« previous next »
Pages: Prev 1 2 [3]  All   Go Down

Author Topic: Electronic load kit - feature ideas?  (Read 19049 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Skimask

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1433
  • Country: us
Re: Electronic load kit - feature ideas?
« Reply #50 on: January 31, 2013, 12:48:20 am »
It is a bit spendy, which is why I've got all of mine mounted the way I do, in a homemade "case" with a LAN jack on it.  I can move it between multiple projects.
As far as that goes, you can get them smaller, without a touch panel, for quite a bit less $$$.  The interface on a lot of them is the same (if you use the SPI modes) and the code needs a couple of changes to support the differing resolutions.
Logged
I didn't take it apart.
I turned it on.

The only stupid question is, well, most of them...

Save a fuse...Blow an electrician.
 

Offline c4757pTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7799
  • Country: us
  • adieu
Re: Electronic load kit - feature ideas?
« Reply #51 on: January 31, 2013, 01:05:18 am »
I'm considering using a character LCD instead. The LED display is pretty limited - currently I have three seven-segment displays to show the number, a couple indicators on the side for things like mA/A, run/stop, and "unregulated" (not drawing set current), and that's it. The only two "messages" it shows on the display are "CAL" and "USb" (gotta love that lowercase B..), as well as a couple of self-test failure codes displayed as "E 0", "E 1", and so on. I'm not a big fan of those character LCDs, but they are certainly more versatile. I'd much rather be able to show "Run calibration routine / See manual", a little "USB" or "RMT" in the corner, "Error - Missing temperature sensor", calculated readings like power as well as current, etc. I think it might be worth the slightly crappy display.
Logged
No longer active here - try the IRC channel if you just can't be without me :)
 

Offline c4757pTopic starter

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 7799
  • Country: us
  • adieu
Re: Electronic load kit - feature ideas?
« Reply #52 on: January 31, 2013, 03:19:24 am »
Hmm. Might be a while before this is done. I'm currently in Enclosure and Heat Sink Hell and may end up changing some things around.
Logged
No longer active here - try the IRC channel if you just can't be without me :)
 

Offline Harvs

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1202
  • Country: au
Re: Electronic load kit - feature ideas?
« Reply #53 on: January 31, 2013, 05:23:36 am »
Quote from: c4757p on January 31, 2013, 03:19:24 am
Hmm. Might be a while before this is done. I'm currently in Enclosure and Heat Sink Hell and may end up changing some things around.


For low volume things that's almost always the hardest problem.  Compounded when you need to disapate heat.


However, all I can say is take the time and do it properly.  That's what'll set yours apart from all the other "pcb with a heatsink hanging off" type things you can buy out there.  To be honest it wont make much difference to most people if it's 0.5% or 2% accurate, but if it's not in a nice looking case that's ruggard for hobby use with quality buttons and connectors, then forget it.
Logged
 

Offline akcoder

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 45
  • Country: us
Re: Electronic load kit - feature ideas?
« Reply #54 on: March 24, 2013, 07:41:46 pm »
c4757p,
  Any status update on this project? I'm interested in buying/building a DC load.

-dan
Logged
 
Pages: Prev 1 2 [3]  All   Go Up
« previous next »

Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf

 


EEVblog Main Site EEVblog on Youtube EEVblog on Twitter EEVblog on Facebook EEVblog on Odysee