getting designed (and drawn) mixed electronic circuits and their PCB layouts

General Discussion
1

hi there good day

i am currenty working on a few projects - one of them is a ph-sensor that needs connected to Arduino and a display.
well for this and for a lot of other projects i need to draw shematic diagrams - do you know a tool that is very very quick and supports these actions and processes?

i have seen some good approaches here:

https://hackaday.com/2021/04/29/ascii-schematic-diagrams/

cf:

We wondered recently about those crude ASCII schematics you see in some documentation — are there any dedicated schematic-focused tools to draw them, or are they just hand-crafted using various ASCII-art drawing tools? To our surprise, there is such a tool. It is called AACircuit and was developed by [Andreas Weber]. It has a history going back to 2001 when it was first introduced as ASCIIPaint.

see also AACircuit - Willkommen bei www.tech-chat.de

and here http://www.jave.de/

see some links to tools:

https://www.circuitlab.com/editor/#?id=7pq5wm&from=homepage

https://www.circuit-diagram.org

I found some here - but i guess that there are more - especially free and open (source) ones.

https://alternativeto.net/software/fritzing/?platform=online

[b]Autodesk Tinkercad[/b]: Tinkercad is - easy-to-use, browser based 3D design tool. With Tinkercad you can create 3D printable items:

EasyEDA: EasyEDA - Web-based EDA suite; runs in browser. Schematic capture, Ngspice based simulation, PCB layout, custom PCB manufacturing, for electronic engineers, educators, students and hobbyists.

Autodesk Circuits: Autodesk Circuits empowers to get ideas to life

Upverter: Ideation tools, schematic capture, PCB layout, design - with parts library management,

Schematics: Schematics.com empowers engineers to design, share, and collaborate on circuit design online.

TINA: TINA Design Suite is a powerful circuit simulation package for analyzing, designing, and real time testing of analog, digital, .

Circuit Diagram: Circuit Diagram - free application for making electronic circuit diagrams and exporting them as images. Design circuits online in your browser or using the desktop application.

end of cit.

BTW: well i do not have tested these yet: _I only have tested textik.com/
What i need is a quick and easy to use (online-) tool that helps me to get designed (and drawn) mixed electronic circuits and their PCB layouts

I need a tool for the extreme rapid prototyping

see some demos - created on the fly with textk.com

which one do you use!?

Love to hear from you




                                                                                           

    Glass-                                                                                  

  electrode            +---------------+          +---------------+        +---------------+

            -----------|               |          |               |        | micro-        |

                       |  mV           |          |a/d-converter  |        |               |

                       |               -----|-----|               |--------- processor     |

   reference    |------| Amplifier     |    |     |               |        |               |

   electrode    |      |               |    |     |               |        |               |

                |      +---------------+    |     +---------------+        +---------------+

                |                         +---+                                    |       

                |                         |   |                                    |       

                |                         |   |r1                                  |        

                |                         +---+                                    |        

                |                           |                                      |        

                |---------------------------|                                      |        

                                            |                                +--------------+

                                            |                                |              |

                                          +-|-+                              |              |

                                          |   |                              | display      |

                                          |   |r2                            |              |

                                          |   |                              |              |

                                          +---+                              +--------------+

                                            |                                               

                                            |                                               

                                            |                                               

                                          -----

so - what is wanted - is to get an easy-to-use (browser-based) design tool to draw circuits

which tools do you use -

what experiences did you make!?
look forward to hear from you

regards

2

Many thanks for this review of useful, on-line circuit design facilities.

Searching for “linux circuit design software” gets number of Linux-specific sites that readers might be interested in also.

Keith

3

hello dear Keith,

many many thanks for the prompt reply - great to hear frorm you.

many thanks - i will have a closer look at this search-term and will do some searches.

Glad that you gave me this hint.- Since i run MX-Linux i hope that i am able to get some good tools that run on my Linux system too.

Have a great day.

Greetings
Rincon,

4

You’re welcome, Rincom. It’s years since I did any circuit design, but I might explore these links.
Are you doing RF design or DC stuff?

Keith

5

I’m not familiar with MX-Linux but you might look in the your built-in Software Centre. Search for “circuit design”. Ubuntu has several including LibrePC which looks quite good.

Keith

6

dear Keith - many thanks for the quick reply and your great tipps. This is just awesome.

btw: i look in the MX-Linux-System menu for further information regarding the circuit-desing.

at the moment i am working for some of the following things and projects:

  • motor Control – Projects with Arduino & Raspberry Pi: so the question here is…:
  • how to Control a DC Motor (Or Motors) Using a Raspberry Pi: looking after good options to controll all the stuff;
  • making an own Pi-Network Attached Storage (NAS) device - to run it at home

but actually i am in the planning stages of a PH - Measurement - with a Atlas TI :
cr. pH (the potential of Hydrogen) measures the interaction between hydrogen and hydroxide ions within a water-based solution.

see; pH Probes & Sensors | Atlas Scientific
and: https://www.generationrobots.com/media/Kit%20capteur%20de%20pH/pH_Circuit_4.0.pdf

note:

It is important to keep in mind that only temperature dependent readings can be considered scientific grade pH readings. Without adding temperature information to your reading request the pH Circuit will use a default temperature of 25 C°.

so i also want to do such a project: Temperature-Measurement

if i have enough time then i will take some of the following projects

  • Build my own Pi Web Server
    we can now use a Raspberry Pi to set up a web server!
    Raspberry Pi has a low energy usage

Have a great day. regards

7

Hi,

While the below information may not be what you’re after: it may not be a shortcut you’d like, and/or I’m not even sure if this Grove board works on Arduino… so the below may help helpful or way off the mark! :slight_smile:

I’ve used Grove on a Raspberry before (GrovePI+ Hat) - and found them very easy to connect and equally easy to read using Python.

There also do a PH Sensor:

Feel free to ignore me, if I’m heading in the wrong direction :slight_smile:

8

OK - It does look like the Grove PH Sensor supports Arduino… YAY!

…But if you’re looking at a RPI - Then this Hat allows you to connect a bundle of 12c and Analogue sensors (including motors to it) - super easy.

While the new PI 4s sound sexy, I’d still recommend a 3b for this kind of thing. They are lower spec and therefore likely lower power requirements but also ~£35 rather than ~£100. Despite their modest hardware they are more than happy running MySQL and a HTTP server, etc… Although if you’re reading the sensor data regularly, you should consider external storage or writing the readings to an external database (and then quickly consider archiving and condensing historic data (storing weekly min/max/avgs rather than every single read (so similar)). Depending on the use case, you may also want to consider a UPS or I have used a standard battery-bank in the past.

The GrovePI software (via GrovePi Internet of Things Robot Kit) does run headless, but take a little more effort to setup and test, than using the GUI. But the wiki.seeedstudio.com website, contains good example code which you should be able to simply copy/paste to get you up and running quickly…

Oh… one word of warning when buying Grove sensors - keep an eye on the sensors you buy - because you only have a certain amount of 12c inputs and Analogue inputs - it was more blind luck that the 12 or so sensors which makes up my weather station worked out, and each could be connected :slight_smile:

Running a Webserver on a RPI is easy enough - I tend to use LigHTTP which is available via APT.

Good Luck…

9

oh! :frowning:

All this chat got me thinking that I ought to update my own PI/GrovePI+ but ran into problems using the latest PI-OS-Lite… https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/

Please note the below which I’ve copied from the DexterInd. Forum

There have been several postings here where someone is trying to get a Grove-Pi/Grove-Pi+ working and it fails no matter what they try.

The eventual root cause of this failure is that the individual downloaded and installed Raspbian Bullseye.

It should be noted that the Dexter Industries libraries for the Grove-Pi are not yet compatible with Bullseye.

The solution is to flash your SD card with the Raspbian Buster image located here:
https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/#raspberry-pi-os-legacy

Then run the “curl” commands in the installation guide for the Grove-Pi.

If you are using a Pi-4, this version of Raspbian is mandatory as other, earlier, versions will not boot on the Raspberry Pi-4.

Edit:
Updated the link to point to the official download site for the “legacy” version of Raspbian.

10

hello dear keith hello dear Brian000

first of all : many many thanks for the repy- this was much much more than expected. i am just overwhelmed. Brian youre right - i am working on a ph-sensing-project:

and i have to read your text more carefully and thoroughly to get all your information you provide. It is really great to see how much ideas and thoughts you share.

and yes: its so great to see that you have seen - what i am aiming. - i am working on PH-sensor-project.
at the moment i do not know which system to choose…

As of being in the early planning stages i have heard of different types of sensors.

a. DFRobot Gravity Analog pH Sensor
b. EZO TM class embedded pH circuit : This is an … - TI E2 by : The Atlas Scientific EZO™

which one is the best one!?

see the both examples:

https://eckstein-shop.de/DFRobotGravityAnalogpHSensor2FMeterKitForArduino

DFRobot Gravity Analog pH Sensor / Meter Kit For Arduino
30,26 € (Netto 25,43 €)
Artikelnummer: DF01035
GTIN: 4060137045332
Kategorie: Sonstige Sensoren
Hersteller: DFRobot

overview:
Aquakultur: ANALOG PH-SENSOR / METERSPEZIFIKATION

Modulpower : 5.00V
Modulsize : 43 x 32mm(1.69x1.26")
range :0 - 14PH
temperature: 0 - 60 °C
accurate ph-readings : ± 0.1pH
Reaction : < 1min
pH-Sensor with BNC-connector
pH2.0-interface ( 3-Fuß-Patch )

pH-Messtaster (BNC-Stecker) x1
pH-Sensor-Leiterplatte x1
Analoges Kabel x1

EZO TM class embedded pH circuit This is an … - TI E2E

The Atlas Scientific EZO™ class pH circuit, has a flexible calibration protocol, allowing for single point, two point, or three point calibration. The other two …

https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Scientific-Embedded-Circuit-001-14/dp/B00641R1PQ
Features

Reads
• Full range pH reading from .001 to 14.000
• Accurate pH readings down to the
thousandths place (+/- 0.02)
• Temperature dependent or temperature
independent readings
• Flexible calibration protocol supports single point,
2 point, or 3 point calibration
• Calibration required only once per year with
Atlas Scientific pH probe
• Single reading or continuous reading modes
• Data format is ASCII
Two data protocols
• UART asynchronous serial connectivity
• (RX/TX voltage swing 0-VCC)
• I
2
C (default I2
C address 0x63)
• Compatible with any microprocessor that supports
UART, or I2
C protocol
• Operating voltage: 3.3V to 5V
• Works with any off-the-shelf pH probe
Sleep mode power consumption
• 0.995mA at 3.3V

DescriptionThe Atlas Scientific™ EZO™ class embedded pH circuit, is our 6th generation
embedded pH circuit. This EZO class pH circuit, offers the highest level of stability
and accuracy. With proper configuration the EZO class pH circuit, can meet, or
exceed the accuracy and precision found in most bench top laboratory grade
pH meters. The pH-EZO™ pH circuit, can work with any off-the-shelf pH probe/
sensor/electrode. This device reads pH from a pH probe/sensor/electrode. This
device does not include a pH probe/sensor/electrode.

btw: i think i will stick to the b.- the Atlas Scientific™ EZO™ class embedded pH circuit

and now i will read your postings more carefully and thoroughly - dear Brian000

many many thanks for this overwhelming thread.

greetings
tanger :slight_smile:

11

Tanger,
I’ve used neither the PI computer nor a pH meter, so can’t really advise you, but here are my comments on the two that you suggest:

[ol]- I note that the Atlas Scientific EZO has a pH resolution of +/-0.002 - do you really need that high resolution? It costs $42 and seems to require a separate probe that you will have to buy. The circuit board looks a bit rough. The websites that I’ve searched for this product say it is not available at present.

  • The DFRobot is about the same price but comes with a probe. The pH resolution is only +/-0.1 which is probably OK for most people (only the user can decide that) and the whole assembly look very professional. I note that this product is still available. [/ol]

Hope that helps a little.
Keith

12

Hi,

You may like to have a read of a few of these - which are all using PIs with a EZO PH Sensor.
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=323824

Although as suggested before - if you require remote installation and battery dependency - I understand that Arduinos are “better”, because they can be powered up to take a reading and powered down again, much better than a PI would - which will preserve any battery for longer.

Not my area, but as Keith says, procession instruments aren’t always a good fit for domestic purposes, while they give greater accuracy/detail - they are often meant for laboratory environments that have control over other conditions that could influence the results. Not being able to control those factors may give poor results. I don’t know anything about these PH sensors, but just be aware of the risk when buying hardware of scientific quality.

I’m not sure I can input to your use case, requirements or setup either - but I’d be interested on how you get on…

Please remember to give your database some thought too, because regular reads could result in thousands of records being created per day - which quickly gets to millions. while I don’t know the practical limitations of a MySQL table, “millions” is a lot of data! (do you require it all, and how will you ensure the database maintains the response time you expect?)

Best of luck…

13

hello dear keath, good day dear Brina000 :slight_smile:

first of all - many many thanks for the quick reply and for all the ideas and thoughts that you share here. great food for thoughts!! i am glad for all the things that you discuss:

:slight_smile:

Tanger, I've used neither the PI computer nor a pH meter, so can't really advise you, but here are my comments on the two that you suggest:I note that the Atlas Scientific EZO has a pH resolution of +/-0.002 - do you really need that high resolution?

in fact: no i do not need such a high resolution.

It costs $42 and seems to require a separate probe that you will have to buy. The circuit board looks a bit rough. The websites that I've searched for this product say it is not available at present. The DFRobot is about the same price but comes with a probe. The pH resolution is only +/-0.1 which is probably OK for most people (only the user can decide that) and the whole assembly look very professional. I note that this product is still available. Hope that helps a little.

i take a closer look at the DFRobot.

Many thanks for the hints.

@Brian000 : many thanks for the hints - i will read the articles here :slight_smile:

You may like to have a read of a few of these - which are all using PIs with a EZO PH Sensor.
https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=323824

and yes: i agree with you - Arduinos are better - just in regard of power consumption and all these things.

I understand that Arduinos are "better", because they can be powered up to take a reading and powered down again, much better than a PI would - which will preserve any battery for longer

i will give the database some thought too,

I will keep you informed as i go on… :slight_smile:
Have a great day

regards
Tanger :slight_smile: