Search found 16 matches

by mthornton
Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:33 pm
Forum: Projects & Kits
Topic: 16-bit Micro Experimenter Board
Replies: 21
Views: 30796

Re: 16-bit Micro Experimenter Board

Rember that some programmers (like the PICKIT2 that I am using) will hold the /MCLR line low so you need to manually release this line (press the little rising edge symbol in the control bar) or simply remove the programmer. I think you were right, and the problem is to do with the direct control o...
by mthornton
Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:10 pm
Forum: Projects & Kits
Topic: 16-bit Micro Experimenter Board
Replies: 21
Views: 30796

Re: 16-bit Micro Experimenter Board

I was using a scope of course.
zip is zip

M
by mthornton
Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:52 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cable Ties That Break Way Too Easy!
Replies: 8
Views: 3828

Re: Cable Ties That Break Way Too Easy!

I am an electrician & we use zillions of tie-wraps (zap-straps)
Your local electrical supplier will stock quality tie-wraps in all sizes, both UV rated & non-UV rated.

The clear ones are fine for indoor stuff.
The black ones are UV rated, wide temperature rated, and can be expensive.

M
by mthornton
Sat Jan 16, 2010 6:46 am
Forum: Projects & Kits
Topic: 16-bit Micro Experimenter Board
Replies: 21
Views: 30796

Re: 16-bit Micro Experimenter Board

I bought one & had it quickly together & it runs the demo firmware no-prob. Got the C30 compiler installed & working, which was a snap since I have been using the C18 compiler for pic18 chips for quite a while. "Hello World" (blinkng LED) code works with MPLAB SIM, but won't ru...
by mthornton
Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:35 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Thermocouple on old water heater
Replies: 21
Views: 7207

Re: Thermocouple on old water heater

re Peltier devices Living in Canada, we use our wood stove extensively for heat (firewood is free, plentiful & carbon-neutral), and it's often very cold outside (cold air also free). So investigation of these devices may proove fruitful. Asimov wrote about a society which provided all it's elect...
by mthornton
Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:36 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: On line weather telemetry, pyranometer designs
Replies: 0
Views: 4229

On line weather telemetry, pyranometer designs

I work at a ski-area in BC, and have, over time, built up a weather telemetry setup that is viewable on-line. This is used primarily for our avalanche control technicians, snowmaking operation, and marketing folks. Here are a few examples. You'll figure it out. http://ww1.panoramaresort.com/weather/...
by mthornton
Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:11 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Grounding question - what would you do ?
Replies: 18
Views: 6669

Re: Grounding question - what would you do ?

Hmmm I manage a small electric utility co (reseller), and the revenue meters I buy are certainly capable of dual-rate net-metering in a single instrument. GE KV2 Fitzall. In industrial installations the meters indicate separate readings for kWh-F and kWh-R, likewise for kVA and kVarh. The F means fo...
by mthornton
Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:34 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Grounding question - what would you do ?
Replies: 18
Views: 6669

Re: Grounding question - what would you do ?

I'm an electrician at a ski-area in eastern BC, where we get lots & lots of heavy lightning each summer. The lifts themselves include significant amounts of electronics, including on the towers themselves. All of our lifts have experinced direct hits many times, yet with relatively minimal damag...
by mthornton
Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:09 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Want to "convert" RV heat...
Replies: 5
Views: 2711

Re: Want to "convert" RV heat...

Just remember that all electric heaters have exactly the same efficiency rating (100%), so spending money on a voodoo miracle heater... you may as well just burn the cash for the heat. However, for your RV space, the effectiveness of distributing your hard-earned heat to wherever it brings you the m...
by mthornton
Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:22 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: How do you identify different types of screw heads
Replies: 22
Views: 9243

Re: How do you identify different types of screw heads

4 cornered socket screw sounds like a basic robertson head screw. Very common in Canada & UK mfrd products. Commonly used in 4 basic head sizes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_screwdriver Mr. Robertson was a Canadian electrician who wanted a screw that would not slip, and would hold itse...
by mthornton
Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:06 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Front-panel laser-printed plastic film. advice pls
Replies: 7
Views: 5905

Re: Front-panel laser-printed plastic film. advice pls

Well, I spent a rainy day today trying various approaches to making an acceptable fron panel. I tried in vain to get my HP laser printer to mirror print (it doesn't). However, in the course of reading literature on how laser printers work, I discovered how to make the thing produce a very tough fron...
by mthornton
Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:23 pm
Forum: Computer Programming
Topic: designing for datalogger:)
Replies: 2
Views: 2196

Re: designing for datalogger:)

1. What PIC is suitable for this application >PICs arent really the greatest for data-logging, as you will generally need to use external A/D to get resolution > 10 bit, and will most often need to use (& manage) some form of external memory. Pics manage their internal ram in agonizingly small b...
by mthornton
Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:30 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Front-panel laser-printed plastic film. advice pls
Replies: 7
Views: 5905

Front-panel laser-printed plastic film. advice pls

I'm working on a project where I want to make a real nice professional front-panel, for a prototype run of 100. I'm wondering what experience anyone might have using a laser-printer to print on clear plastic-film. I have a small window for a 4 digit 7-seg display that I want covered by the same film...
by mthornton
Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:02 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: motor reversing
Replies: 8
Views: 3690

Re: motor reversing

Assuming Mr. oddjobfortwo has a single-phase motor Many 1-ph motors have separate run & starting windings. Reversing the direction of the motor is a matter of reversing the polarity of the start winding WRT the run winding(s). careful, because many 1-ph motors have 2 run-windings both brought ou...
by mthornton
Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:44 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Adding D/A converters, use SPI or I2C?
Replies: 5
Views: 4532

Re: Adding D/A converters, use SPI or I2C?

Recently researched the same question for a project of my own. I needed 2 ch of 12 bit D/A. In the end I discovered much better availability of SPI as opposed to I2C. I guess the reason is that most often D/A applications DO require high speed, and SPI has it all over I2C when it comes to speed. I e...