Circuit Visualization
Intro: Circuit Visualization
This instructables show how to visualize the circuit design in real life.
STEP 1: Why?
Circuit can be drawn very clear in diagram, but it is hard to read the connection in real life product. Bread board connections are easier to read, but it still have some main connection hided at the bottom.
How about if the real life product can read all the circuit connection clearly? This instructables try to visualize circuit in module level, I will use my previous project ATtinyPowerMeter as an example.
STEP 2: Preparation
I will try to use round female pin headers help to flatten all the circuit connections.
Breadboard WireBreadboard wire is the best friend of round female pin header!
MCUATtiny85-20SU with DIP adaptor board.
Power Monitor ModuleINA219 High Side DC Current Sensor Breakout module.
Display ModuleSSD1306 128x64 OLED I2C display module (beware of Vcc and GND pin position).
BatteryCR2032 or LIR2032 with battery holder.
Terminal Block Connector2 pins push wire screwless terminal block connector, one for power source, one for load device.
Power SwitchAny power switch is ok but push button preferred.
Acrylic sheetA 2-3 mm small size acrylic sheet for the circuit support, 90 mm x 70 mm is good enough for this project. You may find some small cheap dispose acrylic sheet from the acrylic shop near you.
STEP 3: Soldering Round Female Pin Headers
This step is optional, only required if you want to reuse same module in different project.
Firstly, you need to desoldering original pin header if exists. Then put the round female pin headers on the module board and bent it into right angle and soldering it.
Repeat this step in all modules.
STEP 4: Design Circuit Layout
It is very similar to normal circuit design, only one thing need to consider for easy reading: reduce overlapping, each wire should not overlap more than 1 time.
STEP 5: Connect Easier Part First
Next step we need measure and cut the breadboard wire to connect all the component.
Let's start with easier part first, the parallel wires.
In this example, INA219 and SSD1306 modules have same I2C pin order: Vcc, GND, SCL, SDA.
STEP 6: Reserve Cross Connect Space
Some wires require connect with other wires, remove part of the wire cover to reserve the connection space.
STEP 7: Connect MCU Wire
ATtiny85 have Vcc, SCK and SDA pin at the same side, let's connect it then.
STEP 8: Connect All Other Wires
Then connect all other wires one by one. GND is the most difficult one because it connect all the components. All others is point to point connection.
STEP 9: Soldering Work
Soldering all connected points.
STEP 10: Fix the Terminal Block Connectors
The terminal block connectors I am using are connect the cover with 3 of 1.5 mm round legs. I would like to remove the cover any direct plug it into the acrylic base. So that I can see through the connectors.
- mark the holes at the acrylic sheet
- drill the holes
- remove the covers
- plug the connectors to the acrylic sheet
STEP 11: Fix Other Components
Stick other components with acrylic foam tape.
You may use normal foam tape instead, but acrylic foam tape make you can see back side clearly too :>
STEP 12: Test Connection
Plug in the battery and switch on the circuit, check the OLED display correctly.
Connect a DC power source to the source connectors (Vin+ and GND) and connect a loading circuit to load connectors (Vin- and GND), check the voltage and current display correctly.
Recheck all connection if something goes wrong.
STEP 13: Happy Sharing!
It's time to show what you have done to your friends!
31 Comments
Mad Chat 1 year ago
lcroisez 6 years ago
A german artist, Peter Vogel, which is dead now, was building amazing interactive electronic structures: http://galerie-baumgarten.de/kuenstler.php?kuenstler=36&name=Peter_Vogel
Mousepotato01 6 years ago
A tip for you. If you want to have absolutely perfectly straight wire take and use solid core wire like hook up wire or bell wire as it is known in many parts then cut more than what you need be very careful practice with unshielded wire to do this step before you attempt to do this for your art work ok. Take it between 2 pairs of pliers and grasp it very firmly then apply force between the two pliers pulling on the wire being careful not to move it and it will stretch. Now this is the tricky part you only need it to stretch a very small amount to straighten the wires perfectly and then you can take a pair of needle nose pliers without teeth on them to grip the wire where you want a bend and make the bend it will be crisp and clean and no waves in the wire unless the insulation is wavey that nothing can be done about other than purchasing very expensive wire and that is just crazy. After you pull the wire check it with continuity tester to be certain you have no breakages along the way under the insulation and you will have perfectly formed pieces of very very nice artwork. By the way did I mention how beautiful this looks you should get a patent on this before underwriters laboratory (UL) or GE scoops it up you have a gold mine here my friend. People always want to know what they are getting and you stumbled onto pure gold. I do understand the need to keep things hidden from the public to avoid copyright infringement or reverse engineering others work but this is great stuff for weather stations or clocks or things of that nature. Plus one can not get any more open source than this for the software and products. Plus this is a great way to inspire young minds to go into this field. KUDO'S to you my friend very exceptional work I LOVE THIS ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS...... I will need to do this with my signs I make if that is ok with you to take your idea. This is the signs I speak of I made these and they sold for $150.97 on the Swan the Mickey Mouse sold for $200.00 and the S for Superman was a gift. The other signs have not sold yet but I think in place of the black back board I could use clear acrylic and show off the wiring and electronic components with power supplies what do you think INSTRUCTABLES???? I will make a Instructables on how to for my next build on a small wall sign like one of these. They work perfectly in the children's room as a Nightlight it is bright enough to read a book by but pleasant to not bother the child to stay awake and if they are animated it is even better. Some of my signs have Fiber Optics in them with RGB LED's to display multi colored dots all over like snow or stars. The image with me in it is to show just how large they are that is my hottest size seller it is 11x14 inch and the circuitry is hidden in the frames for now or behind the backing if animation is needed due to the circuit boards sizes for sequencing of the neon wire. The Fantasy Witchy Toadstool Mushrooms are in fact Night Lights I used INSTAMORPH Moldable Plastic to make them they sold for $197.98 with the special programming asked for by the customer to play lullabies in her triplets room they also are powered by a battery pack that is solar powered for recharge and comes with a wall outlet for when mom forgets to recharge the batteries they also have a small digital meter to show the power level. The Coffee sign has fiber optics in the steam to make it come to life. Each battery pack has a 4 day operating life left on 24/7 it will last for 4 days before recharge is required. This is why the cost is so high on them the quality is over the top. I will make this to see how it turns out using Lexan plastic glass. A small word of advise if you purchase the plastic glass of Amazon.com do not buy from https://www.amazon.com/s?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A29P802DGSGI7W&merchant=A29P802DGSGI7W&redirect=true they sell underside pieces of plastic glass and when you speak to them they blow smoke up your behind telling you it is industrial standards now if that were true which it is not I know from expierience everything in this world would be off size and we all know that is not true. Ok sorry I got lost with my reply please forgive my rambling on about my stuff. VERY NICE WORK 陳亮 I love it....
陳亮 6 years ago
hi Mousepotato01, thanks for your suggestion. I am spending most of time to manage the wire in this project :P
Mousepotato01 6 years ago
Mousepotato01 6 years ago
I also build outdoor signs for holiday decorations Them are mostly all solar powered people love the idea of decorating to the 9's without having to pay a huge electric bill. I owe it all to this web site as well for many ideas I refined and improved on to be bulletproof. TwoLipsNeonDesigns@hotmail.com for inquiries on products.
Mousepotato01 6 years ago
The double imaging you think you see in some photo's is the animation I spoke of it is the neon not illuminated yet it flashes between the stuff to make it look like they are moveing that is the animation I spoke of.
smamitkumarsingh09 6 years ago
Can u tell me what use of this project
chemicalvamp 6 years ago
A transparent and easy to understand implementation of an INA219 current and volt meter using an ATmega85 arduino compatible micro controller. I would use this to test the power draw and energy consumption of my other arduino projects. But it looks nice enough for me to leave out on my desk.
陳亮 6 years ago
thanks, chemicalvamp!
AlphaOmega1 6 years ago
Very nice, but I have to ask, isn't the point of micro electronics to be inconspicuous? ;) Please read on...
The
breadboard and any sketches should be fine for "reading the
connections", in fact a clear circuit diagram will be your best option,
Why do you need to do this on the end product? Having designed and made
it, you ought to know how it went together.
The drawing is an abstraction, students should learn to work with abstractions rather than dumbing everything down.
Do
you need to have a rationale for what is essentially a piece of
functional art? What not just say, I made this, it looks freeking great!
;)
Taranach 6 years ago
The purpose is educational... it is also a very clear and elegant layout of the circuit that displays the functionality of the connections. It is a schematic made real instead of just another spaghetti mess of wiring. I can appreciate your idea of working with "abstractions", but that is anathema to engineering where everything must be detailed and precise or it does not work. There is nothing worse than trying to track down a problem among hundreds of intertwining wiring that is all the same size and color inside of a series of industrial electrical cabinets. Another nasty mess I see all too often is that the schematics are laid out for optimum clarity for wiring and rarely follow the physical packaging of the components. This can also become a problem if everything is not very clearly labeled... then there is the final insult, when the schematics go missing. This happens far too often in real life.
陳亮 6 years ago
agree, it is very hard to find the schematics for my home appliac
陳亮 6 years ago
Hi, AlphaOmega1. When I break into an appliance, I always want to read how the circuit connected. But it is hard to read without the circuit diagram. I just want my daily use tools can illustrate the circuit itself without any extra document. I am very happy heard someone call it an art piece, besides art element, it also help me explain to others how simple connecting today modularized eletronics can be.
cncholic 6 years ago
Love it, very well made article. I learned electronics with the Braun Lectron about 55 years ago, a forgotten tool that works on the same basis. Congrats, great execution
陳亮 6 years ago
its elegant
nh4x4Jeep 6 years ago
appsman 6 years ago
steveastrouk 6 years ago
Gone, but not forgotten, like his friend Bob Pease.
mosaicmap 6 years ago
WOW! This is crazy and beautiful at the same time.