Archive for February, 2009
SmartMeter – tested
The RevA01 version of the SmartMeter Circuit Board has been produced and assembled. Finally, after a delay, we could make the complete tests at a BUTE Lab and it looked promising. All voltages, high current vias and wires, op-amps, high precision resistors, heat sink solutions, the Jack and BNC outputs work. We tried to measure a high power hair dryer and got appropriate signal samples (and even the board didn’t blow out). We only had trouble with the 5V DC power socket because of a false connected pin. So a few correction were needed, but I could say we were lucky.
Some pics about the measurement session (sorry for the quality, I made them with my phone):
SmartMeter – finished!
I’m finished with routing the circuit board. It was created with Cadence Orcad. The first prototype PCB has just been assembled and we’re currently testing it for any errors. My PCB layout is below, it’s double-sided and has four layers to keep the analog signals clear. As you can see the nets on the bottom are more wider than others, because they have to take a current flow up to 10A. The nets near by the op-amps are a bit wider to spread the heat, too.
SmartMeter – design goals
In the SmartSocket project we are in a quite early stage. In that we have to proof to ourselves that the concept’s aims could be achieved. This proof is important to be done as early as possible and it’s aim is twofold. In one hand you could prevent high costs (if you have to realize later that the concept is a dead end) and with a proof in your pocket you could be sure enough of your idea when costs get increasing.
Our project is basically about an algorithm which will be implemented to an embedded device, so in the basic research stage we should create a basic, minimal-featured algorithm, running on a PC. It should truly proof to the project members and the financier that one time we could bring it to effect. So what to do?
Device Counter
Search
Tag Cloud
Recent Posts
- Creating value: the entrepreneur’s most important task
- 3 Energy-Saving Schemes that Don’t Work
- Entrepreneurship Workshop at CEU
- About Convertible Note
- Porting the Linux kernel to a new ARM board
- SmartSynch: universal router for smart grids
- iGo Green Technology Line Could Cut 85% Standby Power Consumption
- The three smart appliance requirements
- Do you need real-time energy data to cut energy bills?
- Faster processing for Green Technology Patents