@tomasmcguinness

  • My nRF52840 logging rig is up and running!

    In a previous post, I wrote about issues with my Zigbee code, which caused my device to become unresponsive. To aid my investigation, I figured out how to use a Raspberry Pi to capture the logs. As the issue with code takes a few days to show up, I needed… Read ⇢

    My nRF52840 logging rig is up and running!

  • Record RTT logs from an nRF52840 with an RPi

    As I continue development of my Zigbee Flow and Return temperature sensor, I’m worried about the stability of my code. Once I’d finished the code, I deployed it to a nRF52840DK, connected to the mains i.e. on all the time. After the first few days, Home Assistant reported it as… Read ⇢

  • Detecting a 433MHz Kinetic Push Switch with an ESP32 – Part 1

    I recently published a video to my YouTube channel about Kinetic Switches. Kinetic switches are ones that don’t have a battery. Rather they use the energy generated during the push to send radio signals. Before December, 2024, I didn’t know they were even a thing. In my video, I look… Read ⇢

  • Zigbee F.A.R.T. PCB v0.2

    Learning from the few mistakes I made with v0.1, I’ve just send another revision to manufacture with aisler.net! This board includes several small tweaks. Changed terminal connectors I originally used simple screw terminals for the temperature probes. As I’ve figured out JST connectors and how to crimp them, I changed… Read ⇢

    Zigbee F.A.R.T. PCB v0.2

  • Battery terminals. Are you positive that’s the right way?

    When designing the PCB for my F.A.R.T. sensor, I had to decide which way the +/- terminals went. I had some wired connectors, which looked like this: I designed my PCB with this orientation of positive and negative and thought no more of it. However, when I tried to connect… Read ⇢

  • Zigbee F.A.R.T. Sensor code now available!

    It’s taken a long time to get here, but my Zigbee Flow and Return Temperature sensor code is on Github! https://github.com/tomasmcguinness/zigbee-nrf-flow-and-return-temperature-sensor Next Steps There is a small design flaw in my PCB, which needs to be resolved. I also need to confirm the sensor’s reliability i.e. it stays connected for… Read ⇢

  • F.A.R.T. Sensor PCB mistake

    After all the excitement of getting the PCBs for my F.A.R.T. Sensor delivered, I discovered that I had made a mistake! Let me show you what went wrong. If you look at the top right, you’ll see SW1. These pads are for a small push switch, which will act as… Read ⇢

  • Added Battery measurement to my Zigbee F.A.R.T. Sensor

    Whilst I waited for the arrival of my new PCBs from Aisler.net, I continued to work on the code for my Zigbee Sensor. Next item on my list was the addition of battery reporting. When running a device on battery, giving the user some idea of remaining battery life is… Read ⇢

  • My F.A.R.T. Sensor PCBs arrived today!

    A quick look at v0.1 of my F.A.R.T. Sensor boards! Read ⇢

    My F.A.R.T. Sensor PCBs arrived today!