Fly Electric!

PIC AND OTHER MICROPROCESSOR PROJECTS

(and AVR, and Cypress, and...)

Microprocessors are extremely powerful devices. They also shift a great deal of the complexity of circuit design from the circuit board to program code which I find helpful. Below you can find some of my creations. Please go to my PIC and C for Beginners page for more general information and tips and PIC Data Logging page.


WORKING DESIGNS
2.4GHz Receivers Ranging from the world's smallest 2.4 receiver for modelling to full diversity designs.
QFN soldering Hot plate for soldering surface mount and lead-less components.
2.4GHz lockout logger Measures the dreaded '2.4 lockout', assesses receiver aerial diversity and placement, and other difficult reception challenges.
2.4GHz scanner Handheld RF scanner / simple specktrum analyser. Developed mainly for RC radios but has useful features for monitoring trends in any use, such as Bluetooth, WIFI, security leaks, antenna/range tests, etc.
Free Flight Timer 2g FF timer for Brushless motors. Modification of Bernhard Konze's DIY ESC software and conversion of a commercial ESC to a FF timer. Extensive description of how sensorless brushless speed controllers work.
Lithium Tester This device compares individual cell voltages in up to 7 cell packs. Together with actual voltages it has a bar graph to help you see easily if they are in balance. The device also has a data logging mode with which the performance of the individual cells can be assessed under a 4 second load test. The results are displayed graphically to instantly assess performance.
Lithium balancer Very accurate and very efficient. Can be built for any balancing current and any number of cells. 3 and 7 cell versions shown.
LCD1 Circuit to add a voltage and current LCD display to a power supply.
LVC1 Low Voltage Cutoff device which monitors individual cells in a 3 cell lithium pack to prevent any from being over-discharged in flight. When the lowest cell reaches a threshold voltage, the motor is cut until acknowledged by the pilot. LVC2 monitors two separate packs in a twin and cuts both together to avoid assymetrical thrust.
Temp2 monitors temperatures in up to four cylinders in a petrol motor to aid cooling and tuning. The data is logged every 20sec and can be downloaded to a PC for analysis. Temp1 also monitors up to four temperature sensors but triggers a single LED if any exceed a programmed threshold. Logs highest temperatures measured by each sensor every 30 seconds.
Servo Controller This device allows you to move a servo or control an ESC without a radio. Also often known as a 'servo tester'.
Low Voltage Battery Monitor This device monitors a 12v battery to disconnect a load (12v fridge in my case) when the battery becomes flat (via a FET for efficiency). Also demos the 'Charlieplexing' technique of driving more LEDs than there are ports.


Many of the above designs perform simple data logging, recording things such as highest throttle position, lowest cell voltage, temperatures, etc. At least 256 data records can be stored over a configurable time period and can be downloaded to a PC.

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