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Propeller Protoboard USB Power Hack — Parallax Forums

Propeller Protoboard USB Power Hack

TonyF (spinvent.co.uk)TonyF (spinvent.co.uk) Posts: 50
edited 2011-07-21 18:34 in Propeller 1
I just hacked a USB Protoboard to power via USB. The attached PDF details how. If you try this yourself please beware; your warranty will be void and you may fry something if your not careful Protoboard USB Power Hack.pdf
pdf
pdf
Protoboard USB Power Hack.pdf
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Comments

  • TonyF (spinvent.co.uk)TonyF (spinvent.co.uk) Posts: 50
    edited 2011-07-21 04:51
    ... and a blob of hot glue to fix the wire link would be a good idea :)
  • idbruceidbruce Posts: 6,197
    edited 2011-07-21 05:10
    TonyF (spinvent.co.uk)

    Well done!

    Bruce
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2011-07-21 08:21
    @Tony,

    Great Hack!

    An update to the Propeller Cookbook is on my todo list. (After I finish current projects.)

    Do you mind if I add this page?

    OBC
  • TonyF (spinvent.co.uk)TonyF (spinvent.co.uk) Posts: 50
    edited 2011-07-21 09:40
    @OBC, of course please feel free to add. BTW this Protoboard will become a digital SLR camera controller for time-lapse and stop-motion etc. Protoboards are really great for projects but USB power is very handy.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2011-07-21 11:43
    Is this something that we can to to the Professional Development Board and Demo Board as well? It would be handy to leave off the wall wart on those to when not needed.
  • TonyF (spinvent.co.uk)TonyF (spinvent.co.uk) Posts: 50
    edited 2011-07-21 11:50
    prof_braino wrote: »
    Is this something that we can to to the Professional Development Board and Demo Board as well? It would be handy to leave off the wall wart on those to when not needed.

    maybe, but proceed with extreem caution. Personally I would not.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-07-21 14:37
    prof_braino wrote: »
    Is this something that we can to to the Professional Development Board and Demo Board as well? It would be handy to leave off the wall wart on those to when not needed.

    Tony is right.

    That would not be advisable. The USB (FTDI) chip only request 100ma from the USB 5 volt supply. Any addition circuitry you add to the bread board would surely cause brownouts.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-07-21 17:58
    Nice Mod! I may have to do that on one of my proto boards. On my thermistor tester boards, I modified the DC jack so that I could add in an external power switch. (post #8)
    ThermTester8.JPG
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    ThermTester7.JPG
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  • CircuitsoftCircuitsoft Posts: 1,166
    edited 2011-07-21 18:15
    Publison wrote: »
    Tony is right.

    That would not be advisable. The USB (FTDI) chip only request 100ma from the USB 5 volt supply. Any addition circuitry you add to the bread board would surely cause brownouts.

    That's easy enough to fix with the FTDI ROM tool. You can change the requested current in the USB descriptor, because FTDI knows the chip is often used for things more than just itself.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-07-21 18:25
    Circuitsoft wrote: »
    That's easy enough to fix with the FTDI ROM tool. You can change the requested current in the USB descriptor, because FTDI knows the chip is often used for things more than just itself.

    Yes, that can be done, but it is easy to load up a Propeller Development board with more than 500ma of components very easily, thereby overloading the USB port. It can be done, just not recommended.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2011-07-21 18:34
    Thanks for these tips guys. These will be useful.
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