My Motors got me to Tap into Radiant Energy

[Hitby13kw]

John Stone data acquisition unit ~ next step

The next step in our data acquisition system is centered around the Adafruit 4 channel ADC board, https://www.adafruit.com/products/1085 a fully expanded system could support 4 of these boards for a total of 16 channels, more details can be gleamed by reading this pdf file http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad =rja&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flearn.adafruit .com%2Fdownloads%2Fpdf%2Fadafruit-4-channel-adc-breakouts.pdf&ei=mq8WUqCPG8Hv2QW-1oC4Aw&usg=AFQjCNEFYkeNocBwsgb6eNmd5NFRKQfKFA&bvm= bv.51156542,d.aWM

To have any code we create work correctly the first thing you are going to have to do is import a new Library into the Arduino (start reading http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Libraries to get a sense of what we are doing) a copy of the needed Library and all the files necessary can be found and converted from https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_ADS1X15

Feel free to do all these steps, but to try and make it a bit more user friendly we have put a copy of all the folders and files you need at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vv2yzp02fuaiw9d/fY7XZrHg5F Just copy it all into the Arduino/Libraries folder on your PC. Then the next time you restart the Arduino IDE, navigate to Sketch > Import Library and you will see Adafruit_ADS1X15 has been added to the menu. Also if you look at File > Examples > Adafruit_ADS1X15 you will find that sample code showing how to do Comparator, Differential, & Single-ended readings has been added. For our first setup we will be doing single-ended readings with channels 0 & 1 but this could easily be expanded to whatever we want.

@John Stone ~ looking for the needed drivers for the BT board that you recommended, we may have to find another version of that hardware (unless you have a copy of them John) no worries mate ~ always have a plan B . . .

Hitby13kw

Research continues,

Last century you were not sophisticated unless you lived in a house with Hot & Cold running water, the tables are about to turn, we plan to make this century go into the history books as the time every house gets wired for Hot & Cold electricity.

[prochiro]

Jumpers

Cornboy
Yes, I do see two more jumpers there also. Not sure why they were put there as there is room for regular copper but they are there now so put them in.
Dana

[Cornboy 555]

Monster Jumpers.

Hello all, as you know my problem with the monster board was a jumper to GND, there seems to be two more jumpers to do with feeding the opto, is that correct?.

Have enclosed pics, hope they are clear enough.

Thanks Cornboy.

[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

[Cornboy 555]

Demeter.

CornBoy How do you keep the Corn Borers out of your corn ? Do you use IMIDACLOPRID ?
Or some other toxic chemical ? Or are you not in a Borer area ? Do you plant at times in
the season to avoid them ? Or use BT Corn ?

I'm interested to hear how you deal with them in larger crops without using
Chemical Pesticides.

Cheers

Hello Farmhand,we probably shouldn't take up space here, because this is dedicated to control electronics, but to answer your question.

I am certified Bio-Dynamic farmer, the thought of even using Round-up is foreign thinking to me, i have found that all things start with the soil, look after it and the rest falls into place.

The corn i grow is for stock feed for my free range chickens for eggs, and a little damage is completely acceptable, in fact i have more damage from hungry critters, like crows and rodents, than from anything.

The overriding theme of a Biologically - Dynamic farm is one that is self contained as possible, i have managed to close the loop on my farm except for packaging and of course energy, but i'm working on that as you know.

My soil is at such a level now that i have double cropped my growing areas, 5 yrs without any fertiliser inputs, except the anual Bio-Dynamic Preparations, which cost $1.20/ acre.

The garlic, in the pics that i have posted on threads, was planted into completely unfertilised soil.

Of course the local feed companies and chemical resellers, are not too friendly with me, but i can live with that.

If you wish to know more on Bio-Dynamic farming, go to Demeter.org.au

Warm Regards Cornboy.

[Farmhand]

CornBoy How do you keep the Corn Borers out of your corn ? Do you use IMIDACLOPRID ?
Or some other toxic chemical ? Or are you not in a Borer area ? Do you plant at times in
the season to avoid them ? Or use BT Corn ?

I'm interested to hear how you deal with them in larger crops without using
Chemical Pesticides.

Cheers

[Cornboy 555]

Got 5v

Hello all, Deeerrr, it was the jumper, i removed the reg and caps, and tested for shorts everywhere.

Good practise, never used a sucker before!

@ John Stone, ready for next step, please don't feel bad about not being here, all the time, we all have human things to tend to.

@ DANA, thanks for your help on this, as you have experienced first hand, i am not very knowledgable on electronics, i am a learner.

We really do have a great team here.

Thanks, Cornboy.

[prochiro]

Hello Zardox
All will work but the Leonardo is what most are using and I have seen some on Ebay this week around ten dollars. If you are going to get into sensors also, get two.
Dana

[Zardox]

looking on Amazon at different Arduino boards and am a bit lost. Which one should I get?

[MyungCalvert]

Have you ever heard about the RF jammer kit? And do you know in what aspects it can be used for and where can be the best place to own one high quality and multi-functional RF jammer? If so it is really necessary for you to come, stop your step here and know more about RF Jammer, and seize the chance of getting this high quality product from here.

[JohnStone]

Hi Cornboy,
sorry for answering late. I as not available last days.
I guess the center pin at 7805 reads 11.5V as well .
What you see is typical for a voltage regulator with GND leg not being connected. This leg gives the reference for 5V. If it is open all voltages float up like air bubbles in water. Their ceiling is some mV below input voltage.

Check-1: Yes, jumper is essential - I checked layout today. Sorry I didn't mention it. Jumpers are not part of the schematic because they can be inserted deliberately if required when doing the PCB layout.

If still having problems:

Check-2:
- Connect your meter GND lead to GND at power-in connector.
- Measure at center leg of 7805 at solder side and directly at leg on component side. If you have any difference the leg is not soldered correctly.

[prochiro]

Cornboy
I do not see the jumper placed in which is just above the MIC4452YN label. That is part of the 5v circuit. Maybe that would help.

[Cornboy 555]

Thanks DANA, the caps are ceramic RS # 5373909, will remove 7805 and check.

Cornboy.

[prochiro]

@Cornboy
If all the above does not help, take out the 5v ic and power up. Measure the copper leads where ic was and if there is 12v at more than one post, something is wrong with the board.
Dana

[prochiro]

Cornboy
I have also checked your board diagram, also your larger caps are OK. What are those yellow caps. they should be ceramic and look light brown and thin like disks. Are those electrolytic: Maybe yours are ceramic and are good but that is all I can see that is different than mine. The only other think it could be is to trace the copper leads back and see if the copper is shorted by solder or overlaid incorrectly.
Again,I ask, has anybody else put one or these together or not. I ordered eight some time ago and have not received so much as a boo from this company.
Dana

[Cornboy 555]

hmmm

Thanks for your help guy's, had a chance to look at it again, all tracks look to be same as JS did, all electrolitic caps are in correct polarity, when voltage testing, the 7812 is 25.3v in, 12.02v out, and caps show same voltages, on positive leg and zero on negative leg.

The big difference with 7805, is vin 12.02 vout 11.4, but the caps show these voltages on pos leg and neg leg.

there is probably some simple reason for this, but at this point it escapes me.

Need to do some urgent farm work, will get back to it tonight.

Thanks Muchly Cornboy.

PS. could it be a faulty capacitor leaking to earth?