Thanks guys, I have given up with batchPCB after what I have read on their forum also. Can't believe they are so slow to fix their processing issues.

Have ordered from OSH park instead, looks and sounds promising I have noticed an error by me already, there appears to be silk screen on the resistor pads whoops. I uploaded the .brd file instead of messing around with the gerbers - I wonder if that is why it happened?

Hi all. I'd like to get some PCB's made up as I have never done it before.

I decided to start with something simple, and proven, so I decided to try the Sparkfun WS2801 breakout board from here https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10504

I downloaded the EAGLE files, made a few small changes to the silkscreen and then started to follow the Sparkfun tutorial https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/109. I used the job cam file that they link to also http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorial/BeginningEmbedded/9-EaglePCBs/sfe-gerb274x.cam

I exported the files, zipped up the 7 and uploaded to batch PCB. But I get a failed DRC check it mentions traces to small on top copper I think, so I went back to the layout and increased all trace sizes to 0.016 and tried again, but I got the same result?

I thought maybe I had messed something up, so I opened the standard Eagle files from Sparkfun and tried again without making any changes but it still failed the DRC check once I uploaded it?

I'm really stuck now  

Hi all. I have recently started playing with a ODB2 bluetooth adapter and android mobile. It works well but obviously I would like to be able to connect a arduino somehow

I have found a few results around the net, but can't find much on the hardware side of things?

What is the easiest way to start, hacking a can to bluetooth adapter maybe?

very cool Nick, nice write up too. Thanks for sharing

I'll look into those a bit more, thanks! And say I were to only hook up two LEDS? Could the Uno supply enough power for that? Thanks!

No problem. providing the LED's you are using are 20mA per colour, the uno should just handle it (40mA per pin) but it is borderline.

If you want all LED's to do the same thing, you could just connect their legs together.

But of course the Uno will not supply enough current for 4 LED's so you will have to use some transistors. I use something like BC337's for tasks like this.

Other than that you could use some shift registers and the ShiftPWM library, or some TLC5940 PWM drivers to free up arduino pins and have all the LED's addressable.

 

very nice project! Looks like you power if from mains and have a transformer inside. have you measured power consumption at idle and with heat on?

You might want to check out the tlc5947.  More channels, easier to use.  Only hurdle is mounting it b/c it only comes in surface mount packages.

Wow just checked it out, 24 channels on one chip is pretty epic! SMD is not a problem for me to solder but I'm not sure if I could etch some PCB's with that pitch hmmm.

Do you think the standard TLC5940 library would need much tweeking?

I would also be interested in how you mounted the LED's? Did you just use 1 RGB LED per step or more than one? I see that the TLC5940 can sink plenty of current so I'm considering using 2 or 3 per step.

Thanks!

Hi thanks! This is the circuit I want to build using the BC337's

http://www.theledart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Color-Organ-Triple-Deluxe-schematic-rev3c.pdf

Hi all, I have a circuit that I would like to build which uses MPS2222A NPN's. Could I use BC337's instead because I have lots of them?

Many thanks

Cheers guys, I guess the FTDI stuff is the way to go then, I will do some more research!

Thanks

Hi John thanks for the info, I will take a look.

I was more thinking along the lines of controller IC's with simple support circuitry that I can incorporate into my projects on my homemade PCB's?

Hi all, I would like to be able to add serial comms on-board to a couple of my projects instead of using USB converter boards.

Juts been looking at FTDI FT232 IC's but they are not really that cheap of available to me, also have quite a number of pins that I wouldn't need and small pitch for home made PCB's.

What other options are there?

Mylar is attractive because of the price, so if I can get that to work, hell yes. I guess I was put off by mylar because of the mylar tape I bought which has an unwanted texture to it, but this stuff I found on eBay seems very smooth.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MYLAR-GROW-ROOM-LINER-Hydroponic-Reflective-Mirror-Film-Shiny-B-W-Poly-/120926245135?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item1c27c4110f
Think that would work?

I've got some of that stuff for growing and damn, it is amazingly reflective. More efficient than a glass mirror. I'm sure it would do the job if you could manage to stick it to something flat with no creases?