Build your own telemetry sensors.

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

There has been interest shown on a few other threads when the home made telemetry sensors have been mentioned.

The article has now appeared in the May issue of RCM&E and a thread had been promised to discuss it.

So with minor trepidation that I'm proved to have done it all wrong, here's said thread. With a bit of luck we'll all learn something.

[Kevin Fairgrieve]

Been waiting for this. Worked OT today so will not get my mag until tomorrow.

I have plenty of Arduino boards ready to go.

[Andy Halmshaw]

Thank you for two great articles, I have ordered some of the PCBs and am looking forward to having a go at making my own telemetry sensors.

I use 4mm banana connectors, so am hoping that I can make a V,A and Cells sensor using this type of connector, instead of having to use an adapter to connect to the XT 60 connector on the FrSKY sensor.

If you were to make the PCB that you mentioned in the article available I would be interested.

Edited By Pete B - Moderator on 13/04/2019 23:22:55

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Hi Andy and welcome to the forum.

I'm waiting to gauge interest in the PCBs. I have a handful left and can get more made. It takes 2-3 weeks for a batch to come through.

I'll work out a price with postage. It wont be much, I'm not looking for any profit.

[Kevin Fairgrieve]

Thank you Chris..

I would be up for three or four boards, as long as the price is keen.

Going flying shortly, then watch the re run F1, and finally into the workshop where I can read the article.

[Frank Skilbeck]

Having made some Open Vario sensors to work with Muiltiplex M Link, I'd be interested in the PCBs to make up some Volt. amp and cell sensor,

[Former Member]

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[Chris Bott - Moderator]

OK well the handful turned out to be two, oops - that won't get us far. So the bullet has been bitten and I've ordered 50.

Does anyone have any experience of posting thing like this? To keep postage down then something like a cardboard CD envelope might work? That would keep the package thin enough to still class as an envelope.

Any ideas how to keep multiple pcbs edge to edge rather than stacking up, which would push up the thickness?
I have some (not very sticky) paper labels. Maybe they would stick on across them? I guess we don't want any residue leaving on them, whatever I do.

[Andy Halmshaw]

Hi Chris, when the PCBs are available I will probably go for three.

When I was working we used to get Pre Production PCBs sent to us at work in the post. These came just in an envelope with a piece of cardboard either side for protection, we never had any problems or damage to the PCBs, hope this helps.

I am totally new to Arduino but I am starting to find out how it works. When you say changing parameters do you also mean adding lines? i.e. #define ARDUINO_MEASURES_VOLTAGES YES

And the last question, the OpenXsensor sketch that I downloaded does not appear to have the oXs_config_advanced.h file! What am I missing?

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Hi Andy. Yep that sounds a nice simple answer for protecting boards.

Changing parameters - No, you pretty much always just change what's already there.

It sounds like you may have found an older version if you don't have the two config files.

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

The latest version is here.

Go in View code and I think you can right click on the openxsensor folder to download all the files.

[Ron Gray]

Hi Chris, I’m in and would be looking for 4 boards. When I’ve had thevsmaller FrSky RXs sent to me from T9 they just come in small Jiffy bags inside a padded envelope.

[Andy Halmshaw]

Hi Chris,

You were right I used the OpenXsensor download which did not have the correct files. I have now gone to the GitHub page and then hit the Clone or Download button, everything is all there now.

Thanks

[Frank Skilbeck]

I'd be up for 3 boards please.

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Thanks everyone it's great to see the interest.

Don't forget that the PCB is overkill for some measurements, where the Arduino board can be fine on its own.

[Ron Gray]

Nowt wrong with overkill Chris!

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

So, how does £2 a board plus £1 postage sound?

It's a little bit more than unit cost but it means I won't have to sell every last one before I break even.

Hopefully that will cover some stout envelopes, card and stamps etc.

[Kevin Fairgrieve]

Sounds very reasonable to me.

Please put me down for four.

How would you like payment? PayPal?

Kev

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Yes I'd prefer PaypPal if possible please.

Once they are here we can switch to PMs to swap details etc.

Edited By Chris Bott - Moderator on 14/04/2019 22:05:29

[Frank Skilbeck]

Posted by Chris Bott - Moderator on 14/04/2019 19:50:12:

So, how does £2 a board plus £1 postage sound?

It's a little bit more than unit cost but it means I won't have to sell every last one before I break even.

Hopefully that will cover some stout envelopes, card and stamps etc.

Perfect.

[Alan Jarvis]

I have received pcb's in the padded jiffy bags ok.

Put me down for 4

[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Thanks Alan, I may well end up with jiffy bags but I'm hoping I can keep the package thickness below the Royal Mail limit of 0.5cm for letter post.

[Former Member]

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[Chris Bott - Moderator]

Posted by Doc Marten on 15/04/2019 09:25:00:

Posted by Chris Bott - Moderator on 15/04/2019 08:46:08:

Thanks Alan, I may well end up with jiffy bags but I'm hoping I can keep the package thickness below the Royal Mail limit of 0.5cm for letter post.

How about a strip of masking tape onto a cardbord strip?

Yes I think this is what I'm thinking too. At worst people can clean off any masking tape residue with a solvent.

[David Tayler]

Chris,I am watching this tread with interest.I have read the"H" files but not yet tried programming my Arduino . I would be interested in two pcb's.