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donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
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Posted: 10:08pm 26 Sep 2011

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Hmmmm....

I missed that myself Chuck.
http://olimex.com/dev/DUINO/DUINOMITE/DUINOMITE-MINI-REV-A.p df
I'll speak with Olimex.

If this is the case, it would be more sensible not to fit the DC connector at all, and push people into an AC to 5V USB supply that we spoke about in another thread.

I'll see what they say first.

Cheers Don...Edited by donmck 2011-09-28

https://www.dontronics.com

vasi

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Joined: 23/03/2007
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Posted: 10:27pm 26 Sep 2011

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Apart form a 7805 circuit, you can get 5V from any desktop computer, from inside (you can mount an external connector on) your case. Some Pinguino breadboards (mine too) are also based on 5V power source as don't include a regulator. But of course, if things remains as they are in this moment, a warning must be visible somewhere...

Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton
Elvish name: Mablung Miriel
Beyound Arduino Lang

donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
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Posted: 05:39am 27 Sep 2011

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[quote]On 27/09/2011 3:25 PM, Tsvetan Usunov - OLIMEX LTD wrote:
Hi
Yes, we use same connector on all boards but on MINI we use cheap linear voltage
regulator instead of DCDC as on Duinomite and Mega to bring the cost down.

This regulator have input voltage up to 12 V but if someone apply 9-12V it will not
last longer as will overheat.

I do not see any problem as 5V regulated adapters are common, we have lot of
development boards which are rated 5V input and I have not seen any complains so far.

If people are let to know that they should not apply more than 5V on MINI I guess
this will be no problem.

The board can be powered from the USB too with cheap $2 adapters with USB cable and
5V output

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Adapter-Wall-Charger-iPhone-3G-4 G-iPod-Touch-nano-US-Plug-5V-1A-Black-/320764260784?pt=Other _MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item4aaf0a31b0#ht_2902wt_954

[/quote]

Thanks Tsvetan,

I'll post your answer to the forum.

I know there are many development boards with 5V only input, but as these all have
the same basic name, and the same input type plug, I will make it obvious on my mini
product page.

And I have also spoken about the cheap USB to +5V adapters.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/USB-AC-Power-Supply-Wall-Adapter- Travel-Charger-AU-Plug-/200527522594?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccess ories&hash=item2eb05f2b22

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/USB-Home-Wall-AC-Charger-Apple-iP %20od-iPhone-DB3-/220748143328?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccessories& has%20h=item33659d5ae0

Cheers Don...
Edited by donmck 2011-09-28

https://www.dontronics.com

elproducts

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Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 282

Posted: 02:41am 28 Sep 2011

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Hope he's right but I think it would have been better to include a 5v regulator on board.

There was space.
The 1w leaded 6.8v zener and space above the power selector could have easily been a standup 5v 7805 and a small SMD cap.

Get rid of the hole and you might have space for a surface mount regulator.
I'd rather have that than a hole if the extra space was needed.

The whole point of the keyboard and VGA on board allows you to program without a PC USB port.
And not all 5v power adapters are regulated.
A 5v battery source is tough to find for a portable application.
An external voltage regulator like Vasi suggested may be the only option.

www.elproducts.com

donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
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Posts: 1313

Posted: 05:40am 28 Sep 2011

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Thanks Chuck, I'll pass your comments onto Tsvetan at Olimex

Cheers Don...

https://www.dontronics.com

sparkey

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Joined: 15/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 819

Posted: 06:36am 28 Sep 2011

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ok the big question 'how long before they hit the market"...

regards sparkey......

technicians do it with least resistance

donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
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Posts: 1313

Posted: 06:47am 28 Sep 2011

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Waiting on the firmware Sparkey, I think we are at the final testing stages now.

Mini will be the first one, but it could be a month.

Will be loaded with V2.5, and V2.7 will be released for it AFTER Geoff prints his article in Silicon Chip magazine.

Cheers Don...Edited by donmck 2011-09-29

https://www.dontronics.com

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2914

Posted: 11:23am 28 Sep 2011

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elproducts said One thing I noticed in the Duinomite schematics is the Duinomite - Mini has a power adapter plug the same as Duinomite - mega and Duinomite but it doesn't have the same regulator circuit.
The Duinomite - Mini needs a pure 5v input while Mega and Duinomite accept 9-30v.

That's a bit confusing.
How many people have a pure 5v input power adapter.
You can't even make 5v with a stack of batteries.

That looks like a future complaint to me.

Hi Chuck,

4 x 1.2V NiCd batteries would work fine for it and 4 x 1.5V with a series diode would also work fine so the battery situation is not really an issue.

I see 5VDC `wall wart' plug packs quite a bit in my work equipment so I dont see it as a problem personally...

Also even though 9-30V is quoted I would not want to use more than about 12V input, any more would generate too much heat.

There are heaps of cheap 5vdc chargers and car cig. chargers and a cheap cable can be made to power it.

I believe that Don/Olimex wish to market these at a `basement price' to encourage interest in the `big brothers' so a few compromises had to be made and that was one of them. The MINI as is would be great for students and hobbiests as a learning aid.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

elproducts

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Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 282

Posted: 12:51pm 28 Sep 2011

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bigmik said The MINI as is would be great for students and hobbiests as a learning aid.

Regards,

Mick

That is the my area of concern. How many students or beginners get it and quickly plug in a 12v power adapter and cause some damage. I don't have one to test but I suspect that zener will fail instantly. Don't know if the higher voltage will damage the PIC32 pins on the keyboard connections since they have larger resistors.
I've already recommended this board to many beginners. I just don't see that a 5v regulator would have put this over the top price wise and its a lot easier to plug a 9v battery in since there are loads of those cables are around very cheap for Arduino.
4- Lithiums is probably the best advice. Good idea.

www.elproducts.com

bigmik

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Posted: 09:04pm 28 Sep 2011

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elproducts said
That is the my area of concern. How many students or beginners get it and quickly plug in a 12v power adapter and cause some damage.

I do think your concern is valid but I dont think it can be overcome at this late stage.

I do think that maybe Don/Olimex will have to label it clearly, say with a clearly printed sticker or note attached to the PCB when it is sent out. That should clear things up..

Maybe there is a Market for Don/Olimex to include a `wall wart' as an Option.

People do have to be careful in any case that they chose an appropriate plug pack, many are AC and some DC ones are reverse polarity. And many more DC ones are not filtered well and will cause problems.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

elproducts

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Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 282

Posted: 02:35am 29 Sep 2011

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Don,
I recommended your SM1 Maximite to a few people so hopefully you get some sales off it.
Overall they thought the SM1 was a great place to start with Maximite without having to wait for these new boards.

www.elproducts.com

donmck

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Posted: 01:48pm 29 Sep 2011

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elproducts said Don,
I recommended your SM1 Maximite to a few people so hopefully you get some sales off it.
Overall they thought the SM1 was a great place to start with Maximite without having to wait for these new boards.

Thanks Chuck.

Just a quick note as I may not be able to steer the direction of the new boards too much right now.

Ended up in Darwin hospital today with a kidney stone problem, so I appear to be out of action for a few days. Actually just testing myself to see if I can type and think. I certainly can't stand, but hope to be on top of things in a few days.

Cheers Don...

https://www.dontronics.com

CircuitGizmos

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Joined: 08/09/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 1425

Posted: 05:19pm 29 Sep 2011

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donmck said
Ended up in Darwin hospital today with a kidney stone problem, so I appear to be out of action for a few days. Actually just testing myself to see if I can type and think. I certainly can't stand, but hope to be on top of things in a few days.

Cheers Don...

Best of luck to you, Don. I just went through the same thing.

Here is a pic for you:

Edited by CircuitGizmos 2011-10-01

Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite

jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711

Posted: 06:18pm 29 Sep 2011

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Hope you get Well Don

Regards

John

donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313

Posted: 02:31am 30 Sep 2011

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Thanks CG and John, and everyone that sent me PMs also.

I am feeling 200% better today, but now I still have to pass the stone.

Not sure what that really means, but according to hospital staff, apparently the pain I have already suffered, is about the same as having a baby.

Does that mean I will no longer look pregnant when this is all over?

Cheers Don...

https://www.dontronics.com

sparkey

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Joined: 15/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 819

Posted: 02:42am 30 Sep 2011

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i dont know if its the same as gawel stones but they can use ultraasonic`s to break them up ...passing thought but kidney stone seems odd kidney`s filter the blood ...maybe i`m mistaken but "they make you grow old they dont let you die .... it sucks all the best sparkey.......

also can`t waight till your back in the "loop" one might say ..great things are awaiting....Edited by sparkey 2011-10-01

technicians do it with least resistance

elproducts

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Joined: 19/06/2011
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Posts: 282

Posted: 03:01am 30 Sep 2011

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Don,
Never had it but I know its painful.
Get well.

www.elproducts.com

CircuitGizmos

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Posted: 06:48pm 30 Sep 2011

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donmck said
Not sure what that really means, but according to hospital staff, apparently the pain I have already suffered, is about the same as having a baby.

When I had my stones my wife argued that having a baby "had to be" worse.

Since that time I've talked to at least a dozen women that had both maladies and backed up the claim that having stones was worse.

Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite

rhamer
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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 174

Posted: 06:12am 01 Oct 2011

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Only those that have had kidney stones really understand the pain.

I've had them 6 times

Hopefully you will just pass them, which you won't even feel, because the way they go in to get them will make any man cringe.

Cheers

Rohan

Rohan Hamer
HAMFIELD Software & Hardware Solutions

Makers of the Maximite Expander.

http://www.hamfield.com.au

donmck

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Posts: 1313

Posted: 08:12am 01 Oct 2011

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rhamer said
Hopefully you will just pass them, which you won't even feel, because the way they go in to get them will make any man cringe.

Cheers
Rohan

thanks Rohan,

I just got out of hospital again, pain got too much. Missed the grand final.

Darwin doesn't have the laser blasting technology, so Qantas willing, I fly home to Melbourne Tuesday, and if I am still in trouble, they will blast them for me back home.

With the average age of our group, it looks very much like we could do medical advisories on the side.

Cheers Don...

https://www.dontronics.com

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