In order to implement Capacitive Sensing on a project, I'd like to use a TTP223 chip (example wiring here, datasheet here).
It's used widely on a number of "out of the box" sensors that have everything wired (since it has to be "configured" among different modes, with different sensivities…)
Though, the problem is that I need capacitive sensing on a pre-made (metallic) surface, so all these "plug-and-play" solutions don't work for me (they all use their own surface for sensing).
I decided to order some of these chips on AliExpress and got them. Unfortunately, as I expected, they're really small (something that doesn't "fit" on a breadboard, and that even soldering myself to wires will be difficult, in addition to not being "clean").
My question is : how can I deal with that? Is there any kind of "adapter" so I could solder my chip on it and then plug it into a breadboard? (In the end, I plan on using a "prototype PCB" on which I can solder everything I need.) Or would I have to design this PCB myself ? (I have zero experience in this domain.) Or is there any workaround ?
Hoximor:
I decided to order some of these chips on AliExpress and got them. Unfortunately, as I expected, they're really small (something that doesn't "fit" on a breadboard, and that even soldering myself to wires will be difficult, in addition to not being "clean").
My question is : how can I deal with that? Is there any kind of "adapter" so I could solder my chip on it and then plug it into a breadboard?
The search terms are "sot23-6 breakout board", for instance:
All the circuitry is on one PCB and the sensor is separate, so you can use your own.
Can you tell us your electronics, programming, Arduino, hardware experience?
As stated in the next message, this is one of the devices that I evoqued before, the sensor is on the back side.
Concerning my experience, I've been using Arduino for a long time but I'm a way better programmer than electronician (actually a computer science student).
Hoximor:
I decided to order some of these chips on AliExpress and got them. Unfortunately, as I expected, they're really small (something that doesn't "fit" on a breadboard, and that even soldering myself to wires will be difficult, in addition to not being "clean").
SOT23s will give you quite a surprise if you don't know what you're expecting. Fortunately they aren't impossible to solder. You just need flux, wick, and a good pair of tweezers. I prefer reverse tweezers which will hold them with steady pressure by default. With normal tweezers you need steady hand pressure to hold onto them, and the slightest twitch sends them flying, and you'll never find that spec of dust again.
There's nothing special about the pad on the premade module. Solder a 30 AWG wire to the input pin and connect it to your panel. Hopefully it's in the sensitivity range that you need.
