This one is gona be quite Loaded so appologies for that FIY, I am relatively new to Arduinos.
I have done some work for this company that was mainly using temperature sensors and measuring temperature during high pressure valve testing. This led me to thinking of creating something different of my own. My plan is to create a temperature data logger that would log temperatures using a sensor and storing it to some sort of SD card. The screen would show live temperature as well as have an option to change the intervals at which the sensor is taking readings.
After some more research, I have came across few items that I decided to use: Arduino Mega/TXT 3.2inch display/ DS18B20 sensor. The screen has and SD card slot already. I have an access to soldering equipment and an etching tank to create my own PCB boards.
My aim is to build the project without a breadboard. Idea is to have the screen sitting right on top of the Mega and the sensor using/sharing the other ports with the screen.
My questions/concerns are these:
Will I be able to directly connect the screen on top or do I need some sort of a shield, (are there ways around not using a shield, if so, what are they?)
What are the common mistakes that I should avoid?
How much programming am I looking at?
I really don't want to use a breadboard, (realistically) how much harder am I making my life?
Not a problem electrically - add a Mega screw shield so you can still access all the pins once the screen is installed.
I'll let someone else address the programming aspect, that's not really my area with those parts. http://www.crossroadsfencing.com/BobuinoRev17/
Programming it to function basically is not particularly difficult. First, get each component working individually with their respected libraries. This is really easy as most libraries provide examples. You'll need to think about the interface and exactly how you want to interact with it.
The screen will show the live temperature in C or F (could be selectable?) and you'll have buttons on the screen to change the log interval. The buttons could increment and decrement the interval by some amount of time. Will you leave it plugged in to power it?
SamIAm93:
Programming it to function basically is not particularly difficult. First, get each component working individually with their respected libraries. This is really easy as most libraries provide examples. You'll need to think about the interface and exactly how you want to interact with it.
The screen will show the live temperature in C or F (could be selectable?) and you'll have buttons on the screen to change the log interval. The buttons could increment and decrement the interval by some amount of time. Will you leave it plugged in to power it?
A shield will make you life soo much easier.
When it comes to the interface, I want some options to be able to delete the data on the SD card, not entirely sure how hard that is since it would have to delete the file? or can it just delete the contents?.I am also aiming to have a selection for the speed it logs the data of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10. I also hope to be able to extrapolate it from the SD card to a computer using excel or something similar to see a history graph. The whole device will be powered by the USB.
As for the shield, sorry for my rookie knowledge but in a scenario where both my screen and the sensor has to use the same port, would it be ok to just solder the 2 wires together and make a shared port? Or would I have to reconfigure some other I/O port to do the job for me? if that's possible at all for something like Vcc and GND.
I really don't want to use a breadboard, (realistically) how much harder am I making my life?
akofG:
I want some options to be able to delete the data on the SD card, not entirely sure how hard that is
This all leads me to believe you are not yet ready to make the decisions you are trying to make. As @SamIAm93 has said, start by getting familiar with the different parts separately. Then you will know what you can do with an SD Card, for example.
Robin2:
This all leads me to believe you are not yet ready to make the decisions you are trying to make. As @SamIAm93 has said, start by getting familiar with the different parts separately. Then you will know what you can do with an SD Card, for example.
...R
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that statement, could you please elaborate? I was just brainstorming of the different things that i'd like to do, an answer to what's possible and what's not would be a great help!
My aim is to build the project without a breadboard. Idea is to have the screen sitting right on top of the Mega and the sensor using/sharing the other ports with the screen.
How do you aim to prototype your project?
You will find you cannot just hang all the hardware off the controller pins and expect it to work.
A breadboard will make things so much easier and help with troubleshooting any problems.
Can you tell us your electronics, programming, Arduino, hardware experience?
akofG:
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that statement, could you please elaborate? I was just brainstorming of the different things that i'd like to do, an answer to what's possible and what's not would be a great help!
I don't know how to make it any clearer.
Brainstorming is all well and good but eventually you have to get the spade from the garden shed and start digging if you want to to be able to eat your home-grown potatoes.
TomGeorge:
Hi,How do you aim to prototype your project?
You will find you cannot just hang all the hardware off the controller pins and expect it to work.
A breadboard will make things so much easier and help with troubleshooting any problems.
Can you tell us your electronics, programming, Arduino, hardware experience?
Tom...
Well, I suppose i'll make an update on the project to give some perspective but before that some more background, i'm an Engineering student at a college, this is the project i' ve chosen for this academic year and it'd be 'nice' to complete it so I don't completely waste my money and time.
To respond to Tom, in my projects specification I have mentioned that I won't use a breadboard as at the time it looked more simple than it looks like. Foolish as it looks, it's a reality I have to deal with now. When it comes to connecting it all together, i've looked around and from what I saw, as long as the pins are connected the right way and the device is coded successfully, they I can "just hang all of the hardware off the controller and expect it to work"
Onto the meaty stuff, i've ordered a sainsmart display that already has SD card socket, i'm aware that the display runs off 3.3V so It would be IDEAL to get a shield to match the 5V from the Mega. However, i'm literally nearing the end of my budget if I get that so I decided to make (using etching tank +croc clips) a board myself with potential dividers. Yes yes I know, loads of soldering on my timetable ahead... Time spent soldering is not my problem though. I was thinking whether that board would be a valid replacement for the shield as I know that the display draws quite a bit of current.
Please if you're giving a response try and point to something rather than vaguely saying something in metaphors. thanks in advance.
FIY, I am relatively new to Arduinos.
