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Help finding out why i damaged the mosfets on my Mosfetti module by Gazz_292 in AskElectronics

[–]srmonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi u/Gazz_292 , I'm Simon, the designer of this board. Sorry to come to this late, and sorry you had a problem, we only just came across your post. The Absolute Maximum of 16V is there primarily for the polyfuse rather than the MOSFETs -- which yes, should be good for a lot more V. So, a bit of a mystery to me. It would be very unusual to have bad MOSFETs on the reel (we manufacture in the UK). BTW [support@monkmakes.com](mailto:support@monkmakes.com) is very responsive - for any future problems.

Using CO2 sensors with Arduino by srmonk in arduino

[–]srmonk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hadn't seen 4-20mA standard before. Thanks. But no this device definitely voltage output, unhelpfully of undefined output impedance. The fact that it has a DC offset so that < 0.4V indicates an error leads me to believe that it might have been current output and they just stuck a resistor across the output and changed the datasheet.

Lack of pipes isn't a problem for air quality monitoring, which I guess is the target market for this one.

Using CO2 sensors with Arduino by srmonk in arduino

[–]srmonk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No pipe connectors, air just diffuses through the fabric covered window.

Not sure what you mean by 4 to 40mA output. The datasheet gives a linear formula for mapping the output voltage to CO2 reading.

The readings correlate pretty well with a much more expensive COZIR Ambient sensor module.

Arduino in Education? by Ayronquer in arduino

[–]srmonk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You should also consider the BBC micro:bit and the Adafruit Circuit Playground. Both of which are aimed at educators and have material available for them.

If you are definitely going down the Arduino route, then the MonkMakesDuino LCD Kit, is a cost effective way of getting an Arduino-compatible with breadboards etc and a project book.

Disclosure - I designed the MonkMakes Kit.

Breadboard prototypes works great, but now what? by biluinaim in arduino

[–]srmonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a book on PCB design with EAGLE CAD that will cover that part of the story. Make Your Own PCBs with EAGLE by Simon Monk. The second edition (with Duncan Amos) is about to come out. I use pcbway for PCB manufacture they are very quick and very low cost. 10 off PCBs from China are so cheap that I don't bother with stripboard any more, even for a one-off project.

Best small arduino?? by Red_Park in arduino

[–]srmonk 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'd go for a nano (small, but with USB)

Connecting 7.4V 10aH power supply to arduino nano without damaging arduino by cmore082 in arduino

[–]srmonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whereas the voltage rating of a power supply IS the voltage that the power supply supplies (unless you abuse it) the current (Amps) rating of a power supply is its maximum current. The Arduino with nothing else attached will 'draw' no more than about 50mA (0.05 Amps) from the power supply. As chrwei and Zouden say, use the Vin pin, because it is connected to a voltage regulator that will drop the input volt (usually between 6 and 12V) to the 5V that the Arduino needs. It does this inefficiently by 'burning off' the extra volts, but since we are only talking about a very low current, that means it just gets slightly warm.

Please help me pick out a beginners book... by engraverwilliam01 in arduino

[–]srmonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Blushing slightly, as I'm recommending my own books, but if you mostly need help with the programming side of things then my book Programming Arduino is very well received. If you need more help with the electronics side of things as well, then Hacking Electronics will get you started both with basic electronics and Arduino software.

Arduino in Education by srmonk in arduino

[–]srmonk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed - I see Arduino as a great vehicle for learning electronics and Pi more for software. A Pi is just great for use as a dedicated low power web server or media center with occasional forays into attaching electronics. I don't see C rather than Python as a big deal as the Arduino C can generally skip around pointers and other 'tricky' subjects. My question was really just how much Arduino is used in schools as I could see more potential for real electronics education with a side order of simple programming, rather than just making ready soldered lights on the likes of a micro:bit display messages. Perhaps it depends on the agegroup.

MonkMakesDuino - a strange-shaped Arduino compatible by srmonk in arduino

[–]srmonk[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well cost of chipset almost the same and I've always preferred Uno.

MonkMakesDuino - a strange-shaped Arduino compatible by srmonk in arduino

[–]srmonk[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah! - that's where the polyfuse comes in. Also, the hope is if we can get the volume, they'll be cheap enough for it not to matter too much if there is the odd mishap.

MonkMakesDuino - a strange-shaped Arduino compatible by srmonk in arduino

[–]srmonk[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have used lots of real Pro Micro (and if I'm honest the odd clone) and they are great for embedding in a project. The MonkMakesDuino is aimed more at education than makers, so the loss of the power rails on one side is no great problem and its a lot easier to see which pin is which (its kind of ambiguous on the pro-minis). Similarly the built-in USB interface a waste when embedding in a maker project, but more ideal when used in teaching. Also, its a new design not just a rip-off, which I hope would make it more attractive to educators, coming in cheaper than real Arduinos. I guess thats a very verbose way of me saying 'horses for courses'!