Mare & Gal Electronics

I developed simple cable tester. The complete project is in my GitHUB repository:

https://github.com/s54mtb/cabletester

This is simple cable testing tool for checking your cables (e.g. ethernet patch cables or house installation). Complete tester consists of two modules and tested cable. Master (left) module is on the left. It is connected to the power supply (battery or wall adapter). Slave (right) is passive and has only LEDs.

I recently found interesting project https://www.telraam.net/ It’s an open source project where a Raspberry Pi with camera counts traffic passing by (pedestrians, bicycles, cars and other heavy vehicles). The device is (as stated by authorts) “mounted on the inside of an upper-floor window with a view over the street. To send the traffic count data straight to the central database, the device needs a continuous Wi-Fi connection to the internet.”
I placed one in my home on the window and it started counting some day after installation.

Next I wanted to install one in my remote location, where I have internet for other IoT purposes. There is no “upper-floor window”, which means I should place my raspberry and camera outside. Here is how I did it…

I bought used outdoor WiFi access point for couple of coffees. At first I wanted to use only the housing for conversion of the TTN Indoor gateway to outdoor gateway. But after some testing and factory reset of the AP I found out it is working and could be configured as stand-alone WiFi MIMO AP. Usually such APs require infrastructure, or at least some management server.

This is short tutorial how to send data from sensor connected to The Things Network via LoRaWAN to Weather Underground. I will use Scidrom air quality sensor whic I developed for students in local school. Just a quick reminder the “AQ” sensor detects PM10, PM2,5 particles, air pressure, temperature and humidity and solar radiation in visible in UV spectrum. More details are available in older post.

“Special offer” came out for 5GHz antenna. It was posted on Polish web store Interprojekt, where I sometimes buy some equipment for long range WiFi point-to-point links.

The antenna came well packed in carton with additional box for the feed. The grids were separated with paper to avoid scratches during transport.

Here are instructions for outdoor UV index and ambient light sensor.

The solar radiation shield is a low cost DIY device to protect temperature, relative humidity and other sensors from the weather, while shielding them from the sun for highest accuracy. Provided here are instructions and files. It require some CNC machinig, but then it could be assembled in minutes. It is made from plant pot saucers.

A multisensor LoRa end device has been designed for connecting different sensors to LoRa network. It’s primary use can be LoRa weather station but is not limited only to enviromental applications.

Typical “weather” application is shown in image above: 1-LoRa sensor interface, 2-Particle sensor, 3-Sun shield with temperature and humidity sensors, 4-UV-index and illumination sensor, 5-solar panel for autonomous operation. Different sensors will be described separately. I hope this project could grow into different directions.

Amazfit pace went swimming and drowned 🙂 After unsuccessful warranty claim I put watch in the drawer and forget about it because it looks “unopenable”. Today I learned it could be opened easily when heated. So I decided to try it. I grabbed hot air gun and shot few blows into the housing heating up to 80°C. It is just below 85°C, which could be a limit for some electronic components.

The proper tool to open the smart watch

The disasembly was piece of cake. Just separate the two pieces.

Continue reading ‘What is inside smart watch?’ »

I designed simple two pice toothbrush stand for 8 brushes. In our large family it is sometimes hard to track the toothbrushes only by color. I decided to put this issue in order by ordering the brushes with two simple 3D printed parts. Front one has magnets for removing from the shelf when needed due to cleaning.

Holder in place used in bathroom

Model files are in this file: STEP, PARASOLID and Solidworks

3D model with bathroom shelf

Two pieces for 3D printing

Two magnets (12mm dia, 2mm thick) are attached with epoxy into front holder. Add two more magnets and attach with epoxy to the uderside of the shelf as shown in the first picture.After curing/drying the holder can be removed and cleaned.

Rear holder is attached with two side self adhesive.

Grabcad project: https://grabcad.com/library/toothbrush-holder-8

Please share if you like the idea.