Re: [DIYbio] Microcontrollers

Small nitpick; gas sensors tend to draw a lot of power, and it's
challenging to get even enough power to drive modest USB equipment from
a RPi without a separate power hub. That's one nice feature of Arduino;
a really wide input voltage band, and the potential to draw larger
ampages straight from the voltage regulator than would otherwise be
avaialble on the pins.

Having said that, I'm not sure even the arduino can supply enough power
for some of the more popular gas sensors like those used in alcohol
breathalysers. It may or may not apply to your CO2 project.

On 27/09/12 20:46, Tristan Eversole wrote:
> The critical point, which I had not realized before Simon replied, is that my choice of microcontroller does not strongly constrain my choice of sensors. If it did, that would be a powerful argument in favor of the Arduino: I can type "arduino carbon dioxide sensor" into Google, and bang, there's one on eBay. (http://www.ebay.com/itm/MG811-MG-811-CO2-Carbon-Dioxide-Sensor-Module-for-Arduino-and-other-MCUs-/120804868793 ) However, if it's not that hard to connect the aforementioned carbon dioxide sensor (for example) to a Launchpad or a Raspberry Pi or a Propellor, then the choice of microcontroller is no longer any sort of huge limiting design decision-- particularly because the microcontroller is going to be quite cheap relative to the tank, the sensors, the refrigeration system, and the brachiopods themselves.
>
> So I really owe you guys for pointing this out.
>
> --T.
>
> On Sep 27, 2012, at 12:09 AM, Patrik D'haeseleer wrote:
>
>> On Wednesday, September 26, 2012 4:26:32 PM UTC-7, John Griessen wrote:
>> Taking all you've said about your own experience level, this is sounding the most
>> results-getting direction yet. Does the bioboard have cost levels you can fit to your want?
>>
>> Actually, the BioBoard *is* an Arduino platform. And it is far from a well-developed product - it's a couple of people at Noisebridge hacking some sensors. Really cool work though - they were building their own pH and DO probes.
>>
>> Given Tristan's lack of experience with Linux, OS's, programming, and electronics, I still think the fastest way to get him up and running would be Arduino. He'll have his hands plenty full setting up the aquarium, rigging the sensors, etc.
>>
>> I'd say get to the point where you can collect all the data you need on an SD card, and switch some relays on an Arduino. Pretty much everything you've learned up to that point will translate over directly if you do decide to move to a RasPi platform.
>>
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>

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