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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

TEC and OPHIR fun (pic heavy)

Pman

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Thought I would share a bunch of pics from my 2 LPM projects. But first a word from our sponsers....

The cases are from 2 PL lasers from Sky.

Purchased the TEC based one from Awillis (he did a great job with it) and then modified it to run on parallel 9V instead of just one as I added a blue display to the top. With this unit, everything is switched on with a single switch. You will see on that I put some spacers on the front in case I want to tip the display so that the blue is facing me and the red display won't be supporting the unit. Added Screw down type connectors that can accept banana plugs for the sensor reading so you could use anything such as the Fluke 87 to read mv if you want (has a white back light).

The Ophir based one I built. Some of the build came from taking what I liked that others had done and implementing those things.
This box also has a red and blue display but on opposite sides. The Ophir is run off of (2) 9V batteries while the displays are powered by a (4) AA battery holder with eneloops (got this from Blords design) providing the 5V so power is completely separate. The Ophir has its own dpst switch and the displays are switched separately from each other with spst switches. Also added the same screw down banana plug connectors for using a Fluke 87V (white back light) or whatever you want. This unit can be used with any combination of red/blue/DVM you want. It has a USB connector going to the Ophir (got this from Awillis design).

Both units are pretty crowded inside their project boxes. The biggest reason for not shortening wires and making certain things are neat is because I may change/modify or redo them.
The TEC one is fairly neat although I didn't cut back the extra 9V wires for the added battery or the wires going to the top blue display as it makes it easier to remove the top and disconnect it. Has the added bonus of being able to put both displays next to each other if you wanted to.
The Ophir one has allot more wires. As I said above, I may change everything around or pull everything out and do something different. For now, it all works.

Have not yet done any testing on the difference between running/reading multiple displays with the same signal to see if there is any substantial signal loss but I will.

Could feed signals from one box to the other.

Anyways, the pics aren't so great when the units are lit and I had some glare plus the Flukes have screen protectors on them.

The signal screw down terminals can take banana plugs from the top or sides. Have Fluke adapters that I could have used instead of just sticking the probe ends so it wouldn't have looked kind of stupid having the leads sticking up:p

In the second to last pic you can see that the display reads 6mv while the Fluke reads .2mv. That is because you can hit the REL button on the Fluke to zero out the display;)

Once again, should have vacuumed first:oops: White cat leaves a path of destruction everywhere:rolleyes::)

p1010058xe.jpg


p1010059hm.jpg


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p1010061m.jpg


p1010066hm.jpg


p1010067o.jpg


p1010068w.jpg


p1010069nu.jpg


p1010071s.jpg


p1010074kk.jpg


p1010081ru.jpg


p1010086rj.jpg


p1010088qd.jpg
 
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Nice job on the dual displays....:gj:

I would have liked to see the insides of your meters
since you were mentioning the wiring inside..

You could easily add a DPDT switch to choose either
the Red or Blue display. This way you will save on
batteries and the inputs would not be paralleled.

BTW... the 5W LaserBee was the 1st LPM to use a
USB connector for the OPHIR 20C head 1.5 years
ago....;)


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
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Pman

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Yeah, I know but I was running out of space on the TEC. Have the switches so that's not the issue. Can't fit a seperate 5v battery pack in that box. I've got an unused project box that is inbetween those 2 shown so I could redo the TEC one and seperate power like I did for the Ophir based one. The TEC was running everything with one 9V and a 7805 for the display but I was able to just squeeze in another paralled 9v since everything turns on at once thru a dpst that was part of the original build from Awillis
May put it all into the bigger box so I can turn whatever I want on/off in any combination like I did with the Ophir one.
The TEC is 5" x 2" x 2.5" while the Ophir is 6" x 2" x 4". The empty project box is 6" x 2" x 3". The USB cable and aa box take up space. Have an extra "AA" and a "AAA" box though that I could use with the TEC one as it is certainly smaller. Plenty of eneloops to do whatever.
I'll take a few pics of the insides but as I said, not impressive as this is all a work in progress. Electrical tape covers over many connections on the Ophir to makew sure I can't short until I figure out what I want to do. Again, wires are long on purpose for the same reason. Not ready to neaten things up. Don't want to cut my leads short and shrink tube everything yet. If I pulled back the wire connectors it's actually clean enough to easily trace out. Awillis did a good job with the wiring on the TEC with shrink tubing but I ended up covering the single dpst switch with a piece of tape and wrapping the 9v in tape so they couldn't short as they barely fit. If I took out the extra 9v it would look clean except for the long leads for the top display.
By the way, the 9v batts won't move with the tops on as they just fit.
The insides of the Flukes look nice if you want to see those:D The Flukes look different because ones a "V" and the other is the original but with an upgraded white led display (original is green and not led).

p1010096zp.jpg


p1010097yx.jpg


p1010098h.jpg
 
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Just using some strategically placed Ty-Raps will
do wonders to any wiring job...:beer:


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 
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Pman

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Yeah but because I keep changing things I would have to recut them and the wires are such a small gauge I might nick one: or pull something:p Kind of a pain working with such small wires to begin with. I'm not straining any wires as is.
The euro connectors are just floating as you can see so I can make changes. This is NOT a finished product. Keep changing my mind on things. Anything more "permanent" would be all laid out cleanly.
In fact, keep looking at that extra project box:D May just have to do the TEC over today....maybe not....
Understand that I am on the Argmeter waiting list so keeping things so they can easily be changed;) May not use any of this stuff. Doubt it though as I like options as you can see. Nice having the TEC as a backup.
Knew that regardless of what I posted that I would get comments on the wiring and that's why I originally didn't post internal pics. This is just me messing around trying out things. Can't seem to find my rubber feet spacers to put on the front of the TEC display instead of those stupid Velcro strips...
Still have testing to do concerning signal degradation depending upon # of displays.
 
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That wiring is not so bad...
I've seen much worse than that on "professional"
products built and sold on the Forum.

I can see that you ARE limited in space to add
another switch..

Nice work just the same...


Jerry

You can contact us at any time on our Website: J.BAUER Electronics
 

Pman

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Thanks Jerry.
Mostly posted this to share some ideas. The wiring looks worse than it is. Have no intention of leaving it like this (would drive me crazy). Took me a few months just to try to decide how to lay out my laser cases.
The PL cases must come from the same place as the Harbor Freight ones I have. I'll post a couple pics.
Second pic is posted specifically because everyone makes comments about needing to separate the top and bottom (cases come with a piece of convoluted foam to do just that).
p1010102pi.jpg


p1010101s.jpg


p1010099y.jpg


p1010100y.jpg
 
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Pman

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Thanks guys! I post all this to SHARE. Tried to give credit where it was due. PLEASE feel free to take anything from what I've done and use it in your own stuff.
This is all still just me messing around and trying things. I search the forums and look at others pics and just think about what is possible or would be nice to have.
This is only one of 2 forums that I've actually felt compelled to not only become a member but support every month. It's worth it. You guys are worth it.
Have tried to help out others as much as possible and be an encouragement. Had some trouble with the Sky GB but that was business and on Skys head. Don't know how Offroad:thanks::wave:
could deal with it all.
Need to take the whole wiring thing with a grain of salt as I would never leave it this way if it was the finished product.
Notice that stupid long scratch on the side of the Ophir box? Can't stand it:banghead::crackup:

Finally found some feet for the TEC

p1010106n.jpg
 
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Blord

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You surely put a lot of work there. Don't forget to measure lasers with it. :)
 

Pman

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Thanks my friend. It's quite funny that you should say that Blord as I've yet to measure anything serious yet:p Just been messing with alot of low powered units. Nothing much over 100mw.
I think I may have mentioned in the GB thread that the blue ones are from the link you provided and the reds are from the same place. For some reason they don't list the red ones on ebay. Don't know why they don't have any other colors but these 2 cover you pretty good and I can always use a DVM with white background or not lit.
 
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Thanks my friend. It's quite funny that you should say that Blord as I've yet to measure anything serious yet:p Just been messing with alot of low powered units. Nothing much over 100mw.
I think I may have mentioned in the GB thread that the blue ones are from the link you provided and the reds are from the same place. For some reason they don't list the red ones on ebay. Don't know why they don't have any other colors but these 2 cover you pretty good and I can always use a DVM with white background or not lit.
Thank you for the link, and lunch :beer:

It certainly looks like you're having a lot of fun, keep it up :gj:

Don't worry about the rats nest of wires just yet. I know it's bugging you, but all in due time. You will settle on an enclosure that you like and a layout that suits you. We have faith in your abilities.

Bob
 

Pman

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Because there was room, added another spst switch for switching the displays on/off (not individually though).
Of couse once I have my Arg stuff who knows what I'm going to do:whistle:

p1010141p.jpg
 
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Holy collection!!!! Nice work man, looks like a bunch of time, effort and cash sitting on that rug :)
 




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