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Topic starter
2025-01-29 6:50 pm
I spotted this little gem a while back and due to shipping delays and illness have not got around to doing anything with it. Here is the link to the board and display LINK and here is the link to one of the possible boards to drive it LINK that is the RP2040, but you can also use the RP2350 and a few esp32s, but I would stick with the RP2040 (I think some things don't work with esp32s) and support is coming for SAMD. I just soldered on the XIAO hdrs, still need to do the hdrs for the usual power power selectors and a triple hdr in the middle I have not figured out the purpose of yet. I will post more later. I need to set up a circuit on the breadboard so I an show the stats screen and the chart screen. Anyone have a suggestion?
First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's & MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.
2025-01-29 11:41 pm
I had initial problem following links, but they seem to work now. I now have a better idea of the board. Not what I originally thought but it seems ok.
If you have a cheap servo tester, you might want to try that with like a Nano. You can try powering the Nano from the 5V and the 3,3 rail and check the results. on a meter if you have that too. You can vary the servos for comparison as well.
The one who has the most fun, wins!
Topic starter
2025-01-30 1:34 am
@tfmccarthy Ah, good idea, I do have a servo tester. I have a bad solder connection that I need to fix but thought I should leave it till tomorrow.
First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's & MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.
Topic starter
2025-01-30 6:59 pm
@tfmccarthy Here is the XIAO PowerBread doing it's thing. I am just powering a servo tester using the continuous mode. The first pic is a line graph of current (I think) and the second is a stats display of something. I haven't looked at the code enough yet to understand what the stats are but if/when I absolutely need to know I will dig into the code. If anyone is interested or just curious, the code is available on github at https://github.com/nicho810/XIAO-PowerBread
There may be more to display that I have not discovered yet, and the software is still being developed and improved.
NOTE: There is a right way and wrong way to plug the unit into a breadboard. Either read the very tiny print or use a VOM on the breadboard power rails
BTW, if anyone is competent with github, please contact me via PM, I have a few questions.
This post was modified 2 months ago by Ron
First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's & MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.
2025-01-31 1:55 am
Interesting. That looks like what I recall reading in the specs.
You're reaction?
You like it?
Gonna keep it?
Gonna use it?
My reaction is I'd use it as my standard breadboard PS just because the broad measurements are always available.
The one who has the most fun, wins!
Topic starter
2025-01-31 2:28 am
@tfmccarthy I think it has a use, I still need to understand what the line graph is of but I can't see it being anything other than current or power. The stats I am going to have to read the source code to understand as I think I have seen all the doc'n, but tomorrow I will send an email asking these questions.
I am really impressed by the small size of the SEEED products, and I found some of them on Aliexpress for under $10CDN including shipping. Bill did a VIDEO on the SEEED equivalent of esp32cam and I have tested it just fine. It is roughly 1/6 the size and although I haven't tested it (will do with the PowerBread) I bet it uses less power which means better battery life for the camera.
I will be looking at their entire product line and expect they will become my #1 supplier for MCU's at least.
First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's & MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
My personal scorecard is now 1 PC hardware fix (circa 1982), 1 open source fix (at age 82), and 2 zero day bugs in a major OS.