Project Logs

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• 6-6-19 Status

  Bill Eckman • 06/07/2019 at 02:17 • 0 comments

  6-6-19:  I updated the schematic and layout with the following changes. 
  

  REV -01 Changes:
  1.  Changed high current drive connector      to 2.54mm spacing.
  2.  Changed D1 to 4.3V.
  3.  Added reset switch.
  4.  Added GPIO0 switch for bootloading.
  5.  Changed LED connector to connector
       with 2.54mm spacing.
  6.  USB device changed to FT231.
  7.  Added ESPtool compatible reset circuit.
  8.  Changed R12 to 10k.
  9.  Changed green LED to a different type.

  So far the testing is going well without issues.  ESP compatible reset circuit makes uploading files a lot smoother.
  
  

  
  

• Driving RGB strips and a motor simultaneously.

  Bill Eckman • 05/03/2019 at 00:31 • 0 comments

• 5-2-19 Status

  Bill Eckman • 05/03/2019 at 00:05 • 0 comments

  So far so good with the debugging. I’ve verified that the board can drive Neopixel dotstars, RGB, RGBW leds and motors. I also verified that the SD can be used in MicroPython.

• April 23rd Status

  Bill Eckman • 04/23/2019 at 10:11 • 0 comments

  The board is assembled.  No major issues.  There are three minor issues that will be fixed in the next revision of the PCB.

  • C17,18,19 are specified as 0805 but have a larger package size.  This should be fixed on the next revision, or larger parts specified on the BOM.
  • R31 Silkscreen is hidden by TP1.  This should be fixed on the next revision.
  • The silkscreen for R35 and R36 is swapped.  This should be fixed on the next revision.

  I powered the board from a 15V power supply.  No issues with power were found.

  I loaded Micropython on the ESP32 over the USB port.  No issues were found.  I successfully setup the ESP to connect to the network over wifi.  I will continue development and testing.

• March 31 2019 Project Status

  Bill Eckman • 04/01/2019 at 02:25 • 0 comments

  All parts and PCB's have been ordered.  I'll be assembling boards soon.  I'd like to develop an open source web based interface for controlling LED strips, and I'm looking for contributors.  The web UI is for non-coders who want a higher level of programmability than is currently available on other controllers.  If you're interested, let me know.  I plan on putting this on Tindie when it's ready.  In addition to the standard color and pattern controls, it would be cool if the web interface had advanced features like:

  • Pattern builder - allows the user to build, play, and save patterns without coding.
  • LED matrix output - build and play images to a LED matrix 
  • Integrated POV (persistence of vision) controller using the hardware to drive motor and LED's simultaneously.
  • Motor driver interface for driving motors from other applications via web sockets.

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