fantastic sounding raspberry pi solenoid sequencer

 Electronics, Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, Raspberry Pi Hardware  4 Responses »
Jan 302013
 
fantastic sounding raspberry pi solenoid sequencer

I went along to the Oxford Raspberry Jam last night at RS HQ. There were several impressive demos. But this one was definitely the best sounding of the lot. Peter Andrew has put together a solenoid sequencer (a bit like a drum machine) which is driven by a python script on a raspberry pi. He’s also written an android app to program the beat with his Nexus 7 tablet. Solenoids are pulsed to make them strike a tin can, a jar lid, a small glass jar and a saucepan lid. The saucepan lid sounds wonderful. […more…]

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…]

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…]

Gertboard software in Python 2.7 – part 2 – ocol and buttons

 Gertboard, Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, Raspberry Pi Hardware  6 Responses »
Nov 052012
 

Download Python Gertboard Programs ocol – Open Collector – Darlington Array Relay Driver I’ve managed to get the open collector ocol program written in Python. The ocol program drives the Darlington Array on the Gertboard. This can be used to switch up to 6 relays, each on a separate GPIO port. I’ve managed to write versions for both wiringpi for python (ocol-wp.py) and RPi.GPIO (ocol-rg.py) They are both included in the download link, which will always contain the most up to date versions. Here’s a comparison video of Gert’s ocol program running first, then my […more…]

Gertboard software in Python 2.7 – part 1 – motor and leds programs

 Gertboard, Input and Output, interfacing, python programming, raspberry pi, Raspberry Pi Hardware  13 Responses »
Nov 022012
 

Download Python Gertboard Programs I’ve been having a go at producing Python 2.7 versions of some of the Gertboard test suite. It’s partly as a learning experience for me and one which I hope will help others too. Which GPIO? Why not both? There’s two different ways to handle GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) in Python at the moment… Ben Croston’s RPi.GPIO Gordon Henderson’s WiringPi (Python Wrapper by Gadgetoid) The ultimate aim is to have versions of the Python programs using both systems. As a file naming convention, we’ll take the name from the original […more…]

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