SUCCESS!!! Propeller uSD Datalogger in a micro package (Propmodule 1x1 and Para

[WBA Consulting]

This is still in the works but I have it far enough to post some pictures.....

For this year's Polar Bear Plunge (see link below my signature), I am remaking my "plungelogger" with a propeller. Last year's plungelogger was made with a BS2P40 and apart from the self-inflicted program error, it worked out great. However, since it was rather large for my pocket and power hungry, I started the new one.

It's based on a Propmodule 1x1 board and a Parallax uSD Card Adapter board. I modified the 1x1 board to make use of a 5 pin header where the 4 pin programming header would go. The 5th pin is connected with a jumper wire to VDD. Also, to make the adapter card sit diretly onto the 1x1 module, I cut the trace from P1 on the prop and tied that hole to VDD with a jumper wire. This allows the uSD card to piggyback the 1x1 module. I added two 2 pin headers on the end of the 1x1 which is where the SHT11 will attach. (P16 needs to be tied to ground, that mod will come later). I am also changing the uSD adapter over to some Samtec low profile headers so that the piggyback will be at minimal height. This will also allow the 1x1 module to be used for other projects without having to unsolder the uSD module.

to do list:
1. low profile headers
2. program validation
3. battery connection
4. waterproof enclosure
5. icewater test

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010

Post Edited (WBA Consulting) : 3/23/2010 6:10:06 AM GMT

[Ken Gracey]

Polar Bear Plunge, eh? I think I better watch you do this in person.

Parallax will add a sponsorship to your Polar Bear Plunge page. BTW, that page doesn't clearly mention the charity - can you clarify for us?

Ken Gracey

[localroger]

Psssst, Ken -- my psychic powers tell me Andrew's charity might be the Special Olympics.

[mctrivia]

i am guessing from your picks you found the 1x1 again. Nice picks looks very good.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
24 bit LCD Breakout Board now in. $24.99 has backlight driver and touch sensitive decoder.

If you have not already. Add yourself to the prophead map

[WBA Consulting]

@ken: Special Olympics of Northern California (sonc.org) Kiintera.org is the site that manages the online donations for sponsorships and that's where my link goes.

@mctrivia: yes, I finally did. It was hiding in a small case with 3 cypress chips. I think they were trying to brainwash it........ I looked through 6 boxes and 3 cases to find it. I need to get my stuff re-organized. I made a mess of everything when trying to complete the reverse geo-cache project.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
Propeller-Based Reverse Geo-Cache Birthday Present Project

[Ken Gracey]

@localroger: aha! Missed the obvious this time. Ding!

We'll be in for fifty bucks and maybe some on-site cheering and support.

Ken Gracey

[Timothy D. Swieter]

Way cool! What sort of items will the plungelogger be logging? Water temp? Air temp?

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Timothy D. Swieter, E.I.
www.brilldea.com - Prop Blade, LED Painter, RGB LEDs, 3.0" LCD Composite video display, eProto for SunSPOT
www.tdswieter.com

[WBA Consulting]

Currently, it is setup to read an SHT11 with an SF1 filter cap so it will be able to read temp and humidity during the plunge. Obviously, the humidity will peg the needle once I am in the water, so that's a somewhat useless data source. The 1x1/uSD setup and the battery will be in a waterproof case on my hip, and the SHT11 is in a tiny waterproof enclosure that will clip to the bottom edge of my swim trunks. I'll have a few more pics once I get to the camera at break time.

I do have an accelerometer, so maybe I should add that? What else should I track while I run into freezing water? A heart rate monitor would be perfect!

ps.
I had a chance to try it out last Saturday at a local community center pool plunge, but I couldn't find my 1x1 module in time. They had 100 blocks of ice that were tossed in shortly before we jumped in. The water was 52 degrees before the blocks of ice. Would have been a good test for my setup.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
Propeller-Based Reverse Geo-Cache Birthday Present Project

Post Edited (WBA Consulting) : 1/26/2010 4:07:15 PM GMT

[WBA Consulting]

Here's some pictures of last night's progress. Low profile headers on both boards and have a power pigtail made for whatever power source I end up with. May be a 9volt/powertwig pcb combo.

I will be modifying my existing datalogger code to this pinout this weekend.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
Propeller-Based Reverse Geo-Cache Birthday Present Project

[WBA Consulting]

When I get some time, I will be doing a full write up in the completed forums, but here's a short note on Saturday's plunge......


Weather was beautiful, with temperature a nice cool 59 degrees. I finished my datalogger the night before with a few changes from my original thoughts. I ended up using a larger case than originally planned, because I went with a 9 volt battery since I didn't have time to verify how long my old, re-purposed, 3.6v cordless phone batteries would last. Everything went well with the plunge and my datalogger. Water temperature was measured at 44.5 degrees. It was a blast! I ended up raising $545 for Special Olympics (a quick thanks to Gadget Gangster and Parallax for their donations).

Anyhow, here's a few pics. Uses my PowerTwig, McTrivia's Propmodule1x1, Parallax's uSD module, one of my SHT11 modules, a waterproof Otterbox 1000 case, a reed switch for "through the case" resetting, and a "Powered by Propeller" dome sticker.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010