suggestions for enhancements to webcontrol (not 32)

[bbsux]

if you want a board that will connect to the input port to bring them out to terminal headers --

I emailed Winford.com and they will let you order the PCB and parts separately (everything but the connector block is like less than 10 bucks)

we could then put a female header on it (http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/SFH11-PBPC-D08-ST-BK/S9196-ND)
soldered to the bottom. It looks like we may have to trim a little with a dremel cause of the Ethernet, but it should fit.

at their website in the online shopping cart buy
1x Z_BRK2X8-PCB -$5.50
4x STB03 - $3.00
2x STB02 -$1.30

 

[fwd03]

That is pretty good. Does the trace cut easily?
I am thinking putting an OP AMP on board to amplify the weak analog signals.

 

[bbsux]

That is pretty good. Does the trace cut easily?
I am thinking putting an OP AMP on board to amplify the weak analog signals.

haven't tried, but It looks like it could.

 

[bbsux]

Cai_Support,
BTW Could you consider replacing the power connector in a future revision? Maybe some kind of obscure connector that we can get an adapter cable for?

I'd almost say use a barrel connector but those are so non standard it would too easy to fry the webcontrol.

oh and if you are going to do that, how about consolidating the input and output into 1 ribbon connector so we can get the the 26 pin winford.com breakout board

And solder the female connector to the bottom, so it would plug right into the board.

That is unless you wanted to make a plug in board that amplifies weak analog signals (which you probably could patch into these)
They are also not as wide so if the new connector is where the output now is it will clear everything on the board. (will still cover the 1wire and hum sensor terminals).

Heck it'd be a major re-design but you could run the Power inputs, 1wire and hum inputs down there too and use their 2x17 (34 pin)

except that one wouldn't clear the ethernet and I don't think there is enough to shave off the front to make it fit.

of course its probably too much work considering the webcontrol32 is gonna be out next year (hopefully) sometime.

 

[todster]

I'd like to see it with an RJ45 on it for the temp and humidity sensors. I found that I could drop a temp sensor down inside an RJ45 and crimp it in. It works perfect. I bought a bunch of rj45 3 ways on ebay. I use a Cat5 A config. Tthe Green is 5V Blue is signal and light blue is ground.

 

[bbsux]

I'd like to see it with an RJ45 on it for the temp and humidity sensors. I found that I could drop a temp sensor down inside an RJ45 and crimp it in. It works perfect. I bought a bunch of rj45 3 ways on ebay. I use a Cat5 A config. Tthe Green is 5V Blue is signal and light blue is ground.

Well but then you run into problems. Someone out there will plug their regular network cables to that and fry something and be totally pissed. You know what I would do? I would take a short piece of cat5 and put a rj45 jack on it. So its the same thing, just with a short length of wire from the terminal block.

Its kinda the same reason to avoid a plain old barrel connector, I've seen some with center ground (opposite of normal) and I tested a four before I found a suitable one that was actually putting out the voltage it said it was supposed to.

 

[Machineman]

OK, my Webcontrol8 improvment comments based on the 2 boards I have.

1. POE and external power capable.
2. Better A/I noise filtering. Software or hardware.
3. Firmware that allows the labelling of the Digital and Analog I/O's on the status page.
4. Email SSL support. So it works with gmail, Yahoo, etc...
5. Ship with the tyco connector. Or change to screw lugs.
6. Option to Ship with one temp and Humidity sensor.
7. Manual to have better Descriptions of the PLC coimmands. Specifically the AND and OR.
8. Remote Get commands that work on everything inclduding RAM values.
9. Change the defualt IP address to be somewhere within 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.253 or something more common for router defualts.

 

[fwd03]

This link below talked about how to use Yahoo email server with WebControl:
http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/22071-webcontrol-sending-email-through-yahoo-email-server/

 

[CAI_Support]

We do appreciate all your inputs. We will look into them.

 

[bbsux]

would I like all i/o, 1wire, hum on terminal blocks -- I'd like a bigger size block too. these seem flimsy when you tighten them.

 

[bbsux]

btw - just curious - what processor does the webcontrol8 use? What is the webcontrol32 going to use?

 

[bbsux]

fwd03 are you talking about the lm2902? Can you show me your setup?

 

[CAI_Support]

For people making equipment, they like the board as small as possible to fit in their own equipment.
BBSUX's recommandation to have all the I/O has terminal connector is good. We should consider either for future board, or releasing a daughter board.

On the WebControl8 board, there still few pins left. If we make them to be additional I/O, do you like them to be TTL input or output?

 

[bbsux]

I'm always of the same mind to have the same number of inputs as outputs, but thats just my need to find patterns.

Would they be analog? I'm sure people would appreciate them more.

I'd bring the total digital inputs up to ten and put the rest into analog.

 

[bbsux]

BTW I got the bare pcb from winford today and in order to get it to attach to the 16 pin you dremel out to the terminal block line on the silk screen, in between numbers 5 and 11. Its still well clear of the solder pads. then just solder the female connector to the bottom and the terminal connectors on and you're done.