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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

OPEN SOURCE: "CC-Boost" - 2.4 Amp boost driver - RC1

Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
327
Points
18
Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

Wow! I had never heard of solder paste or even soldering with hot air till now.

Watch this, MIND = BLOWN :drool:

 





sinner

0
Joined
Oct 27, 2011
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

:worthy:

You're awesome.
 

benmwv

0
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
1,380
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

The smd multiturn trimmers are gold standard as far as current adjustment goes but those things are damn tall. Anybody making the adj one be warned that using a multiturn will add a fair amount of bulk to the board. If you have some extra space in your host and a couple bucks to spare they are definitely worth it though.

Anybody who doesnt tin wires by dipping them in solder paste is missing out IMO :D
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
Messages
2,655
Points
63
Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

Solder paste is great, but it seems to go bad before I get a chance to use it.

Let me know if you're looking for another scope tester.
 
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
Messages
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63
Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

MY GOD!

can we got someone to do a GB or production run? For 8-$11 per piece? I WANT THEM finally don't have to shell out $25 per driver.

Can these be hand soldered or no? Just wondering. Don't have any reflow gear :(

THANKS RHD
-Matt
 
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

I hope they can be hand soldered- im sure as heck going to try :D
 

benmwv

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Joined
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

Protip: keep solder paste in the fridge/freezer and it will last a long time.

Also, this is just speculation but I think those cheap paste tubs on ebay and whatever are just repackaged solder paste that has expired and won't be used by factories anymore. Probably been sitting in a warehouse for a while too. So if you get some name brand from a good source I'm sure it would last longer.

With a little patience and a steady hand it could be hand soldered. Hardest part will be the inductor. You will have to tin the pads and make sure there is plenty of flux on them (go light on the solder). Tin the inductor if it isn't already (ferrite ones usually are, but not powdered iron). Set the inductor on the pads and begin to heat one of the pads on an exposed corner with your iron. Once it melts pretty good quickly go to the other. Switch 2 or 3 times until you get them both liquid at the same time and the inductor gets fully seated.

The rest of the process will be pretty straight forward just like YouTube videos on smd hand soldering. Just be sure you put the inductor on first so the other parts don't get messed up by all the excess heat.
 
Joined
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Messages
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

I think I do the inductor first, hopefully I can heat the whole blard evenly how I previously stated
 
Joined
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

If you have a heat gun, you can reflow the inductor with that once everything is tinned. Go easy on the
tinning and use some flux. Be careful not to overheat the board.
 

upaa27

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Jul 10, 2013
Messages
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

How much are those going for?
 

ARG

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Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

Driver has arrived (after Canada Post sent it to my neighbors by mistake!) here's the results for the start up spike.

4.5V across the diodes, 3.6V applied voltage.

Edit: Disregard images, they are pictures of the input.

eruKwQF.jpg


v8RMJBG.jpg


sSDSjaK.jpg




Yes, I know I can save images of the scope to a thumb drive, but I recently cleaned up and have no idea where I put all of mine ;)
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

That noise at 14ms looks a bit worrying. There are no overshoots, though, so in that respect it looks
pretty good.
 

rhd

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Dec 7, 2010
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

That noise at 14ms looks a bit worrying. There are no overshoots, though, so in that respect it looks
pretty good.

I think that's the ZXCT powering up.

This looks reasonably good to me, but it would be wise to have some more frequent scopers weigh in and interpret.
 
Joined
Feb 23, 2012
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

Will the driver kill itself if there is no load on the output side?

How does the output look when the input leads are brushed against the terminals? (Intermittent input)

Where is the 3.6V on the o-scope coming from? Current shunt?

Thanks for all the efforts.
 

ARG

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Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
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Re: OPEN SOURCE: New Boost Drive, 2.4A capable from one cell, tested and working

Well this is embarrassing. I re-read my post and noticed the "4.5V across the diodes" did not match up with the scope readings.

I scoped the input. Whoops.
 




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