Shane Rutter Blog

Tag: electric

  • ESP8266 low-cost Wi-Fi full stack TCP/IP MCU (Arduino Compatible)

    ESP8266 is a tiny extremity cheap MCU with third-party library making it Arduino compatible. Features all the normal connections you would expect such as GPIO, SPI, I2C, I2C and UART to name a few, the biggest selling point is its size and build in WiFi support with full stack TCP / IP communications.

    Great for those IoT projects, connected devices and internet / network projects.

    Features

    • 32-bit RISC CPU: Tensilica Xtensa L106 running at 80 MHz*
    • 64 KiB of instruction RAM, 96 KiB of data RAM
    • External QSPI flash: 512 KiB to 4 MiB* (up to 16 MiB is supported)
    • IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
      • Integrated TR switch, balun, LNA, power amplifier and matching network
      • WEP or WPA/WPA2 authentication, or open networks
    • 16 GPIO pins
    • SPI
    • I²C
    • I²S interfaces with DMA (sharing pins with GPIO)
    • UART on dedicated pins, plus a transmit-only UART can be enabled on GPIO2
    • 10-bit ADC (this is a Successive Approximation ADC)

    More Information

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP8266

     

  • An easy music player using Pi MusicBox and Raspberry PI

    Got a spare raspberry pi and like music? Turn it into an easy to use music player with access to Spotify, YouTube, internet radio and much more. Pi MusicBox runs headless allows you to simply plug in speakers and control it via a fancy web interface.

    http://www.pimusicbox.com/

  • UPS modification getting rid of the annoying beeping

    UPS modification getting rid of the annoying beeping

    I connect a UPS to a generator allowing me to safely power my sensitive electronic equipment (laptops) when in remote locations, generators are not perfect and occasionally the power fluxuates causing spikes, over and under voltage issues. To resolve these issues and make it safer for my sensitive devices I use a UPS which provides a cleaner and more reliable energy supply. When a under voltage occurs the UPS boosts the power using the battery, when this happens (which is often) the UPS beeps for an extended period (indicating it is using the battery, which I don’t really need to know as it’s only for a couple of seconds normally).

    (more…)

  • Knowing your Generator (Unstable, Over & Under Voltage)

    I take a small portable generator with me when I am using my RC cars this allows me to charge batteries and run power tools such as a dermal or soldering iron for onsite repairs which comes in really handy. I like to be prepared when I take my cars out, nothing worse than driving to the RC track to be heading home 15 minutes later.

    Don’t just plug anything into your Generator

    A lot of people don’t understand you cannot simply just plug anything into a generator for example laptops and printers. Especially not into the cheap generators like mine. (more…)

  • Northants RC Club Official Website

    Northants RC Club Official Website

    I have always been into RC vehicles and I am lucky to have Northants RC right on my door step. Its a RC club dedicated to the members with the intention of providing a safe and friendly environment to partake in this sport. The club and land are in development but we already have a challenging track suitable for a range of off-road vehicles. (more…)