Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
2019-08-03 7:10 pm
My name is Bill. I am a retired engineer and inventor. I was employed for 39 years by a major medical device and component manufacturer. During my career I had the opportunity to learn BASIC and machine language programming, 3D modeling, FORTRAN and electronics. My experience with electronics is limited but I am improving. I recently built a digital clock from scratch using counters, digital logic and 1.8" 7-segment displays. I can't take credit for the circuit design. It took long hours of research and testing to cobble together a breadboard design that worked. I was so proud of myself that I designed a PCB, ordered some boards and began building clocks for Xmas presents. Now I am moving on to robotics. I have watched all the 14 videos for the DB-1 project and have begun purchasing hardware, etc. I am going to use the project as a learning experience for my 12 year old grandson. By the way, are there any new videos I don't know about? Bill, chime in here. I am very interested in seeing the DB-1 fully operational.
ps- I have experience with the care and handling of LiPo batteries and will be happy to share my knowledge with anyone who is interested.
2019-08-03 7:37 pm
Welcome aboard Bill!
We are all anxiously awaiting Episode 15. It's summertime and Bill has a list of chores to get completed before winter sets arrives in the northern climes of Canada, so new videos have been rather few and far between for the last few weeks. But have no fear he has been working on more videos and as a soon as editing gets completed we'll get to see them and then wish for more.
I'm sure we will all be appreciative of your LiPo battery background since, as you can tell, we haven't tackled that subject yet, but will have to before we can remove the umbilical cord that we, or at least I, have supllying power to DB1.
SteveG
Topic starter
2019-08-03 8:15 pm
Thanks for the welcome Steve. I just finished my shopping list. Everything is on order except the Open MV Cam M8 and 9A, 12V fuses. Some hardware has already arrived. I'm still looking for a Open MV Cam M8 and the fuses. Do you have a sources? I must have missed it but didn't hear the specs for the fuses on the 5V bus. What are you using?
Bill
2019-08-03 10:24 pm
Bill, I'm not using any cameras at the moment on Willy Nilly, but tried today to unsuccessfully load up an ESP32-CAM but only succeeded in turning my FTDI to TTL converter into toast. The camera is still an unknown until a new converter shows up!
For my fuses, I ordered a set of these from Marlin P. Jones & Associates: Fuse Assortment
I used these fuse holders on my power distribution board: Fuse Holders
Here is a photo of power distribution board and the motor control board:
And right now, although still experimenting with fuse sizes I have 8A on the incoming 5V line, 10A on the incoming 12V line and 5A on each of my motors. Still need to do some real current measuring under some loads.
SteveG
2019-08-03 10:44 pm
There was some discussion about fuse sizes. It seems like some experimentation is going to be needed before we know best values, so an assortment is recommended. Somewhere about 8amp makes sense for the 12v line, but I have no idea about the 5v. Standard fuses come in two sizes either 20mm or 30mm, so be sure to get an assortment that fits your fuse holders. Something like this (for 30mm) ought to cover it.
Magic&shell 72 PCS 6x30mm Quick Blow Glass Fuse Fast-Blow Glass Fuses Assorted Kits with Plastic Box 250V 0.5-30A https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NJFGPXH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_c4GrDbGCGR1R3
Topic starter
2019-08-04 1:30 am
Thanks Steve for the pic of your custom boards. You used a PCB, nice. I ordered the fuse holders and an assortment of fuses.
Bill
Topic starter
2019-08-04 1:36 am
Thanks for the reply. I checked out amazon and discovered I needed a 5 x 20 mm fuse to match the holders I ordered.
Bill