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Author Topic: My adventures into the area of hardware.  (Read 1861 times)

Rose

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My adventures into the area of hardware.
« on: July 05, 2011, 11:03:55 am »
So a few weeks ago, my speedometer broke on my bike. rather than get the thing replaced, I decided to make myself a new one, using an arduino, and LCD screen, and some sensors.

so far, I've built the power supply, which will be used to give the arduino power.

here's pics:





This will connect to my bike, and give the arduino the power it needs, plus give just enough backup to save my odometer value before shutting off.

I'll be using this thread to update my progress.
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Jopax

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2011, 11:08:52 am »
In before Japa turns his bike into a time machine.
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Rose

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2011, 11:10:02 am »
Quote from: Jopax on July 05, 2011, 11:08:52 am
In before Japa turns his bike into a time machine.

Sadly, those are electrolytic capacitors, not flux capacitors.
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Strife26

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2011, 11:11:04 am »
Well, I'm sure that amongst us smart type forumites, we can cobble together some flux capacitors.
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Realmfighter

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2011, 09:02:39 pm »
It's not actually that hard. All you need is the power of Friendship! or SCEINCE! One of the two.

PS: SCIENCE has nothing to do with Science. Science is about boring tests and introspection and crap like that. SCIENCE on the other hand is about stealing something Macguffiny and yelling a lot.
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Rose

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2011, 09:07:04 am »
Progress!






I have now gotten far enough to test it properly, by connecting it to my bike. there's a little LED that blinks once per engine rev. this indicates that so far, everything works.
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Vertigon

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #6 on: July 06, 2011, 02:51:08 pm »
Does the floral design make it go faster? :P

I kid, that's pretty awesome.
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Ampersand

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2011, 04:47:07 am »
As someone who used to make these sorts of things in my previous employment, I have this advice to give. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THE POLARITY OF THOSE CAPACITORS BEFORE SOLDERING THEM TO THE BOARD.

Depending on the kind of power that's going through them, having the capacitors in backwards will make them explode. Although not particularly dangerous, as long as you have good ventilation, there will be a split second in the course of the explosion that you are dead certain that you have just been shot and are dying. It is also likely to shock the shit out of you.
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Rose

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #8 on: July 07, 2011, 04:53:06 am »
Yeah, don't worry, I checked that and double checked that. I don't have replacements for the big caps.
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PsyberianHusky

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2011, 05:54:55 am »
Quote from: Ampersand on July 07, 2011, 04:47:07 am
As someone who used to make these sorts of things in my previous employment, I have this advice to give. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THE POLARITY OF THOSE CAPACITORS BEFORE SOLDERING THEM TO THE BOARD.

Depending on the kind of power that's going through them, having the capacitors in backwards will make them explode. Although not particularly dangerous, as long as you have good ventilation, there will be a split second in the course of the explosion that you are dead certain that you have just been shot and are dying. It is also likely to shock the shit out of you.
On the subject of electronics, I got a starter kit for electronics and on evrey page in large letters it warns me about that,  Japa I hope to get to the level you are someday, doing practical things with electronics. If you do any other projects please post them.
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Rose

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2011, 02:48:12 pm »
Did a little bit more, but not much. connection is there for sensing if the turn signal is on, also there are status LEDs



« Last Edit: July 07, 2011, 03:06:52 pm by Japa »
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Rose

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2011, 01:05:48 pm »
Alas, I have run into issues.

the input voltage is higher than I had estimated.

goes up to 25.

which means that the 7805 DC regulator can't handle it.
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Virex

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2011, 01:07:26 pm »
Quote from: Japa on July 09, 2011, 01:05:48 pm
Alas, I have run into issues.

the input voltage is higher than I had estimated.

goes up to 25.

which means that the 7805 DC regulator can't handle it.
Would adding a resistance in between work, or would the higher impedance fuck things up?
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Rose

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2011, 03:55:17 pm »
I found a solution. a proper DC-DC converter, that will take 6-36v input voltage, and output a steady 5v, with proper efficiency, meaking little to no heat.

Only problem is that it'll take a while to ship because they just use regular postage.
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optimumtact

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Re: My adventures into the area of hardware.
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2011, 01:35:20 am »
One thing to watch out for is that the power levels can fluctuate around the actual stated values on your transformers, this is a good tutorial on the ripple and how to counter it, http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/57
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Quote from: greatorder on February 14, 2012, 10:40:03 am
alternately, I could just take some LSD or something...
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