Attiny85 CAT5 Cable Tester

Project Idea:  Use Attiny85 to drive 5 leds to test 4 wires and 1 shield as a CAT5 tester.  Use code from "proton pack" project to drive leds.  Use transistors if needed to drive LEDs.

ATtiny85 Programmer Shield

I started working with the ATTiny85 chip and needed a better way to program it.  An UNO compatible shield seemed to be the easiest way.  I ended up making two shields.

The first shield was very basic and only had an 8 pin socket and the connectors so that it plugged into the UNO.  The perfboard was just large enough to seat an 8 pin socket and connect to the UNO using the shield footprint.  The shield did not have indicators for the programming process or the state of the UNO, and it did not have an ICSP connector.

The second shield has a larger perfboard, LEDS to indicate UNO heartbeat, programming state, and errors.  The next option to install and test is the ICSP connector.  I would like to be able to plug in and use my USBTinyISP into the shield without it being installed on the UNO.

I installed an ICSP connector on the board. This really makes it easier to upload code to the attiny.  If the ICSP connector is used, the UNO is not needed to upload code or provide power.  When using the USBtinyISP programmer with this shield, install its power jumper to provide power to the target.  In the Arduino IDE, select USBtinyISP as the Programmer, select the correct board option for the Attiny, load/modify sketch, the select Upload using Programmer.

1st Shield schematic

1st shield wired and ready for use

1st shield wiring side of perfboard

1st shield installed and working, but no way to see that except by looking at Arduino IDE

2nd shield wiring schematic

All the components for the 2nd shield

Testing connecter to board fitment

All components installed 2nd shield, except ICSP connector

Wiring side, 2nd shield

Installed on UNO and running

Added ICSP connector

ICSP wiring side

Added a red stripe to make it easy to orient ICSP plug

ATTINY85 MCU

Received two ATTINY85 chips in the mail today.  Did a little internet research and found an easy way to program this type of chip with the Arduino IDE 1.05 and an UNO.


First download this archive, https://github.com/damellis/attiny/archive/master.zip
If there already isn't a hardware folder in the sketches folder, create it and then copy the attiny folder to the hardware folder.

Wire the UNO to the attiny85 on a breadboard with the following connections, or just build a mini shield to fit the UNO.

Attiny85 to Arduino Uno wirinG

Updated schematic with LEDs and ICSP connector

I put the 3 LEDs on a breadboard and jumpered them to the attiny shield.  The LEDs worked like they should, and did not interfere with the programming.  The next thing to check is ICSP programming

Attiny Pinout Reference

I created a mini shield to make it easier to program the ATTINY85 chip.  I used the above listed connections, couple of headers and a small perfboard.

 

Pix of the Arduino IDE for programming the Attiny

First load this sketch on the UNO

Then select the Attiny board type to be programmed

Select the Programmer type

Load a sketch.  You might see this error, but this particular error is not a problem.

Sketch load success, 2 leds set to blink

Sketch load success, 2 leds set to blink

Links to aid in programming Attiny

http://www.arvydas.co.uk/2012/09/using-usbtinyisp-to-program-attiny45-and-attiny85/
http://provideyourown.com/2011/arduino-program-attiny/
http://code.google.com/p/arduino-tiny/
http://highlowtech.org/?p=1695

DIY Arduino Clone

This project is an arduino clone.  I'm just interested in making a clone that will be able to use arduino shields.  It will have an ICSP connector for programming.  Perfboard is to be used for the unit.

As usual I didn't take pictures of the build process.

I started the build by using a shield to mark the footprint on the perfboard.

I ended up ordering a "Barebones Arduino Circuit kit" from Jameco.  The website provided a link to a build tutorial.  I put the kit together on a breadboard to make sure everything worked and it did.  I used a USBtinyISP programmer to upload one of my sketches and the chip/circuit worked as it should.  On the breadboard ICSP connector I left out pin 2 connection to the arduino breadboard, the AVR programmer didn't need to provide power to the circuit.  When I build the final circuit on a perfboard I think I will have a jumper for that pin.  Here is a reference schematic for the ICSP connector that helped during the build.

Once again I didnt take pictures of the test build.

The first thing I did was build the power supply section of the board, then tested it to make sure output was good and that the led indicates power.  I installed the 4 headers then the 28 pin DIP socket.  From then on it was a matter of installing the wires from the 28 pin DIP socket to the 4 headers, then the crystal and two caps and the 10k pullup resistor for pin 1.  I then installed the power and ground connections.  Last step was installing the Atmega328.  Since this board is not USB powered, it has a power connector like the UNO.  I also installed an ICSP connector, so I don't have to pull the chip to reprogram it.  I thought I would use 30 gauge wire for the connector and see how that goes for programming.  I found that on pin 2 of the ICSP connector I put a jumper so that the AVR programmer doesn't supply power of any kind on that pin.

Things to add to this board at a later date;

LEDs for TX & RX
LED for Pin 19

 Component side

Wiring Side

Opensprinkler kit

It is a sprinkler controller that is network accessible.  It is microcontroller based hardware and utilizes the Atmel atmega328 chip.  It can be purchased as a kit or fully assembled.  The hardware and software is opensource.

I purchased a kit in 2011.  It took about an hour and a half to solder, build and install.  Its been in use since then without issues.

The hardware version of the unit I own is 1.0.  The firmware that I wanted to install required the use of an ISP and that I add an interface connector to the opensprinkler unit for the ISP.  Once I acquired the necessary hardware and setup everything it was on to the firmware upgrade.

Now I've used the Arduino UNO and the Arduino IDE to learn how to create and upload programs.  Programming the opensprinkler was different only because it required the command line.  So after several emails to the opensprinkler developer, I used those instructions to successfully upgrade the firmware.  The firmware upgrade took about 44 seconds.

 
The new features of the firmware upgrade are nice.  The web interface is even more user friendly.  It will take time to become more familiar with the firmware upgrade.

Red circle is where the ISP connector goes...

ISP connector installed and ready to program

 

Installed and ready to use.

USBtinyISP AVR Programmer Kit v2.0

I ordered the USBtiny ISP AVR Programmer Kit - v2.0 from Adafruit Industries.  I am eventually going to upgrade the firmware of my OpenSprinkler System, so I will be needing a programmer to do the upgrade.  I forget to take pix of the build process, so all I have is a pic of the completed unit.  Tested the unit by plugging it in to the ICSP connector on an Arduino UNO.  I uploaded the Blink program and it worked.  In the Arduino IDE make sure the correct programmer is selected, USBtinyISP, and then select "Upload using Programmer" option.

Ready to use!

I used the programmer to upgrade the firmware of my Opensprinkler unit, and it worked just fine.

Ammo Shell TDC whistles

Shortly after making the ammo shell whistles, I thought it would be a cool idea to make a TDC whistle to fit small block ford cylinder heads.  I made these pieces some time last year but I finally got around to putting this info on the web.

After removing all of the ceramic material and cleaning up the spark plug casing I select an ammo whistle that takes very little pressure to whistle.  I use JB weld to hold the pieces together.

Spark plug casing after all ceramic material removed

Trial fit of pieces before gluing

Top is unfinished piece, bottom is completed and ready for use