Right now I am waiting on heat sink material so we can start testing the regulator with 5-10A continuous. I have done a few tests without and managed to burn transistors. My small fan’s do help a lot, so I expect a combination of heat sinks and fan’t to do Wonders. Heat dissipation is the…
Category: Embedded Development
PLC – Ethernet Module 2
Looks like the GSM module will be added to the Ethernet Module. Found several modules in price from 1.27 to 4 USD. Basically UART operated with support of GSM + GPRS, TCP/IP, UDP/IP, SMS etc. The cheapest kit is data only, but some of the others include voice as well. More important is that datasheets…
PLC – Ethernet Module
The block diagram above show the Ethernet module. Starting with a dual RS-X to the backbone and a SPI based W5500 for Ethernet connectivity. In addition we add a ESP-12 for Wifi, SPI Flash for storage and a RTC battery & oscillator as well as the mandatory SWD connector. I hope to have a 3D…
PLC – All In One Home Central
A Modular PLC system will have some size & cost, and as a home central should be small, easy to hide and low cost it might be wise to produce a specialized “All In One” solution. The diagram above illustrate the content with “backbone” replaced by a MCU. The C firmware will basically only be…
PLC Backbone Block Diagram
Using STM32F405RG on everything is an overkill, but I can always consider dropping down to STM32F105RB/C later. This M4 gives us a powerfully MCU on each module capable of truly distributed processing as we are promoting in Plain. Ethernet Module is what I have started on now. This will host a STM32F405RG, 2 RS-485’s for…
PLC Module – Mechanic scetch
I am toying with using my 3D printer to (1) print a module box and (2) to print PCB holders as illustrated above. This was an early draft – the idea is that you push the module in and use a screwdriver to mount it – I need to look for low cost alternatives here…
New Micro PLC Backbone
My previous backbone board had to little space between connectors + no connection for PSU & communication – this one has 10mm between connectors which is more realistic – thought I still expect one Add-On board to use ca 20mm width. The total width “as is” is 100mm, so it is still very small. I…
SMD versus Hole Through
This came as a surprise to me – it is only 1,5 years ago I started doing SMD electronics. My previous experience had only been hole through technology. But, as hole through have so many limitations I decided to jump in and give it a try – the first component I tried was a LQFP48…
Lab PSU 0-30V /10A – Part 12
The good thing about a blog is that it is excellent for notes – if I make my work-notes here they are called “documentation” 
The following are programming notes for the PSU Control Board: PA10 – GPIO J1-4 Relay 1 – Connect extra 12V – 36V If Relay 2 is On. PA9 – GPIO…
Lab PSU 0-30V /10A – Part 11
This pic shows my analogue regulator. You can see the 2 transistors and a fan in the back and my DIY load array on top left. I am actually quite happy with this after I mounted it on a proper PSU source in. The only things left is to get the current regulator working, but…