DCS BIOS hardware adquisition

[marques]

Hi!

I´ve almost everything designed and it´s time to start building. Initially I need a couple of arduino mega, 2/3 nano and a bunch of max487 chips to experiment with the RS485 bus. In an initial search in aliexpress I have lots of options, aparently all similar but different prices.

Hence my first question of many, what should I look? Are there specific characteristics that are mandatory, recommended or even things to avoid?

Also, in Hansolo posts I´ve seen that he complements the arduinos with a terminal expansion board that looks very convinient to attach the cables. For the nano I´ve found several ones with a reasonable price, but for the megas the ones that I´ve found are much expensive than the mega itself. Is this correct? Should I search with a different term?

Finally, if anyone knows a shop in china that is both cheap and reliable and has all our required hardware, I´d be grateful to know. Is the first time that I´m gonna use aliexpress and I´m a bit lost with so many options.

[Hansolo]

Hansolo's parts catalogue

 

I use almost exclusive Ebay so can't say anything about Aliexpress.

 

This is a list of the parts I am using. Some of the choises I have made are perhaps not the cheapest but it is a descion I had made based upon many thing; time consumption, price for other parts I am using, pcb design etc. It is in the end a descion you as a panel builder will have to weight against what you want to spend on it.

 

Mega prototype shield;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Good-Prototype-PCB-for-Arduino-Mega-1280-2560-R1-R3-Shield-Board-DIY-/312051313556?

 

Mega terminal board;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MEGA-2560-R3-Prototype-Screw-Terminal-Block-Shield-Board-Kit-For-Arduino/232393202659?epid=6004425993&hash=item361bb6dbe3:g:dtIAAOSwwzhZVyky

I only use this for testing as it is expensive but easy to setup for a different panel

 

Nano breakout board;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nano-Terminal-Adapter-for-the-Arduino-Nano-V3-0-AVR-ATMEGA328P-AU-Module-Board/400387932408?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Stepper driver board;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EasyDriver-Shield-stepping-Stepper-Motor-Driver-V44-A3967-For-Arduino/201414925354?epid=523921172&hash=item2ee543dc2a:g:E8sAAOSwBP9UXLju

Haven't actually started using these yet

 

IC sockets;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20-PCS-8-Pin-DIP8-Integrated-Circuit-IC-Sockets-Adapters-Solder-Type/172251930212?hash=item281b03de64:g:i1oAAOSwWnFWAmFF

In case a MAX487 chip fails it can be replaced without soldering. Secondly you avoid the risk of damaging the IC with the heat during soldering.

 

Brass standoff’s;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/M3-x-4mm-60mm-Hex-Brass-Spacer-Female-Female-Screw-PC-Motherboard-Standoff-Riser/172251701345?hash=item281b006061:m:meKVFllD2MqSj3EwB1GtEuA

I use 30mm and 60mm.

 

Plastic spacers;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nylon-Plastic-Non-Threaded-Spacer-Washer-Round-Standoff-For-M3-M4-M5-M6-M8-Screw/222738409333?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=521595265361&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

Plastic M3 screws;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/M2-M2-5-M3-M4-M5-M6-M8-Plastic-Nylon-Screws-Round-Phillips-Pan-Head-Screws-Black/262148039660?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=560912959170&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

PCB prototype boards;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10X-DIY-Prototype-Paper-PCB-Universal-Experiment-Matrix-Circuit-Board-8-5x20-cm/232208343328?epid=509753568&hash=item3610b22120:g:Y8QAAOSwQNRXLBDc

 

 

N-channel MOSFET’s;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-IRF510-Vishay-Siliconix-MOSFET-Transistor-100V-5-6A-43W-0-54R-TO220-854040/361558136667?hash=item542e8b575b:g:x2UAAOSwq7JTz-bM

Can handle 5.6A and 100V (plenty)

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/50x-Stk-2N7000-N-CH-FET-60V-0-2A-200mA-350mW-5Ohm/192339856527?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Can handle 200mA, 60V so plan to have these as backup where I use 12/28VDC bulbs but have not used them yet

 

MAX487 communication chip;

https://www.mouser.dk/ProductDetail/700-MAX487CPA

I have started using Mouser.com instead of China after I got a bad batch of chips which cost me quite a lot of time to figure out. Yes they do cost $2.70 but it’s a price I am willing to pay considering most of the other parts aren’t cheap either.

 

D-SUB / DB9 connector;

Male;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-D-SUB-9-Pin-DB9-Male-Solder-Type-Socket-Connector/172133965436?hash=item2813fbde7c:g:clAAAOSwZ8ZW5vUe

Female;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-D-SUB-9-Pin-DB9-Female-Solder-Type-Socket-Connector/172133973215?hash=item2813fbfcdf:g:M2IAAOSwZQxW5vdC

 

You can most definitely find some of the parts cheaper, as many of them comes with many different suppliers.

 

Cheers

Hans

[marques]

thanks a lot, hans. I will owe more than a couple of beers once I finish with this project, that´s for sure!

What about the arduinos? I´ve seen at least seven different brands of Megas, are they all equal in terms of characteristics/components or should I look for specific things?

[Hansolo]

You're welcome. If you go for a Mega 2560 you should be good.

 

Cheers

Hans

[jrsteensen]

Hey guys, my latest rev of the ABSIS (Arduino Based Simulator Interface System) boards are going to be available soon (under creative commons, you will need to order the boards yourselves with the provided Gerbers and BOMs.)

 

They are a shield for a Nano and Mega, supporting RS487, bus in/out connectors (polarized 3 pin - A-GND-B), power bus connector (GND, 3.3V, 5V, 12V,) and up to 3x 12V PWM driven MOSFET outputs. (Was planning one channel for backlighting, and up to 2x solenoids to drive solenoid tripped switches.) The MEGA board can be configured as a 487 master.

 

They are designed for utilizing DCS-BIOS, though you can use whatever control software you like.

Edited February 28, 2018 by jrsteensen

[Hansolo]

Hey guys, my latest rev of the ABSIS (Arduino Based Simulator Interface System) boards are going to be available soon (under creative commons, you will need to order the boards yourselves with the provided Gerbers and BOMs.)

 

They are a shield for a Nano and Mega, supporting RS487, bus in/out connectors (polarized 3 pin - A-GND-B), power bus connector (GND, 3.3V, 5V, 12V,) and up to 3x 12V PWM driven MOSFET outputs. (Was planning one channel for backlighting, and up to 2x solenoids to drive solenoid tripped switches.) The MEGA board can be configured as a 487 master.

 

They are designed for utilizing DCS-BIOS, though you can use whatever control software you like.

Very cool @jrsteensen thanks for doing this work :thumbup:

 

Looks like a much easier solution than what I am doing. I think Tekkx is also doing some boards so end user will have more options to go for fitting the individual needs https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=160526

 

Cheers

Hans

[draken152]

I have already 6 boards from Tekkx and he did a great job...Easy plug and play solution for RS485 pit network....:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[marques]

I have already 6 boards from Tekkx and he did a great job...Easy plug and play solution for RS485 pit network....:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

They look interesting and obiously a good option to Arduino/electronics/soldering noobs like me. But, where can I buy them? Is there a link or something?

[draken152]

They look interesting and obiously a good option to Arduino/electronics/soldering noobs like me. But, where can I buy them? Is there a link or something?

 

Just contact Tekkx via PM. Or I can send you his email via PM if he will not respond. He usually have some boards in stock...

[marques]

Just contact Tekkx via PM. Or I can send you his email via PM if he will not respond. He usually have some boards in stock...

Thanks, I´ll contact him asking details.