• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RNTLab.com

The Ultimate Shortcut to Learn Electronics and Programming with Open Source Hardware and Software

  • Courses
  • Forum
    • Forum
    • Ask Question
  • Shop
  • Account
  • Blog
  • Login

weather station is almost what I want to do (almost)

Q&A Forum › weather station is almost what I want to do (almost)
0 Vote Up Vote Down
Douglas Basberg asked 7 years ago

I am very impressed with the weather station project.  I want to do something much like that and I am using KiCAD.  I grabbed the KiCAD files and started working on my schematic.  That is when I ran into a problem.  The part library for the weather station project has the 30 pin version of the do-it module and I have the 36 pin modules.

My question is can anyone provide a 36 pin Do-It module library for KiCAD?  I am new to KiCAD and modifying the 30 pin model to 36 pins will mean learning how to use the library editor in KiCAD.  And that would probably be a good thing, but guess who is lazy? (LOL)

Thanks, Doug

5 Answers
0 Vote Up Vote Down
Rui Santos Staff answered 7 years ago

Hi Doug,
Unfortunately I don’t have the part with the 36 pins and I don’t know when I’ll create it… For the Learn ESP32 with Arduino IDE course, I’ve been thinking about creating a small PCB to make the pins accessible (like a breakout board).
Right now the easiest why would be to find an ESP32 with the 30 pins: https://amzn.to/2GZCFNi
I want to re-do the weather station project PCB, but the next Weather Station will have an ESP32 chip soldered to the PCB (I won’t be using a module…).
Regards,
Rui

0 Vote Up Vote Down
Douglas Basberg answered 7 years ago

Thanks, I am working on a 36 pin module part for KiCAD.  It is good that it forces me to learn howto do that.
BTW, your ‘Random Nerd’ operation is so helpful!  I have signed up for two of your courses (doing ESP32 now).
Keep up the good work, it is appreciated.
Best wishes, Doug
 

0 Vote Up Vote Down
Rui Santos Staff answered 7 years ago

Thank you for supporting my work Doug. I might create a video series or mini course using KiCad, but I don’t know when I’ll have the time to do it. 
If you want to learn KiCad from scratch, I recommend checking out this free video series by Chris Gammell https://youtu.be/JN_Y93RTdSo

It helped me a lot learning the basics and how to make my first PCBs. KiCad definitely has a lot of quirks when it comes to edit/create new parts. It’s also bit weird how the libraries/parts system works…

0 Vote Up Vote Down
Douglas Basberg answered 7 years ago

THANK YOU!  I did the whole ‘Getting to Blinky’ series.  I learned enough to do my board.  I spent a week experimenting with KiCAD.  I managed to make a couple of custom parts and made trials of layout.  That gave me just enough back ground to appreciate and understand Chris’s tutorial.  The question mark to see hot keys is essential to a beginner like me.  I now have enough info to do a board design thanks to you and Chris.
Things are busy here.  I have 10 acres (4 hectares) and use it like a homestead.  So, spring means a lot of startup work.  We had snow today and 26F and 12 MPH wind – miserable and uncommon this later in the year.
I have been setting up my house, two barns, greenhouse, and property with home automation.  In particular, My central program is ‘Home-assistant’.  I use lots of reprogrammed Sonoff modules and Amcrest web cams.
What I am working on now are custom ESP32 units with my programming and MQTT messaging to talk to the ‘home-assistant’.  These will be in my basement, buildings, garage, and around the property.  I have ordered a Creality CR10S 3D printer to make my custom enclosures (and much more I am sure).  So, I am also learning ‘FreeCAD’.  And I ordered a hot air and iron SMD work station to handle those 0805 SMD components.
I am a 71 year old retired electrical engineer that had my own one man corporation ‘DSB Engineering, Inc.’ during my active career.  I live just North of Detroit and did a lot with vehicle power-train controllers and industrial controls (system, S/W, and H/W design work).  Funny, when I was young and steady, the parts were large.  And, now that I am old, shaky, and blind; the parts are the size of a grain of salt.  isn’t life cruel?
That one link you provided me made my week!
Best wishes, Doug

0 Vote Up Vote Down
Rui Santos Staff answered 7 years ago

You’re welcome, I’m glad I could point you to a good resource. That KiCad series gives you all the basics to create simple PCBs. Hot keys definitely save you a lot of time, so you don’t have to look for the different components.
My parents also have at like 1 hectare that is always planted throughout the year, so I can only imagine the time and effort required to work on that much land.
I also have a hard time soldering some SMD components. If you are soldering PCBs with a lot of components you might want to use a reflow oven (buy a cheap desk toast oven), so you only have to place the solder and components on the PCB.
 

Primary Sidebar

Login to Ask or Answer Questions

This Forum is private and it’s only available for members enrolled in our Courses.

Login »

Latest Course Updates

  • [New Edition] Build ESP32-CAM Projects eBook – 2nd Edition April 16, 2025
  • [eBook Updated] Learn ESP32 with Arduino IDE eBook – Version 3.2 April 16, 2025

You must be logged in to view this content.

Contact Support - Refunds - Privacy - Terms - MakerAdvisor.com - Member Login

Copyright © 2013-2025 · RandomNerdTutorials.com · All Rights Reserved

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

    No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.