A Viewer Remade my Old Project! Is it any Good?
video description
1) Who was the viewer who remade this? (and why 8 and not 9 or 10)
2) I propose building a super-simple game using as little IC's possible and cheap components. This is to trigger the desire for young entrepreneurs and to challenge them into small steps of designing and soldering to achieve a small but rewarding victory. The game should be upgradeable and open source for future add-ons and improvements. which can also turn into a challenge for all to make it bigger and better. Merry Christmas!
Date: 2022-12-18
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Comments and reviews: 14
Eric
It might be time to look into small 3D printer heated beads to use to upgrade your reflow station. They come in larger sizes than credit cards and some of the smaller beds are only 120mm square. The ESP32 may be in a tiny package, you can still look to see if the communication pins, power, ground and USB are actually getting to the footprint. I would not doubt somewhere else in the circuit there is a problem that a microscope can not see properly that probing the pin contacts will let you find. I agree for what it is that 8/10 is appropriate marks especially with the power issue. It would be nice if you mentioned a potential upgrade, possibly as simple as a slide switch, as an alternative than always have a battery. Stay safe, stay creative.
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It might be time to look into small 3D printer heated beads to use to upgrade your reflow station. They come in larger sizes than credit cards and some of the smaller beds are only 120mm square. The ESP32 may be in a tiny package, you can still look to see if the communication pins, power, ground and USB are actually getting to the footprint. I would not doubt somewhere else in the circuit there is a problem that a microscope can not see properly that probing the pin contacts will let you find. I agree for what it is that 8/10 is appropriate marks especially with the power issue. It would be nice if you mentioned a potential upgrade, possibly as simple as a slide switch, as an alternative than always have a battery. Stay safe, stay creative.
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a1nelson
When using a hot plate and/or hot air, I recommend putting some thermal vias in the pads under ICs to help with heat flow. Via-in-pad comes with its own issues, such as the need to find a balance between needing a bit more solder paste while not bridging, but it s often the _least bad thing_. Shrinking the pads under the ESP32 can also help reduce bridging, which I suspect may have been the root cause of the board failure in this video. Just a guess.
Or if you want to get fancy, shrink only the stencil (paste layer.
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When using a hot plate and/or hot air, I recommend putting some thermal vias in the pads under ICs to help with heat flow. Via-in-pad comes with its own issues, such as the need to find a balance between needing a bit more solder paste while not bridging, but it s often the _least bad thing_. Shrinking the pads under the ESP32 can also help reduce bridging, which I suspect may have been the root cause of the board failure in this video. Just a guess.
Or if you want to get fancy, shrink only the stencil (paste layer.
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Noorquacker
The ESP32-C3 comes in different packages just like every other ESP, but it looks like the design you got called for the MINI. The WROOM exists as well, which is what I use, and it has a slightly larger footprint but has easy-to-solder pins just like all the other ones.
Also, you forgot to mention one of the coolest parts of the ESP32-C3, it runs RISC-V cores instead of Xtensa cores, meaning compiler support is _way_ more plentiful compared to before
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The ESP32-C3 comes in different packages just like every other ESP, but it looks like the design you got called for the MINI. The WROOM exists as well, which is what I use, and it has a slightly larger footprint but has easy-to-solder pins just like all the other ones.
Also, you forgot to mention one of the coolest parts of the ESP32-C3, it runs RISC-V cores instead of Xtensa cores, meaning compiler support is _way_ more plentiful compared to before
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Abhinav
The reason why the first board didn't work is because the leads of ESP-32 were shorted from inside(we can't notice that.
It happened with me while Reflowing RP2040.
I followed a different reflow process for it.
First I Reflowed all components except the RP2040, then put some solder on the pads, then Reflowed it once again with RP2040 now.
This worked for me.
But Reflowing multiple times is not good practice.
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The reason why the first board didn't work is because the leads of ESP-32 were shorted from inside(we can't notice that.
It happened with me while Reflowing RP2040.
I followed a different reflow process for it.
First I Reflowed all components except the RP2040, then put some solder on the pads, then Reflowed it once again with RP2040 now.
This worked for me.
But Reflowing multiple times is not good practice.
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Frank
4: 24 Ah! I always wondered why some of my devices (RC radios for example, and other RC components which I suspect use cheap ESP32 components) will work when using a USB-A to USB-C adapter, but not a direct USB-C to USB-C cable. I suspected there was probably some component they omitted. Now I'm even more upset that it's because they are too cheap/lazy to include a couple simple resistors.
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4: 24 Ah! I always wondered why some of my devices (RC radios for example, and other RC components which I suspect use cheap ESP32 components) will work when using a USB-A to USB-C adapter, but not a direct USB-C to USB-C cable. I suspected there was probably some component they omitted. Now I'm even more upset that it's because they are too cheap/lazy to include a couple simple resistors.
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Hayden
You REALLY need to build you a cheap reflow oven! Seriously. all those SMD builds, it's almost imperative for you to have one. hand soldering with a reflow gun can damage sensitive components pretty quickly. a reflow is much more controllable
Find some of the controller boards online and find a cheapo IR toaster oven. and viola!
Keep em coming!
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You REALLY need to build you a cheap reflow oven! Seriously. all those SMD builds, it's almost imperative for you to have one. hand soldering with a reflow gun can damage sensitive components pretty quickly. a reflow is much more controllable
Find some of the controller boards online and find a cheapo IR toaster oven. and viola!
Keep em coming!
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Shocker99
It would be interesting if this could start a huge project. This is the base device and depending on what you want to monitor, you attach optional boards. It would be pretty sweet for this to monitor USB powered, 12V, 24V, 48V, and mains powered devices. And any other commonly used voltages that i'm not aware of.
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It would be interesting if this could start a huge project. This is the base device and depending on what you want to monitor, you attach optional boards. It would be pretty sweet for this to monitor USB powered, 12V, 24V, 48V, and mains powered devices. And any other commonly used voltages that i'm not aware of.
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UEC
You are always making excellent videos, thank you sir. I'm 20 now and actually I begin to watch your videos from my elementary school time, though I didn't understand many of the English words at that time, I enjoy watching them. from Hainan Island.
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You are always making excellent videos, thank you sir. I'm 20 now and actually I begin to watch your videos from my elementary school time, though I didn't understand many of the English words at that time, I enjoy watching them. from Hainan Island.
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Anna
It seems like I have a new project to make! I could adapt this PCB to make an electronic load part of an expansion, because I've been wanting to build one for ages.
LCSC shipping is getting cheaper again, and I can't let that opportunity slide
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It seems like I have a new project to make! I could adapt this PCB to make an electronic load part of an expansion, because I've been wanting to build one for ages.
LCSC shipping is getting cheaper again, and I can't let that opportunity slide
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rpavlik1
Pretty cool! I imagine there are probably esp32-c3 modules that have castellated pads instead of that no-lead style. Note that the C3 had limited USB only for programming: is not like the S2 or S3 where you can do mass storage or hid.
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Pretty cool! I imagine there are probably esp32-c3 modules that have castellated pads instead of that no-lead style. Note that the C3 had limited USB only for programming: is not like the S2 or S3 where you can do mass storage or hid.
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sanji
Correction It is a ESP32-C3- MINI the non MINI uses normal castelations, i think he went with it because it is smaller and a bit cheaper, and i made the same mistake and that is why i know
BTW what sort of paste and flux do you use?
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Correction It is a ESP32-C3- MINI the non MINI uses normal castelations, i think he went with it because it is smaller and a bit cheaper, and i made the same mistake and that is why i know
BTW what sort of paste and flux do you use?
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Jeff
fwiw, the idea of scoring viewer submitted projects rubs me the wrong way. I like that you re providing actionable feedback on the design but the number you offer at the end isn t informative and could be considered disrespectful.
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fwiw, the idea of scoring viewer submitted projects rubs me the wrong way. I like that you re providing actionable feedback on the design but the number you offer at the end isn t informative and could be considered disrespectful.
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technic
A really useful device, maybe 3D printing a case for it with an integrated battery and a little code modification to display the battery percentage instead of the voltage (or both) would be quite useful. Happy holidays.
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A really useful device, maybe 3D printing a case for it with an integrated battery and a little code modification to display the battery percentage instead of the voltage (or both) would be quite useful. Happy holidays.
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Randy
Be careful using this project. The grounds of your test supply and load are not isolated from your computer. There's the potential for a catastrophic ground loop through your computer chassis. Don't ask me how I know.
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Be careful using this project. The grounds of your test supply and load are not isolated from your computer. There's the potential for a catastrophic ground loop through your computer chassis. Don't ask me how I know.
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