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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Weather Station Outdoor Unit
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MicroBlocks Guru  Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Inspired by Lewis's weather station i was thinking about how to make the most versatile and compact PCB that can hold all the needed sensors. It is still a concept and i would like to show it to you guys while it is still in the early steps. The pcb (10x10cm) looks like this: 
The center is a uMite (28/44/64 has to be decided) The left is my USB/Serial/Power(3.3v,5v max 500ma)/Programmer module. The rest of the 'leafs' are for the sensors, logging and communication. To place the sensors on the best location you can cut of a leaf and use a ribbon cable to connect it to the center 'Brain'. If it is not separated then no headers are needed as the connection will be made with traces on the PCB. I wrote in each leaf what its function will be and if known i also noted the specific part. This is all early and things will change, hopefully with your input. My intention is to open source it with a schematic and a set of gerber files. I also plan to offer it as a bare pcb, a full kit, kit with smd assembled and also fully assembled. Prices are at this stage unknown as not all parts are known. An indoor unit is under consideration, it will probably be a uMite with a LCD and maybe some extra visual/audio capabilities. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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panky Guru Joined: 02/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1114 |
Great idea Microblocks, Would a rectangular form with 4 or 5 "break off" modules either side be a cheaper alternative for the pcb as far as manufacture is concerned? Would a current/voltage sense module add to the versatility - say +/-25A using one of the Alegro modules? Do you envisage having any "User defined modules"? That is to say, a standard interface of 2 analogue in, 2 digital in, 2 digital out, SPI, I2C, power and ground on all modules so that one could either use multiples of one of your modules or create their own? Have you considered a "backpack" style connector for an ILI9341 display so the unit could be used "standalone" if desired? I would vote for the 64 pin 470 for what it's worth 
Cheers, Doug. ... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it! |
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lew247 Guru Joined: 23/12/2015 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1702 |
This is what my outdoor unit looks like - it's a 3d model at the moment, I've got to get the smd's soldered onto the board as my eyesight and hands won't let me solder things that small unfortunately It's 75mm X 75MM, I did make it 50 X 50 but it really was too small. I could have made it smaller by using the smd version of the micromite but I didn't see the need to have it too small The ESP8266 isn't needed on the outdoor unit, I included it so I can reprogram the micromite remotely in case better software than I can write becomes available, or in case someone modifies it so it runs much better, or indeed to add new features It will be powered by a 3.7V -5V solar charged battery. 
Here's the indoor unit, it's designed to fit on the back of a 7" touchscreen lcd display I have done a smaller board for the smaller lcd's as well but I won't put it here yet. 
I've also done a fridge/freezer board, I have a fridge and 2 freezers and I was thinking of making use of the lcd display so I thought why not monitor the temperatures of them and display it on the lcd, it can have a warning so if the temp goes too high or the power fails for some reason it will flash a warning on the lcd in big red letters. A gimmick really I guess, but I had free space on the lcd display so I thought "why not" It works off a 1.5V battery and communicates via a 433Mhz low power transmitter it's 50mm X 50mm 
Again they are only 3d previews, I have the boards but have to wait to get someone to solder them for me |
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| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Looking good Lewis! 
I see you got pretty good at Diptrace in a short time. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
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| lew247 Guru Joined: 23/12/2015 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1702 |
I'm a quick learner once I get helped on how to start I'm still no expert like yourself and your pcb's will always be better than mine. But I guess considering I didn't even know the programs name around 8 weeks ago, it's not bad. I still don't know how to make custom patterns/parts yet. The reason I made the outdoor unit 50 X 75mm is 50 X 50mm was just too small, it sounded great on paper but in my hand it was too tiny I just wish I could get the hang of programming and be able to do that as well.. |
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| spjoruss Newbie  Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 22 |
How are you coming along with the weather station? |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2932 |
@spjoruss I am assisting Lewis with the assembly of his PCBs and we are making progress. Lewis has redesigned one PCB, since the original had an undetectable short in the design (I believe a track and a pad/via were too close and left a short between the 3v3 & GND lines during the manufacturing process). New boards arrived from China in unbelievably quick time - just have to populate them today. Main PCB built, sent to Lewis, but then lost by Royal Mail on its way back to me for more 'assembly' - so I am building another PCB up as we speak. Fridge/Freezer PCBs had a minor PSU error resulting in a wire 'hack' (wasn't worth getting new boards for that). These PCBs run the MM firmware form a 1.5v battery as expected - just final sensor/communication testing (by Lewis) to be carried out. More parts arrived yesterday with me - namely a nice TFT to get the Main PCB set-up and working. No doubt Lewis will add his update too . . . . 
WW |
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| lew247 Guru Joined: 23/12/2015 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1702 |
I had to redo the outdoor unit as WhiteWizzard said, there was a short on the board that we couldn't find, so I repositioned some of the components and got rid of some via's and generally tidied up the pcb and hopefully it's fine now. I can't get working on the code properly until the pcb is populated as I don't have a micromite here with a big enough voltage regulator, it needs at least 500mA and ideally a 1A psu/regulator That is only for testing so I can have all the modules powered up at once and test everything. In normal use the power consumption will be much less. The fridge/freezer units, I had 2 pins backwards on the voltage converter so Phil very kindly swapped them with miniature wire. I have changed the circuit diagram/pcb layout so it's now correct. I know the code (mostly) for these units but I'm in no hurry with them as they are only a "fun" addon so the LCD unit can keep an eye on the fridge/freezer and if the door is left open or the power fails it will warn me (nothing to do with weather, I just thought it might be fun to add it) The LCD unit we had major problems with, Royal Mail "lost" the special delivery package that had the LCD, and the PCB in that I sent to Phil to be soldered up. I had to order a new LCD and some other bits and pieces and get a new board sent to Phil He is very kindly soldering them up for me, and sometime in the next week or so I should have them back here and I can start working on the code properly. I already have working code for the main part of the weather station, wind speed, direction, rainfall and so on, I also have code for all the sensors I will be using. I have to add all the code into one program, then get testing properly. Hopefully within the next month (wishful thinking maybe**) it will be all done and ready to post here. I can upload the circuit diagrams/pcb layouts if anyone wants me to. They are NOT as small as MicroBlocks unit above, but they are a realistic size that most people will be able to solder properly Outdoor unit 75mm X 50mm LCD Unit is the exact size to fit on the back of the 7" LCD panel (185mm X 110mm), but I have also done a smaller pcb for anyone who wants to use a smaller LCD The fridge/freezer sensors are 50mm X 50mm |
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| spjoruss Newbie Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 22 |
WhiteWizzard and lew247, are you talking about the weather station from this post? Weather Station I was asking about the one that MicroBlocks is developing but I am also glad to know about this one too. Thanks for the info. |
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| lew247 Guru Joined: 23/12/2015 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1702 |
Yes spjoruss but they are identical, the only difference as far as I am aware is Jean (Microblocks) is designing a board that is a lot smaller than mine but using the same circuit or was the last time we talked. |
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| spjoruss Newbie Joined: 01/02/2014 Location: United StatesPosts: 22 |
Oh, okay I didn't realize that. Thanks for letting me know. Very interesting project. |
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