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Messages - Sleepwalker3

31
Bus Pirate Development / Re: Sourcing BP v3.8 PCB Thick Film Resistors
It depends on what you're sending and who's doing it. I've received and sent Fedex overseas before for $25. It's much cheaper if you use their 'set' boxes and if you have an account with a pre-quoted value. We routinely send stuff to the states (from Aus) with Fedex at work, quite large boxes and they get done pretty cheaply because it's all pre-quoted stuff. But if you're buying just small parts, then unless the sender has a special deal, then yeah it can get very expensive. Many of the ebay sellers have goods (say a bit of test gear) selling for $20, but the freight is $250! - think I'll pass!
35
Bus Pirate Development / Re: Sourcing BP v3.8 PCB Thick Film Resistors
I haven't got a V3.8 board, so not sure of the USB connector on there, is it a Mini or a Micro (or is it a nano or pico these days?!). I think I've still got one or two left over from the stuff Mats (Small Room Labs) very kindly donated with some other stuff, and if so then I can throw one of them in there. I think it will mostly be the same as the V3.6 SOIC that I built.
38
Bus Pirate Development / Re: Sourcing BP v3.8 PCB Thick Film Resistors
It's normally cheaper/easier (in my opinion) to just buy the made board from Seeed, but with Tom's generous offer You might be OK.
Where abouts are you located?  I've just had a look and I've got quite a few bits left over from when I made mine, so I can possibly throw some / most of the bits into a bag and send it off to you, providing the postage isn't too expensive.
39
General discussion / Re: Backlight schematic question
Yes you are measuring correctly. The 28V is the result of the +13.6V and the -14.9V (both with reference to ground), which makes around 28.5V.

You're new to this, so I'd suggest working on your soldering - Practise always helps with soldering, but here are some other tips.

1. Get a decent soldering station like a Hakko926 (no longer made, but can be picked up second-hand) or another type of Hakko. Replace the tip when it needs it, but a good iron with genuine tips will last for ages.
2. Use decent Leaded (60/40) solder - Leaded solder is much easier to work with, just wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Use good quality fine solder, with a suitable no-clean flux - I'd suggest something like Multicore 0.71mm 60/40 that has a 362 flux inside it.
3. Use extra flux if needed - A good quality no-clean electronics grade flux, like SMD291 will help your soldering a lot. It will make a mess, so you'll need a decent flux cleaner like Electrolube FluxCleane and / or Isopropyl alcohol and use a brush like a toothbrush to clean up the mess. A small fan set very low, will help with the fumes.
4. Practise, Practise, Practise  (and then go and do some more practise).


There are many solder dags / splatters evident in the pictures and one looks to be very close to shorting on the -14V pad over to ground. You need to clean all those up to avoid problems. It pays to get a good magnifyer when working with SMD stuff. Magnifying glasses (reading glasses) can be purchased from discount chemists for about $10 and you can get them in up to about 3.5x which comes in quite handy for this type of work.

Hope this helps
40
Bus Pirate Development / Re: Sourcing BP v3.8 PCB Thick Film Resistors
You really don't need to buy a reel, you'd be better just jumping on ebay and searching for 'SMD Resistor', you'll find tons of them, just go for a supplier with a decent rating and free postage (That way if it doesn't show up and you get a refund, you won't lose out).
This is a typical example, but you will find thousands of sellers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2300pcs-SMD-080 ... 35ca9a59e0

If going for a pack of mixed stuff (the most common on ebay), just look for ones that offer good common values, as the packs often contain a lot of 'useless' values - though for the price, who cares?!

I'm not from the US, so don't know all the local suppliers, but try places like Jameco , Sparkfun (Colorado), Mouser, Digikey, Newark, Allied and of course ebay.  Forget the 'thick film' bit and just look for SMD resistors in that particular size (e.g. 0603) and just ensure they have an equal or higher power rating.  I don't think Sparkfun stock resistors anymore, but there are tons of local guys from the states and I'm sure you'll find somebody who will share.
41
Bus Pirate Development / Re: Sourcing BP v3.8 PCB Thick Film Resistors
You can pick them up all over the world for next to nothing. Worst case you can always grab some off ebay and you wo't need to buy 4000! Somebody from around here that's local to you would probably be quite happy to send you the lot for free.
43
General discussion / Re: WTF SeeedStudio?
Good stuff :)  I know they're trying, so worth talking to them if there is an issue. My last lot from them came out fine, though I've never had any from them that didn't.
44
General discussion / Re: Sheet metal enclosure design
You might be best speaking to a local sheetmetal shop. Most places will be able to work with common files like DXF, DWG, etc. as long as you've done them decently. You may need to allow for plate thickness in folds and that sort of thing and those things may not be obvious if you haven't done that sort of thing before.  Also if plates are to be Punched, you should work out which direction you want them punched and specify this in your drawings, because as the punch and die wear, you will get a slight burr, so it's often best to punch from the front (visible side). If the plate it to be Laser or Plasma cut, then you may need to allow for the Kerf, though you'd need to discuss this with your fab as to whether they will take that into account and give you finished sizes.
45
General discussion / Re: New here
Well seeing as nobody else has (I guess we've all been busy!), Hi and welcome to DP - albeit a bit delayed. You'll usually find most here to be a nice bunch.

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