Torbay Trojans Training 1/5/2022
Next training session Sunday 1st May 2022 – 10-13:00 at Foxhole field.
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LED Board project
I have been tasked with trying to build some sort of led lighting system, using leds in series.
As soldering LEDs is more challenging, and I lack the proper kit to wire everything together properly. I have built a basic prototype below.
However this is drawn on a previous project, which does work, this lights up 4 or 5 white LEDs.
i am now working on version 2 (below) of the board, so need to find a way to solder the LEDs to the board, so they all light up nicely, don't draw too much current and can be daisy chained together.
This is not that easy, as i am NOT an electronics expert, I have some expertise, but don't always know exactly how to do things like this, so it is more a case of experimentation.
I have two versions being developed in parallel to see what works, one problem is the LEDs all have different current requirements, depending on the colour.
The main issue is powering this project, I was asked about USB, if you do this from a PC, then you get 5v @ 300mA (I think) which is not quite enough, if you power from a USB charger than you are connecting to mains.
In both the above cases there are serious risk issues as if there is a short, it may not just cut out. I am not risking it.
If we power using a battery then this will deplete over time, and in the case of a short circuit, will overheat.
I may try and see if I can use a breadboard power unit, as this does offer some degree of protection from short circuits.
World Intellectual Property day
Today is World intellectual property day, I have only 'just' found out about this. so am quickly sharing the links provided by the Free Software Foundation to help provide more information.
I will try and update this post later.
DRM1: https://hostux.social/@endDRM/108199189801573174 and https://nitter.net/endDRM/status/1518982435287052295#m
FSF1: https://hostux.social/@fsf/108199197979453996 and https://nitter.net/fsf/status/1518982964436156416#m
DRM2: https://hostux.social/@endDRM/108199540131781242 and https://nitter.net/endDRM/status/1519004859122524160#m
FSF2: https://hostux.social/@fsf/108199579369855422 and https://nitter.net/fsf/status/1519007363457552384#m
DRM3: https://hostux.social/@endDRM/108199858327318157 and https://nitter.net/endDRM/status/1519025224724979712#m
DRM4: https://hostux.social/@endDRM/108199909475459067 and https://nitter.net/endDRM/status/1519028469816082432#m
DRM5: https://hostux.social/@endDRM/108200249286101858 and https://nitter.net/endDRM/status/1519050241277927428#m
Torbay Trojans vs Bristol (Home) Photos
A few photos from our first game of 2022 against Bristol Apache. The link should go to the a shared folder on my Disroot cloud.
Tags
#Trojans,#Football,#BAFA,#BristolApache#TorbayTrojans,#Photos
Code Club & STEM Group updates 4
Identify different video out connectors. I am making this post, as I may need to ask people what type of video connectors they have on their hardware, this will help them, help me. I can then turn up at a school or other venue with the correct cables.
A few pictures below, from OpenClipArt
VGA Connector
HDMI Connector, this should give a rough idea of the size, shape
DVI Connector Links
TAGS
#STEMGroup,#CodeClub,#VGA,#HDMI,#DVI,#Video,#Connectors,#LookingForWork,#OpenToOffers,#Torbay,#Devon,#LookingForEmployment,#Schools,#STEM
Code Club & STEM Group updates 3
Pi-Brella
The Pi-brella is a small add on board for the original Raspberry Pi, but still functions on newer models. This had features, such as a buzzer, i/o sockets, a switch and LEDs.
A few photos below
Links
TAGS
#STEMGroup,#CodeClub,#PiBrella,#LookingForWork,#OpenToOffers,#Torbay, #Devon,#LookingForEmployment,#Schools,#STEM
Voltage Dividers
This is a repost, with some python code for a very basic, (as in it worked when I last ran it) voltage divider calculator.
A voltage divider is a simple circuit which turns a large voltage into a smaller one. Using just two series resistors and an input voltage, we can create an output voltage that is a fraction of the input.
Voltage dividers are one of the most fundamental circuits in electronics. If learning Ohm's law was like being introduced to the ABC's, learning about voltage dividers would be like learning how to spell cat. [1]
The formula for a voltage divider is
$$Vout_1 ={ R1\over{R1+R2} } \times Vsup $$
and
$$Vout_2 ={ R2\over{R1+R2} } \times Vsup $$
At the next STEM group meeting, I plan to have some of my boards available. These can be connected together with either dupont cables or with crocodile clip cables. Then voltages can be measured with a multimeter.
Links
Code
I wrote this a while back, so including the code 'as is' below.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
#voltage divider calculator
# http://www.ohmslawcalculator.com/voltage-divider-calculator
print("Voltage Divider Calculator")
print("Version 1.0")
print("By Paul Sutton")
print("[email protected]")
print("http://www.zleap.net")
print
print("Formula = Vout = Vin * R2 / R1 + R2")
print
print("Enter values")
supvol = int(input('Enter Supply Voltage (v): '))
#str(supvol)
r1 = int(input( 'Enter R1 value (Ohms) : ' ))
r2 = int(input( 'Enter R2 value (Ohms) : ' ))
print ( 'Supply Voltage(V):', supvol )
print ( 'R1(Ohms : ', r1 )
print ( 'R2(Ohms : ', r2 )
#print(r2 / (r1 + r2))
mainsum = (r2 / (r1 + r2))
outvolt = (supvol * mainsum)
print ( 'Output Voltage = :', outvolt )
This is an improved version by Mark on IRC
#!/usr/bin/env python3
msg = """Voltage Divider Calculator (v1.1)
Formula: Voltage out is "Voltage in * Resistor 2 / Resistor 1 + Resistor 2"
You entered:
Voltage in {voltage}
Resistor 1 {resistor1}
Resistor 2 {resistor2}
Which equals:
{output}
Output voltage is: "{output}", rounded (nearest 10) is "{rounded}"!
"""
error = """Usage: python3 {script} <voltage in> <resistor 1> <resister 2>.
Example: python3 {script} 5000 2000 4000
Seeing an Error?
ValueError: You enter an invalid value (or left it empty).
"""
def main(args):
script = args.pop(0)
try:
voltage, resistor1, resistor2 = list(map(int, args))
output = voltage * (resistor2 / (resistor1 + resistor2))
except ValueError:
print(error.format(script=script))
raise
print(msg.format(voltage=voltage, resistor1=resistor1,
resistor2=resistor2, output=output,
rounded=round(output)))
if __name__ == '__main__':
import sys
sys.exit(main(sys.argv))
Make beautiful math graphics using Tikz & LaTeX
How to make beautiful math graphics using Tikz & LaTeX
This was posted to the Overleaf Linked in feed, so sharing here.
Writing
Discussion
TAGS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Code Club & STEM Group updates 2
Working on a few resources to support code club, if there are doubts about my ability to put effort in to something then these are clearly misguided.
I am looking for employment to support and help with STEM. At code club & STEM Group, I think there is scope to help with
- Physical computing
- Electronics
- General coding (Scratch, Python)
- Networking
- BASH Command line
- BASH Scripting
- Data Detox workshops
- Study skills
Along with a lot more,
A few photos below
Raspberry Pi, set up with a Breadboard and wires. I just need to re-flash the SDcard.
LED Bargraph (this can be connected to a PI using Female to Female leads, however using Female to Male leads, it can be connected to an Arduino.)
LED Traffic Lights (this can be connected to a PI using Female to Female leads, however using Female to Male leads, it can be connected to an Arduino.)
The GPIO header allows connection of a Pi to a header on a breadboard for prototyping, the other end (under the board) plugs in to the Pi.
We will hopefully carry on at the next STEM Group meeting.
TAGS
#STEMGroup,#CodeClub,#LookingForWork,#OpenToOffers,#Torbay, #Devon,#LookingForEmployment,#Schools,#STEM