keep it in mind.
Cliff,

Cliff

Bill.b

Senior Member

Joined: 25/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 232

Posted: 12:44am 26 Jun 2014

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Hi Centrex

I am in Newcastle and would be willing to update uMites

BillEdited by Bill.b 2014-06-27

In the interests of the environment, this post has been constructed entirely from recycled electrons.

paceman
Guru

Joined: 07/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1329

Posted: 02:59am 26 Jun 2014

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Cliff/Mik

I've got a PicKit3 too and can re-flash so if anyone's closer to the N.E. of Melbourne (Eltham) than they are to Mik, I can help - same conditions as Mik.

Greg

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