Tech Info, Learn Things and Other Fun Stuff

RPi's and Pi-SPi's Interfaces

by Vytas Sinkevicius

RPi's and Pi-SPi's Interfaces

The Pi-SPi Interface product line has arrived! From Left to right: RPi 3, RS485 Interface, 8 Channel Analog Input (4-20mA, VDC and Thermistor), ...

Analog Output 4-20mA Circuits

by Vytas Sinkevicius

Analog Output 4-20mA Circuits

One of the most common analog signals used in process control applications is the 4-20 mA signal. There are times where a 4-20 mA has to be generat...
Posted in RS485

RPi 3, Pi-SPi-RS485 and Gas Sensors

by Vytas Sinkevicius

RPi 3, Pi-SPi-RS485 and Gas Sensors

The brand new Pi-SPi-RS485 Interface has just arrived and I had to take it for a spin with some of our products. Here is a pic of my test setup: F...
Posted in Raspberry Pi, RS485, Serial Converter

Battery Circuits For Wireless Applications

by Vytas Sinkevicius

Battery Circuits For Wireless Applications

Wireless transmitters, like our environment monitor, use a battery management circuit to provide clean 3.3V power to the processor and wireless rad...

Water Leak Circuits and Bad Hot Water Tanks

by Vytas Sinkevicius
It finally happened to me - my hot water tank blew. As luck would have it, I actually had one of our water leak detection products installed and I ...

Designing Multi-Sensor Transmitters

by Vytas Sinkevicius

Designing Multi-Sensor Transmitters

The VP-TX-DCIM is a new multi-sensor platform designed around the PIC18LF series microprocessor and the MCP3208 A/D converter. The "must have" desi...
Posted in RS485

Thermistors, PICs, Steinhart-Hart and Wireless Applications

by Vytas Sinkevicius

Thermistors, PICs, Steinhart-Hart and Wireless Applications

One of the most basic sensors in many wireless applications is a temperature sensor. The thermistor is widely used for its low cost, it's easy to u...
Posted in Raspberry Pi, Zigbee

RPi 3, Analog 4-20mA, Relay, and Character Display Interfaces

by Vytas Sinkevicius

RPi 3, Analog 4-20mA, Relay, and Character Display Interfaces

The most commonly used interfaces in commercial and industrial applications require some form of analog input (sensors) and relay outputs for contr...
Posted in Raspberry Pi, RS485

VP-EC-8AI Designing Analog Input Modules

by Vytas Sinkevicius

VP-EC-8AI Designing Analog Input Modules

Analog inputs can be mV, Volts, mili-Amps, Amps, AC, DC, or complex wave forms. Typical process controls applications take these measurements from ...

Serial Converter Design with the FTDI FT232RL for Raspberry Pi, Zigbee, RS485, RS232 and TTL

by Vytas Sinkevicius

Serial Converter Design with the FTDI FT232RL for Raspberry Pi, Zigbee, RS485, RS232 and TTL

Many applications require converting one serial hardware protocol to another such as USB to Zigbee, Rspberry Pi Uart to RS485, RS232 tot TTL levels...

VP-EC-RDU LCD Display

by Vytas Sinkevicius

VP-EC-RDU LCD Display

The VP-EC-RDU Remote Display is the perfect addition to any controls system or project that uses the MODBUS RTU protocol and RS485. The easy to rea...

VP-EC-8KO Designing Relay Output Modules

by Vytas Sinkevicius

VP-EC-8KO Designing Relay Output Modules

The design criteria for a relay module has to have real world applications: heavy duty relay contacts of at least 10 A Ac at 120 VAC, transient pro...