Finally ordered the parts for my sprinkler timer

This is going to be my first real (as in, durable and persistant) electronics project.

Published on Thursday, 14 July 2011

This is going to be my first real (as in, durable and persistant) electronics project. My first order from Digi-Key, my forst protoboard project (yay for protoboards in the same layout as breadboards!), my first switchmode power supply (well, kinda...), in fact, my first power supply of any kind since high school. Lots of firsts here.

I'm really most nervous about the power supply. I've got a $40 FEZ Panda II on the line here, and I don't wanna blow it up. I've got this drop-in switchmode replacement for a 78xx regulator that seems to just be the bee's knees, but I guess we'll see. Switchmode supplies are known for things like noise and EMF.

My friend here thinks that if all goes well I oughta sell these things for a profit. That'd be neat, I guess, but even neater would be to design a custom PCB with the USBizi, 5V power supply, and output SSRs all on one SMT-soldered board. Could probably be done for under $50.