Project Curacao2 – Part 6 – Raspberry Pi Zero Base Unit Build
Deployment of Project Curacao2 is only 1 month away (Early June 2017), so it is time to get the base unit based on the Raspberry Pi built and running. Our plan is to leave it outside for three weeks as a last system test. We will continue writing the software We already have the two remote weather sensors (LoRa WXLink boxes – see parts 1-5 of this series) up and running. We have tested the LoRa WXLink range (1715 meters with the Yagi Antenna) and have determined that it is sufficient for our project in Curacao.
Project Curacao2 is a redesign and rebuild of the Project Curacao environmental monitoring system that was running down on the island nation of Curacao in 2014 and 2015. It finally died after a loose wire in the solar panel assembly (not in the panels, but in the internal wiring) finally came completely loose. We are now using a LoRa WXLink wireless transmitters for data collection.
- Part 1 - Introduction to Project Curacao2 and the LoRa WXLink Feeder Stations
- Part 2 - First LoRa WXLink Feeder Stations Report
- Part 3 - Testing the LoRa Range
- Part 4 – Initial LoRa Range Results
- Part 5 – Final LoRa Range Results
- Part 6 - Raspberry Pi Zero Base Unit Build
- Part 7 - Flame On! Initial Base Unit Tests
- Part 8 - Solar Power Management System
- Part 9 - Ready for Deployment and Status
- Part 10 - PC2 in the Caribbean! Repairs and Testing
- Part 11 - It Lives! Deployment and Initial Results
- Part 12 - One Month of Results from Paradise
Parts List For Project Curacao 2
No project is complete without a parts list. We will update this as we add some additional parts, but this is what is in the box as of April 28, 2017.
Project Curacao2 Base Unit Parts List (April 29, 2017) |
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| Part Name | Description | Source |
| Bud Enclosure 15-47/634” x 11-51/64” x 6-9/32” | Waterproof Enclosure for Base Unit | https://amzn.to/2pgNAI0 |
| Raspberry Pi Zero | Raspberry Pi | adafruit.com |
| Pi2Grover | Raspberry PI to Grove Connector Interface | store.switchdoc.com |
| 433MHz LoRa Transciever | Serial LoRa RFM95 Grove board | (coming soon on store.switchdoc.com) |
| 433MHz Yagi Antenna | 433MHZ Yagi with adaptor cable for LoRa | (coming soon on store.switchdoc.com) |
| Arduino Uno | Uno for the LoRa WXLink (maybe removed in future) | various |
| Grove base Shield for Arduino V2 | Grove Adaptor for Arduino Uno | store.switchdoc.com |
| (3) Grove PowerSave | Allows power to be switched on and off for power hungry devices | store.switchdoc.com |
| Grove 4 Channel 16 bit ADC | I2C 4 Channel 16 bit ADC based on ADS1115 | store.switchdoc.com |
| HDC1080 Inside Temperature and Humidity | For TempHumidity inside of box | store.switchdoc.com |
| I2C Hub | Expands number of I2C ports on bus 0 | store.switchdoc.com |
| Grove PowerDrive | Allows a switchable higher current drive than just GPIO pins and Pi2Grover pins – for Fan | (coming soon on store.switchdoc.com) |
| 5V Fan | 5V Fan for Air Quality Sample and a bit of cooling) | adafruit.com |
| Grove Air Quality Sensor | Accurate and sensitive Air Quality Sensor | store.switchdoc.com |
| WeatherBoard | Contains I2C ports and the Barometer – also WeatherRack Interface if we choose to use one on the base unit | store.switchdoc.com |
| Dual WatchDog Timer | Hardware Watchdog Timer for Raspberry PI – resets computer if the computer gets lost | store.switchdoc.com |
| 4 Channel I2C Mix | Expands the Raspberry Pi’s one I2C bus to 4 separate I2C buses – Removes address conflicts | store.switchdoc.com |
| SunAirPlus | Solar Panel Charger/Controller and Data Gathering Device | store.switchdoc.com |
| USB PowerControl | Allows switching off the power to the whole system in case of a low battery condition and also to do a power on reset to the Pi | store.switchdoc.com |
| SunLight Vis/IR/UV Sensor | Under a quartz window – | store.switchdoc.com |
| (2) Quartz Windows for Box | Allows UV through for sensors | store.switchdoc.com |
| Solar Panel Connector | Connects up to 4 solar panels together | store.switchdoc.com |
| Solar Panels | 6v Solar Panels – up to 4 – We could use our inexpensive 6V solar panels, but we are using the Voltaic Systems panels that we have sitting around. Much more expensive. | store.switchdoc.com or voltaicsystems,com |
| OLED Display | Displays status of station | store.switchdoc.com |
| Grove Lightning Detector | Detects and reports Lightning in the area | store.switchdoc.com |
| (2) 6600mAh LiPo Batteries | Power Stores for the box | adafruit.com |
| Raspberry Pi Camera | Camera (either version) for Raspberry Pi | Various |
| Pi Camera Cable | You need the special one designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero | adafruit.com |
| Pan Tilt for Pi Camera | Allows the Pi to move the camera – Mini Pan and Tilt Kit with 2 Servos | jameco.com |
| Plastic Bubble for Camera | Puts the camera up in the air and heat. | Superior Lighting |
| 16 Channel 12 Bit PWM Driver Servo | 16 Channel Servo Driver (only need two channels) | adafruit.com |
| (2) LoRa WXLink Solar Kits | Contains all the hardware to build the transmitter and receiver | (coming soon on store.switchdoc.com) |
| (2) WeatherRacks | For the two LoRa Receiver – you could add a third to the base unit | store.switchdoc.com |
| (2) Grove AM2315 | Outdoor (needs to be covered) Temperature and Humidity sensors for WXLinks | store.switchdoc.com |
| USB WiFi Wireless Dongle | Any Raspberry Pi Supported (get one with External Antenna) | Various |
| A Variety of Grove Cables | Grove to Pin Headers, 50cm Cables, 20 cm | store.switchdoc.com/Cables |
The Build
We took a Bud Industrials Box (see parts list above) and started adding all our internal parts to the box. We have been using plastic standoffs and then super gluing them to the plastic bottom, side and top of the box. We used to use screws through the box to mount these, but we find this technique to work well although the glued supports can’t take a lot of side torque before snapping off, but they hold the parts solidly in place.
Our design philosophy is to have a few holes as possible in the box. Less chance of leaks.
Here is the box with most of the parts installed (and labeled!)
Coming Next?
Flame on. We apply power to the box and see what is happening with the hardware and the slightly modified GroveWeatherPi software.
Hi Thanks for doing this for the community…
Question I see two batteries, I asume they are in parallel right? what about charging issues on previous post you have said not to put two batteries together?????
Please advise I have a project that really needs to be up all the time….
Thanks
PedroMMR
Yes, I do have two batteries in parallel. Not recommended. It is a hazard.
However, if you are going to do this, here is what to do:
1) Make sure both batteries are fully charged and at the same voltage before connecting.
2) Make sure you use exactly identical batteries for both batteries.
Lots of batteries isn’t going to keep you up all the time. You need to make sure, on the average, to be charging the batteries with more current than you are taking. I know it’s obvious, but this is the crucial issue with solar powered systems. More batteries allow a longer time between charges. Make sure you build your system to survive a brownout (see our blogs) and make sure you protect your system with a watchdog timer to recover if the processor glitches (which it eventually will – especially with inexpensive solar power systems).
SDL