Sporniket's log on hardware stuff

[sporniket]

If you haven’t ordered yet, I would really recommend getting a Pinecil instead : similar to TS100, but can use USB-C and only 24USD. I’ve been using it for a few months, and it’s really awesome for the price.
And if you are in «Region Parisienne » and want to test, feel free to PM me.
https://pine64.com/product/pinecil-smar ... ring-iron/

I've already ordered.

Yes, I know and am interested in the Pinecil too, but I will need the power supply, the cable, and a set of tips too. That's why I postpone that buy until next summer of Xmas 2022 -I really want a scope for now-. Thanks for the testing offer though, and yes, I am living in Region Parisienne. I will keep the offer in mind, if it still holds when I am ready to buy next year :) .

[sporniket]

VHDL, I am slowly getting the hang of it, and succeeded to tell ISE to keep its files separated from my sources. Going back to basic, I wrote a bunch of basic stuff (serializer/deserializer, buffer, counter) to focus on 3 things :

• Follow the same kind of workflow that I implemented at work : start with writing specs, including behavior test suite.
• Simplify the coding of testbenches as "just iterate over an array of test descriptors"
• for those simple stuff, generalize whatever I can think of, and write simple use cases as an instanciation of the general use case.

It's clean enough to be seen here https://github.com/sporniket/seed-vhdl , the specs are in the wiki

Electronic load project, yesterday I printed the datasheet of my op-amps, and put the sheets in indivudual sleeve for storing in a binder, and I stumbled on the recommandations about unused opamps pins (I took a dual channel op-amp). I can already see that I will need some bodge-wire, and will have to update my schematpics & PCB later...

edit : "electronic charge" --> "electronic load"

[sporniket]

Electronic load project, I finally got the PCBs, I will be able to train my SMD soldering skill, as well as my wire bodging skill...

2021-11-27--01-next-month-goal.jpg

[sporniket]

A little update of the module of my project of electronic load : the wiring of the unused op-amp... and it will be easy to bodge on my already printed pcbs

bridge-uc-to-modules.pdf

Now waiting january to get thermal paste for the contact between the mosfet and the heatsink.

EDIT: Got my christmas presents from myself to me, there is a spare flex pcb for my not working lynx, and some games for the one working...

2021-12-13--christmas-for-lynxes.jpg

[sporniket]

The celebrations for the end of the year 2021 are gones, the Christmas tree is shelved, and a new year has started...

My "key battles" for 2022 :

• Hack the IKBD port to be able to use Bluetooth HID devices. And first, convert the IKBD unit into such HID device by writing a firmware for the ESP32 micro-controller : Kimchi on the beach
• Create a module to power the ST(e)/H5 using a USB-PD (power delivery) power supply. And first, create an electronic load (see previous posts). I will also need to buy a good enough oscilloscope to check the regulation of the voltage.

[mrbombermillzy]

The celebrations for the end of the year 2021 are gones, the Christmas tree is shelved, and a new year has started...

Hurrah! :cheers:

You know, I was thinking exactly the same thing earlier. I really have to finish some projects though, rather than begin any new ones.

[sporniket]

Not a lot of time to setup a soldering session.

So after one session last week and one this morning, I have finally prepared my work on my STe for next month :

• replacement of the big capacitor with exxos kit #0090 (with a twist : I will have to place it to have supplemental clearance on the right, to fit a montage over the soldered CPU)
• apply the video ghost fix

2022-01-22--for-next-month.jpg

[sporniket]

This morning, I did the video ghost fix on my STe. I couldn't take picture of before/after, as I could not reproduce the ghosting to start with. (I had it previously, but I was having longer session, I guess I do not give time to my old chap to getting warm...) Anyway, it still works after the installation, so that's something.

So first I confirmed the orientation of the electrolytic capacitor from the page describing the fix. I also put a little piece of polyimide tape to avoid shorting something while doing the fix.

2022-02-06--video-fix-01-preparations.jpg

Done ! I tried to keep the leads short, and I previously mounted the ceramic capacitor like piggy backing over the electrolytic one.

2022-02-06--video-fix-02-preparations.jpg

[sporniket]

This morning I was motivated to setup my temporary workshop -just a foldable table big and sturdy enough to host the atari and all the stuff-.

So today's goal is to install the 4,700 AXIAL CAP REPLACEMENT KIT [0090] (shameless product placement :D )

DISCLAIMER : my installation will be unconventionnal, as I have to get enough clearance to install an IDE extension provided by @frank.lukas. And with the original big cap, I have a problem when trying to install the extension with a Compact Flash adaptor and said Compact Flash card :

2022-02-27--01-i-need-clearance.jpg

So first, I assess how I should place the replacement to have enough place :

2022-02-27--02-assess-situation.jpg

Then, it's time to remove the original capacitor, and i keep the leads, hoping to reuse them.

2022-02-27--03-snip.jpg

Finally, I cut flush the lead connected to VCC, given the offset that I need, I will connect to VCC with a wire soldered at C104 that is just on the same trace. I also put some polyimide tape ("Kapton© tape") on the area to avoid shorts.

2022-02-27--04-polyimide-everywhere.jpg

Now since I have several holes on the kit for VCC and GND, I install two wires on each side to spread the load. And then more polyimide tape on the bottom...

2022-02-27--05-preparations-complete-top.jpg

2022-02-27--06-preparations-complete-bottom.jpg

Moving on, I solder the red wires to the pin of C104 connected to VCC, and the black wires to the lead of the original capacitor connected to ground, that I kept an twisted a little to the left.

2022-02-27--07-top-view.jpg

Now, regarding the fitting of the IDE + adaptor + card, it's all right :

2022-02-27--08-shoe-fitting-ok.jpg

Removing the extension and closing the case, it's time to check that the STe still works :

2022-02-27--09-it-still-works.jpg

I did a power cycle to install a mouse and launch maxymiser to play some tune...

2022-02-27--10-warming-up.jpg

OK, time to close the workshop, to shelf the STE and clean some more stuff...

2022-02-27--11-time-to-clean.jpg

[sporniket]

I feel like I found my project for this summer... I am not sure of the directionality of some signals, though..

subsheet_100-U15–MMU ; U22-23-26-27–Bus isolator.png

edit : typos