V2 Gertboard photos and initial impressions

 Gertboard, Input and Output, interfacing, python programming  12 Responses »
Jan 242013
 
V2 Gertboard photos and initial impressions

My V2 Gertboard showed up today. I promised some photos yesterday, so here they are, along with some first impressions… Main visible differences from V1 are: CE and FCC marks Different fuse holder Different motor controller chip – surface mount All ICs are soldered directly to the board apart from the ATMega, which is socketed leds are surface mount there are pull-up resistors on the buffers the buttons are surface mount the DAC chip is teeny weeny and surface mount the regulator is surface mount The jumpers with grippy extension are very practical But the […more…]

V2 Gertboard Officially Adopts my Python Test Suite

 Gertboard, Input and Output, interfacing, python programming  24 Responses »
Jan 232013
 

I’ve been sitting on this for a while, but I’m now delighted to announce that the manual for the new Rev 2, fully assembled Gertboard, which officially went on sale yesterday, includes full documentation of my Python Gertboard Test Suite. I wrote the Python-specific sections and Myra’s done a great job of weaving them into the fully updated manual. You can download the new manual here You can download the Python Gertboard software here. The Python software was fully tested by Myra before Christmas on the only Rev 2 Gertboard in existence at the time. […more…]

The Self-resetting Raspberry Pi

 Input and Output, interfacing, Linux usage, python programming, raspberry pi, Raspberry Pi Hardware  13 Responses »
Dec 212012
 
The Self-resetting Raspberry Pi

Recipe for auto-reset Pi. Take one Rev 2 Raspberry Pi, a few carefully selected slices of fresh Python, one GPIO port (’25 vintage, preferably), one relay (a twin pack is OK, but not AA), one Darlington array (leave the spikes on), a sprinkling of mixed wires and arrange it all carefully with a breadboard. It should end up looking something like this… I decided to take the P6 reset header one step sillier further. Just for fun. ;) The idea here is to use one of the Pi’s own GPIO ports to switch a relay […more…]

Making a Reset Switch for your Rev 2 Raspberry Pi

 Input and Output, Raspberry Pi Hardware  85 Responses »
Dec 182012
 
Making a Reset Switch for your Rev 2 Raspberry Pi

One of the changes on the Rev 2 Raspberry Pi board, which I haven’t seen anybody write about yet, (apart from Eben in his original announcement) is the addition of two holes for a header at P6. These were added to enable a reset facility. Shorting those two pins together resets the processor. This was too good an opportunity for my curious mind to pass up, so I decided to add a 2 pin header there and try it out. As luck would have it It just so happened that last week I was given […more…]

Using a Darlington Array as an inverter for reverse polarity RGB leds

 Electronics, Input and Output, interfacing, raspberry pi  2 Responses »
Dec 142012
 
Using a Darlington Array as an inverter for reverse polarity RGB leds

RGB LED RIP :( Last week, I was wiring up a demo with a three colour RGB LED, and accidentally wired the pin for the red component straight to 3V3 (plugged it into the wrong port). It went “crackle” and then turned black. Ooops. Now it’s a GB LED, the red’s a gonner. :( “Dammit. I wanted to shoot a video with the Quick2Wire Interface running the RGB LED. It’s 7pm and if I order some they won’t be here for two days.” “Oh I know. I’ve got an RGB LED in an old Christmas […more…]

Quick2Wire Pi Interface Board Beta Review

 Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, Raspberry Pi Hardware, Review  6 Responses »
Dec 072012
 
Quick2Wire Pi Interface Board Beta Review

Quick2Wire Pi Interface (Beta) review The Quick2Wire Pi Interface Board is a new interface board for the Raspberry Pi. It’s not yet released, but it is in Beta. I managed to get hold of one of the Beta kits for research and review. :) I also had a chat with Romilly Cocking, Director of Quick2Wire (more on that at the end).   So, What’s in the kit? 1 PCB 1 Ribbon cable (nice colours) 4 jumpers 11 assorted headers 2 FETs 1 tantalum capacitor 1 LED 1 push button 3V3 voltage regulator 1 diode array […more…]

Pi controlled light and fan from mains power socket

 Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, raspberry pi, Raspberry Pi Hardware  50 Responses »
Nov 232012
 
Pi controlled light and fan from mains power socket

Don’t try this unless you know what you are doing. Mains electricity can kill you. Update Since publishing this blog post, I’ve had some feedback about the way I’ve done this and it needs improvements and a redesign to make it safer. Please don’t copy this. I’ve removed some photos so I’m not setting a bad example. Back to the original post Ever since getting my Gertboard in late September, I’ve been thinking about using a Raspberry Pi to switch “proper things”. By “proper things” I mean real, useful, BIG things using mains electricity. :eek: […more…]

Temperatures, light levels, pressure, logging, LCD, PCB – bringing it all together

 Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, raspberry pi, Raspberry Pi Hardware  8 Responses »
Nov 132012
 
Temperatures, light levels, pressure, logging, LCD, PCB - bringing it all together

Ever since getting the LCD working and temperature and light level logging using COSM and the Pi Cobbler, I’ve wanted to compact all of this onto a single add-on board. I’ve mentioned this in forum posts and other blog articles, but a part of me thought it wouldn’t happen. It took me a few weeks to bring it all together, but it’s finally done and it works :) The circuit I don’t have a full circuit diagram. I may try to put one together later. :) It’s a bit messy but I’ll try to describe […more…]

How to set up a Barometric pressure sensor BMP085 on Raspberry Pi with Raspbian

 Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, Raspberry Pi Hardware  17 Responses »
Nov 072012
 
How to set up a Barometric pressure sensor BMP085 on Raspberry Pi with Raspbian

Works with Raspbian hf Aug/Sept 2012 Under Pressure From previous blog posts, you’ll know I have a Raspberry Pi set up to read two temperature sensors and two light sensors (inside and outside) and log the data online at COSM Setting up temperature sensors and COSM feed But, as ever, “we want more than that!” So I thought it would be fun to add a barometric pressure sensor. Looking around, it seemed like the BMP085 was a good bet. Even better than that, Adafruit have written Python libraries for it and some setup instructions here. […more…]

 Older Entries  Newer Entries