Dave's uCurrent Adapter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: brims
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2010, 02:33:00 pm
content: I'm sorry if this has been brought up before, I haven't been able to find it. I really like the idea of the uCurrent adapter. I bought the issue of the Australian magazine (don't recall the name) that Dave wrote an article about the device to get all the information; that was before he freely gave it away.Anyways, I'd love to try my hand at building one, my only issue is the PCB. I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to designing a PCB to send off to a manufacturer. I took the pictures of the PCB he gave and put them in an image editing program to try and come up with a template, but who knows if I could get a board made from that. Has Dave ever given the PCB template in any format, or does anyone else have one.I'd buy an adapter, but I'd really rather build it myself. Maybe I'll build one if I can get the PCB layout and buy one. Thanks in advace.

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2010, 03:30:26 pm
content: If you want to try the easy way out, you can download the ExpressPCB program which is a simplified PCB design program, but it can only be used with ExpressPCB (the manufacturer).Otherwise I would highly suggest downloading the Eagle freeware version, going through all the tutorials and create the schematic and board in it. There are tutorials on how to make Gerber files for manufacturing out of Eagle as well. It's a steep learning curve, but schematic capture and PCB layout is fundamental you're going to need if you want to move forward with more projects.

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2010, 03:37:38 pm
content: There are plenty of basic tutorials on Eagle you can use that you can google yourself. I think the Youtube ones can be pretty good.Here's some that are specifically meant for when you are ready to send it in for manufacturing:http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=115http://hackaday.com/2009/01/15/how-to-prepare-your-eagle-designs-for-manufacture/http://colinkarpfinger.com/blog/2010/ordering-pcbs-designed-with-eagle/

author: Time
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2010, 03:40:04 pm
content: No one ever mentions c.adence lay.out on here... I use c.adence lay.out... i like it alot

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2010, 03:56:24 pm
content: Is it free?Eagle is the standard for open source hardware so there are a lot of tutorials, libraries, and available designs for it. It's also free for two layer/limited board size. For somebody doing this for a hobby, it's pretty much the de facto standard.

author: brims
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2010, 01:25:49 am
content: Thanks. I'll look into Eagle and see what I can do.

author: TheDirty
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2010, 01:34:28 am
content: Looks like I left it out of the original message, but the learning curve is steep. I don't want to give the impression that you are going to be up and running quickly.

author: sanman
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2010, 04:10:52 pm
content: I would also be interested if anyone has already done the layout and could post/send the file.. for any of the companies. This would save me a lot of time.Thanks!

author: dengorius
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2010, 06:58:14 pm
content: Well you can use the original circuit overlay from Davehttp://alternatezone.com/electronics/ucurrent/uCurrent-Overlay.gifThat makes the pcb design almost effortless

author: terabyte
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2010, 01:47:28 am
content: Has anybody asked Dave for the Eagle files? I recently emailed him and he said he was not going to be selling the uCurrent anymore as there was no demand for them. Heck I'll shoot him an email and ask.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 26, 2010, 11:42:54 am
content: I do not have Eagle files, the project was done in Altium Designer.I'll probably get around to open sourcing it one day, but really, it's a trivial circuit, easy to lay out yourself any way you want.Dave.

author: bombledmonk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2011, 04:07:18 pm
content: I'm bringing this back from the dead out of curiosity. Since you aren't making the uCurrent are you considering a release of the gerber and production files to make it easy for people who want to get their hands on one?

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2011, 05:04:59 pm
content: The one problem with the gerbers directly is that I haven't been able to find a source for the hobby box that Dave used. I have all the parts coming from Digikey, other than the few I sampled from Maxim.I'll be making a Eagle for the uCurrent, but I will require Dave's blessing (and a working proto using that board) before I would make that public.Can't promise a time frame, as I'm finishing my ATMega driven current sink and current limiter power supply first. And the honey do list is quite long...

author: bombledmonk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2011, 09:36:35 pm
content: While not exactly the same, I think this is one is pretty close in dimensions. I'm not quite sure which Jiffy box he was using.http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=HM361-ND

author: sacherjj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2011, 11:05:39 pm
content: I'm thinking about designing for this one:http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/TB-1/PLASTIC-BOX//1.htmlI have a few of them around and they are the best priced option out there. I always seem to be ordering something fun from them anyway.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2011, 11:54:54 pm
content: Quote from: sacherjj on June 08, 2011, 05:04:59 pmSure, go for it. Just the usual attribution is fine.The hobby box I used is a made in Australia UB5 Jiffy Box from Altronics. Jaycar also sell the same type, but made in China.They have been the standard hobby box for many decades in the Australian electronics industry.As far as I know, they aren't used outside of Australia?Dave.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2011, 07:44:07 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 26, 2010, 11:42:54 amWhat license will you open-source it under?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2011, 02:29:07 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on June 12, 2011, 07:44:07 pmLikely CC-Attribution-Share Alike.Dave.

author: Tony R
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2011, 01:26:29 am
content: Quote from: TheDirty on June 18, 2010, 03:30:26 pmBad Software, Bad Company.I find the software awkward to use and the files are non portable you must use express PCB to manufacture your boards. They are higher priced and rather limited to what you can get. I have classmates who used that company eneded up paying 40 bucks for a 10cm by 10cm board with no solder mask.

author: reagle
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 23, 2011, 12:54:38 am
content: We've used Express PCB for years at work when we needed quick protos with a guaranteed delivery dates and never had problems that weren't caused by us. You can also get Gerbers after your first order for some fee if you'd like to go anywhere else.So we've always been happy with them

author: AscendedDaniel
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 05, 2011, 06:26:26 pm
content: Does anyone know the part numbers for the binding posts and banana jacks used on the uCurrent? They look really nice, and I'm having trouble finding them on digikey and mouser.

author: JGinwa
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 04, 2011, 07:15:28 am
content: Found suitable jacks/posts atWww.allectronics.comHope they are what you are looking for.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2011, 07:59:31 am
content: Quote from: AscendedDaniel on October 05, 2011, 06:26:26 pmThey are from Altronics:http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=P9238Dave.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2011, 06:48:27 am
content: eh, get it herehttp://www.reddit.com/r/PCBDesignReview/comments/mxb3u/pcb_review_of_opencurrent/

author: mobbarley
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2011, 08:42:36 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on December 05, 2011, 06:48:27 amthats some odd routing