The big TEC driver thread!

[LaNeK779]

This is getting better and better every day!!!!!

i just wish there is a noob module available, too

[dnar]

This is getting better and better every day!!!!!

i just wish there is a noob module available, too

There is! I mailed you 5 units today, and with the Solarfire V1.0 design we will have a good noob friendly unit that most people could solder themselves or even breadboard on Vero board...

[LaNeK779]

that most people could solder themselves or even breadboard on Vero board...

this i like a lot!!! smd might be the way to go for later versions, but a through-hole design is more user friendly for the unequiped unterfunded hobbist

[Badpip]

this i like a lot!!! smd might be the way to go for later versions, but a through-hole design is more user friendly for the unequiped unterfunded hobbist

SMD isn't that bad... Just requires a flux pen, a temperature controlled soldering iron, and a steady hand

That said, I generally stick to 0805, and only use 0603 if it can't be avoided... Smaller than that, my eyes give up

/Thomas

[dnar]

That said, I generally stick to 0805, and only use 0603 if it can't be avoided... Smaller than that, my eyes give up

/Thomas

That is my problem as I get older... The really fine pitch IC's do my head in. If I use my big ass bench looking eye it's ok, until I bring the iron in!!! I can't solder under big mono glass! Lack of stereoscopic vision is hard to work with... That's why I send most rework out these days... 0.1" PTH is luxury for old farts, although I am sure the day will come when even that is hard to deal with!!! Bring back valves and tag strips lol!!!!

[Badpip]

That is my problem as I get older... The really fine pitch IC's do my head in.

Those are actually pretty easy - solder a corner pin to anchor it, drown the thing in way too much flux, put a (small) drop of tin on the soldering iron, and drag it across the pins of the chip... The flux will drag the solder to the pins like a magnet, avoiding bridges
/Thomas

[Solarfire]

That is my problem as I get older... The really fine pitch IC's do my head in. If I use my big ass bench looking eye it's ok, until I bring the iron in!!! I can't solder under big mono glass! Lack of stereoscopic vision is hard to work with... That's why I send most rework out these days... 0.1" PTH is luxury for old farts, although I am sure the day will come when even that is hard to deal with!!! Bring back valves and tag strips lol!!!!

Ok sleepless in Austrailia.. here's the prelim on the V2.0 hardware so you'll have something to lean on when you can't sleep at night. Gimmi some feedback.
Schematic's not pretty yet.. I'll get to that when the hardware is confirmed.

Here you can choose from mega8, 48, 88, 168...
I took the MAX233 just to save the caps. It would have taken up the same space anyway. Still a few pins of the MCU which are not connected yet (AGND,AVCC).
Might have to upgrade the 5V Vreg too... As I said, prelim..

[dnar]

Ok Sleepless in Germany, I'll have a butchers hook over the next few days. Time to get drunk as it's my 47th orbit of Sol today. I would not like to see this finalised until V1.0 is nailed.

BTW, with your Maxim choice, take a look at pricing. The MAX233 is something like 3 x the cost of MAX232A.

[Badpip]

Ok sleepless in Austrailia.. here's the prelim on the V2.0 hardware so you'll have something to lean on when you can't sleep at night. Gimmi some feedback.
Schematic's not pretty yet.. I'll get to that when the hardware is confirmed.

Here you can choose from mega8, 48, 88, 168...
I took the MAX233 just to save the caps. It would have taken up the same space anyway. Still a few pins of the MCU which are not connected yet (AGND,AVCC).
Might have to upgrade the 5V Vreg too... As I said, prelim..

Looking good

/Thomas

[Badpip]

Time to get drunk as it's my 47th orbit of Sol today.

Happy birthday

/Thomas