A first look at my latest all-in-one PyPilot PCB

[CapnKernel]

A few months ago I posted a rendering of the all-in-one PyPilot board I'm working on.

  https://forum.openmarine.net/showthread.php?tid=4222

I've assembled some PCBs and I'm doing testing.  Things mostly work, which is good.  The LCD and the buck converter are the wrong way around, but I can fix those in the next revision.

  https://photos.app.goo.gl/B7tDWDw8bMVLguMw6

I'm mostly doing this because it's a fun project and I like making things.  Questions welcome.

[PaddyB]

A few months ago I posted a rendering of the all-in-one PyPilot board I'm working on.

  https://forum.openmarine.net/showthread.php?tid=4222

I've assembled some PCBs and I'm doing testing.  Things mostly work, which is good.  The LCD and the buck converter are the wrong way around, but I can fix those in the next revision.

  https://photos.app.goo.gl/B7tDWDw8bMVLguMw6

I'm mostly doing this because it's a fun project and I like making things.  Questions welcome.

Looks great!!! Well done 

[PaddyB]

does that little mini 360 power supply have enough output to power the Pi zero as well?
is your schematic online anywhere, boards look good - who made them?

cheers

[CapnKernel]

Hi PaddyB,

does that little mini 360 power supply have enough output to power the Pi zero as well?

So far it seems to.  I've been watching power consumption on the 12V in, and it starts at 70mA with backlight on, rising to 100mA (1.2W) when everything has settled down and WiFi is on.  Ripple on the 5V rail is low, and voltage doesn't seem to sag.  

The mini-360 has an MP2307, which in theory is rated for 3A continuous, but I wouldn't rely on that.

 https://www.monolithicpower.com/en/mp2307.html
 https://www.matts-electronics.com/wp-con...NI-360.pdf

That page says that configured for 5V output, voltage stays pretty constant to at least 800mA.  

I haven't yet broken down where the power is going, but the only parts that get warm are the buck converter and the RPi SoC.

Note though that I have the mini-360 loaded just for testing.  My plan is to put my own buck converter on the board, and you can see the footprints for that here:


  https://i.imgur.com/XFwqMEf.png

For my buck chip, I'm planning to use the MP2359.  

  https://lcsc.com/product-detail/DC-DC-Co...59845.html

is your schematic online anywhere

Yes, the schematic PDF is an attachment to my earlier thread I linked to at the top of this thread.

boards look good - who made them?

JLC, same as @seandepagnier uses.  I also got JLC to load all the components in their "basic" series, except for one component in their "extended" series (C316044).  I just don't think I can hand solder that component.  I bought all the other extended parts, and all the basic parts (0805 except for the crystal caps, which are 0402) from JLC's sister company, LCSC.  

You can see the parts that JLC loaded in the Google-hosted pic I shared above.  For boards that JLC put the basic components on, I just need to fit the extended parts.  And for the unloaded boards, I now have all the needed basic and extended parts.

If anyone is interested in getting JLC to do assembly, this video has a full walkthrough of doing an STM32 design using KiCad, and preparing gerber and assembly information for JLC:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7-8nUU6e3E

Questions welcome.

[ironman]

Beauty mate ;-)! What are your intentions with the design? Personal use or bigger plans?

[CapnKernel]

Beauty mate ;-)! What are your intentions with the design? Personal use or bigger plans?

Just personal at this stage.  Interested to work with others though.