Hi Bruce,

Have you tried a cell phone power bank to provide stabilised 5V to the board?

I also use 2 18650 cells and both techniques work well for powering
my various projects and have a reasonable capacity.

73 Bob GM4CID

I just found some Chris Gammell videos for KiCad 5.x.x for the Getting To Blinky tutorial.

This is the link to the Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy2022BX6EspFAKBCgRuEuzapuz_4aJCn

He starts off by making a custom 7555 IC schematic symbol.

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

开云体育

Think I must have tried most PCB CAD packages, some more difficult than others to use. Eventually settled on
Diptrace (Free version) does everything I want it to and more. If the device I want is not in it's library, find the data sheet and build it in
Diptrace and it usually doesn't take that long.
Always use autoroute and maybe do a little optimisation sometime. My attitude is, if it's there use it.

One thing I have recently found out is if I produce a PCB design that has my devices in it, you can copy the design file to someone else
and it does transfer all my devices with it.

Still life in this old dog at 72.

Dave, G8PGO?

Thanks for the links, Bruce.

I took a look around OctoPart and was very impressed. You can even use bash shell scripts to search for parts from the command line, using the 'curl' utility. But there are other scripting languages available as well, including Python, Ruby, JavaScript, and more. . An authentication key key is required, but no username or password is needed.

The Categories page is also useful.

What I really need to do is organize my 'junk box' here at home. I can no longer find things that I think I have. Sometimes I spend more time looking for parts than the actual time it takes to build the circuit. I am thinking of modifying a C program that I used to inventory my books, to inventory my electronics components. I just want to keep it simple, with output to a comma delimited flat text file that can be searched with 'cat' and 'grep'. Maybe something like: reference designator, value, power, tolerance, smd/tht (footprint?), # on-hand, and so forth.... I haven't quite figured it out yet.
C,0.01uF,104,25V,10%,SMD1206,25,
D,1N4004,50V,,THT,10, and so on.
R,100K,1/4W,5%,THT,33,

The task seems overwhelming when I look at all the boxes on the shelves that are full of components. I use cut down cardboard boxes, with envelopes for the components. A typical box is 10.5Lx8Wx4H (inches). The envelopes are 6.5x3.5 postal envelopes. A piece of 4x8 foot plywood yielded five four foot long shelves that fit five boxes per shelf, plus the top shelf. The top shelf has old office file folder IN/OUT trays stacked up with stuff in each of the trays. I also have aluminum baking trays that I use for projects. And those are stacked up on shelves. Welp, you can see why I need to get organized. ;-D

Then there is KiCad, and trying to find component symbols and footprints in that database. Where are the transistors? PACKAGES. Okay..... But it doesn't help to find a component that can no longer be ordered from a distributor, so we're back to OctoPart, and finding components that are Active, as compared to Obsolete, or Discontinued. And how many should be ordered when the part is labeled EOF (End Of Life)? Will I need that part for something else after the Stock reads '0'?? ;-D?

Life's conundrums. Isn't this Hobby FUN?
--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

Diptrace, It's the one I have found to be the easiest to use.
It's the free version.

Dave,G8PGO

On Thu, Dec 5, 2019 at 10:12 AM DaveC <murzim@...> wrote:

Here are the Gerber file and the Schematic for the 38 pin ESP32 board. There are no code changes.
The display on the schematic looks a bit funny as I have incorporated the 2.2, 2.8 and 3.2 displays into one device just to make things easyier
for me.
I also have a version using the 30 pin ESP32
What else would you like to know about it.

Hey DaveC, thank you for your reply, and for the files!
Just out of curiosity, which software do you use to create your boards?
I am always surprised by how many different PCB CAD programs are out there.

Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"

Here are the Gerber file and the Schematic for the 38 pin ESP32 board. There are no code changes.
The display on the schematic looks a bit funny as I have incorporated the 2.2, 2.8 and 3.2 displays into one device just to make things easyier
for me.
I also have a version using the 30 pin ESP32
What else would you like to know about it.

I have used octopart to do some very specific comparisons and found it to bee very helpful.

73 - John - N6API


Sent from my iPhone 6!
John J. Bahun
Senior Software / Hardware Engineer - Retired (Apple DTS)
Amateur Radio Operator - N6API Extra Class as of 03/05/2019!
CFO Member #046

There is an online tool for finding and comparing parts, called Octopart.? It can be a useful for looking at similar parts across different manufacturers.? ?Their common parts library helps limit your choices to broadly available components.

What is octopart??
Common parts library:?

Bruce.

When I was learning how to use Eagle, all the tutorials recommended
not using the AutoRouter, But as a beginner, I found it very helpful
for getting started. I did not realize that there is not an AutoRouter
in KiCad 5. That will force me to learn how to route a board by hand.
However, I will take a look at freeroute. Thanks for the link.
Actually, the most difficult thing for me at the moment is finding
parts in KiCad. But then again, I have the same problem when looking
for parts at the major Electronics Distributors
(Mouser/DigiKey/Jameco/etc.). It makes me appreciate all the work that
goes into designing a PCB. There is a lot more to it than just
drawing.

Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 10:42 PM John Bahun via Groups.Io
<johnbahun@...> wrote:

Hi Ken:

i agree 110% about the version frustrations. I ran into the same thing, even static webpages that do not make it clear what version they are referencing.
I agree completely - install the latest stable build of Ver 5.x.x

The only major thing I ran into was realizing that they removed the AutoRouter from Ver 5. I think they are close to getting a new AutoRouter into KiCad. I found freeroute to work quite well if you need AutoRouting.

www.freeroute.org
You have to do some import and export gymnastics to use it - but it worked well for me.

If if I can help - just let me know Ken.

73 - John - N6API

Wow DaveC! That board looks great!
Inquiring minds want to know more.
Any more details?

Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"

Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

Greetings,

It looks to me like things are running fairly smoothly. I am making mistakes, but hopefully, I will not make them twice. New members will have to have their first post approved, but after that can post at will. I try to check my email as frequently as possible everyday, but please be patient if you are posting for the first time.

I have tried to anticipate #Hashtags. They seem to be useful when searching for information.

This is a FREE Group, so there is 1GB of storage space. Messages are not counted towards that 1GB, but attachments and photos are. Once the 1GB is used, attachments from old messages will be deleted. At least, that is how I think I have it setup?

I can see some excellent discussions starting here, so please enjoy everything, and Welcome!

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

My solution was to use both sides of the board.
As it's ended up as a club project It also ended up with 3 power options and
three screen options all on the same board.

Hi Ken:

i agree 110% about the version frustrations. ?I ran into the same thing, even static webpages that do not make it clear what version they are referencing.?
I agree completely - install the latest stable build of Ver 5.x.x

The only major thing I ran into was realizing that they removed the AutoRouter from Ver 5. ?I think they are close to getting a new AutoRouter into KiCad. ?I found freeroute to work quite well if you need AutoRouting.?


You have to do some import and export gymnastics to use it - but it worked well for me.?

If if I can help - just let me know Ken.?

73 - John - N6API

I took a look at Chris Gammell's tutorial and had a difficult time
with it because he uses KiCad 4.x.x on MS-Windows. I don't think the
operating system makes that much of a difference, but it is extremely
frustrating when, as a beginner, the things that he shows cannot be
found on KiCad 5.x.x. John uses Ubuntu, which is based on Debian
GNU/Linux, which is the system I use (for the last 23+ years).

I would say go with Gammell's tutorial if you are using KiCad 4.x.x.
That is because John uses KiCad 5.x.x and it would be just as
frustrating to not be able to find the things that he demonstrates. I
wasted a whole day trying to figure out what Gammell was doing.

So I open the video in a browser on one desktop, and Kicad 5.0.2 on
another desktop, and as I watch John's videos, I can pause it and go
try out what he just demonstrated. And if I can't figure it out, I go
back to the video, rewind, and watch that part over again. Today I
made my first footprints.

If someone doesn't have KiCad installed, I would recommend going with
KiCad 5.x.x. It is really nice. And John's videos are very beginner
friendly. He goes at a good pace for a beginner, and his screens are
large enough for ME to see, and that is saying a lot because my
eyesight is very poor.


I have some limited experience with Eagle, and I have tried KiCad
before, but never got very far with it. This time around, using John's
videos, and KiCad 5.0.2, I am making good progress. I have not had a
chance to sit down with the KiCad 5 documentation yet, but at a
glance, it looks pretty good.



On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 10:09 PM John Bahun via Groups.Io
<johnbahun@...> wrote:

Excellent tutorial by John.
Another great YouTube set of tutorials is by Chris Gammell. Just search with
“chris gammell kicad“ - it will take you to another set of tutorials.

73 - John - N6API

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

Excellent tutorial by John.?
Another great YouTube set of tutorials is by Chris Gammell. ?Just search with
“chris gammell kicad“ - it will take you to another set of tutorials. ?

73 - John -?N6API

I have found this playlist of KiCad tutorials very helpful for KiCad
version 5.0.2.



On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 6:08 PM John Bahun via Groups.Io
<johnbahun@...> wrote:

I just wanted to post an experience that happened to me recently...,

I was amazed at how quickly a
PCB can be created and manufactured these days.

I found out that a very powerful tool to create a PCB was KiCad. I downloaded it and very quickly started to sink rather than swim. I got very frustrated with trying to learn KiCad.

I wrote to a a member of one of the groups here and pleaded with him to share his KiCad files with me. ( I was looking for a quick and dirty solution to my frustrations)..

Well - the person that I had requested the files from stood strong and told me NO! At first I was very disappointed that I could not get a quick solution to my frustrations.

As it turns out, the person that I asked for help, basically said - You have s off of the schematic as well as the board itself. He told me to use the schematic and the board and use them as a focus to truly learn KiCad.

I started to view some some YouTube tutorials (some many times). Using the schematic that I had I gradually learned how to build a schematic and then to reference footprints and build new footprints for unusual components. Well - it took me several sleepless nights but eventually I was able to create my own set of Gerbers for the PCB. I got my boards back today from JLCPCB.

I used this board as some samples of different silk screens etc. The boards look fantastic! I am very proud of what I was able to do with KiCad. Now - I must say that there were many questions while I was building the Schematic and PCB.

The wonderful person that that originally told me NO - was able to guide me down the path of learning basic KiCad functions. I now have knowledge that I would not have gotten had he given me his files.

KiCad is a great product and my mentor is priceless to me. Never be afraid to jump into a product and learn with a mentors assistance and tutorials. I guarantee if I can do it - So can you...

73 - John -N6API

--
Regards,
Ken, KM4NFQ "Not Fully Qualified"
/g/w8bhMorseTutor

I just wanted to post an experience that happened to me recently...,

I was amazed at how quickly a
PCB can be created and manufactured these days. ?

I found out that a very powerful tool to create a PCB was KiCad. ?I downloaded it and very quickly started to sink rather than swim. ?I got very frustrated with trying to learn KiCad.?

I wrote to a a member of one of the groups here and pleaded with him to share his KiCad files with me. ?( I was looking for a quick and dirty solution to my frustrations)..

Well - the person that I had requested the files from stood strong and told me NO! ?At first I was very disappointed that I could not get a quick solution to my frustrations.?

As it turns out, the person that I asked for help, basically said - You have s off of the schematic as well as the board itself. ?He told me to use the schematic and the board and use them as a focus to truly learn KiCad.?

I started to view some some YouTube tutorials (some many times). ?Using the schematic that I had I gradually learned how to build a schematic and then to reference footprints and build new footprints for unusual components. ?Well - it took me several sleepless nights but eventually I was able to create my own set of Gerbers for the PCB. ?I got my boards back today from JLCPCB. ?

I used this board as some samples of different silk screens etc. ?The boards look fantastic! ? I am very proud of what I was able to do with KiCad. ?Now - I must say that there were many questions while I was building the Schematic and PCB.?

The wonderful person that that originally told me NO - was able to guide me down the path of learning basic KiCad functions. ?I now have knowledge that I would not have gotten had he given me his files.?

KiCad is a great product and my mentor is priceless to me. ?Never be afraid to jump into a product and learn with a mentors assistance and tutorials. ?I guarantee if I can do it - So can you...

73 - John -N6API