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  1. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    For design/testing, I'll probably stick with the linear regulator. A 9v 400-500mAh should just about do for 1 fight, keep a couple of spares, recharge overnight. Will dig deeper into power once I've got the rest working. Quite a bit to take in.
  2. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Not looked at switching regulators yet. I built the linear 9v-5v as a simple "can I remember breadboards" project as I have easy access to 9v "square" batteries. Yeah, lots of reading still! Prefer to intersperse reading with doing! Each fight is usually 2-3 hours*. We normally only have one...
  3. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Plugging in between fights should be OK. Or make the battery removable? If I'm using rechargables, I'm not too bothered about efficiency, so long as there is not too much heat, and it lasts the fight. I can look at sleep/interrupt. More things to learn ... For now, a linear regulator (just...
  4. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    This does bring up the question of how I will be powering everything ... I can't be trailing a lead across the battle-table! I was thinking of a 9V battery, but presume I will need to drop the voltage. Or I can use a few AA or AAA batteries. They need to be replaceable, and not take up too...
  5. Crystal Wizard

    How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino

    I need to figure what I2C is! For now, i think the 74HC165/595 will do what I need.
  6. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Aha! Yes, I am thinking of using those ICs! And they will draw power NOT from the Arduino? That would work just fine! :)
  7. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Hmmm ... "minor" issue I've spotted: Driving multiple LEDs via the I/O pins. Arduino does not like supplying over 200mA. At 20mA per LED, I'm limited to 10 LEDs. Would some kind of transistor, using low-current from the I/O pins to switch on LEDs be a solution? Or do I try to keep each LED...
  8. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    My first bag of bits has arrived (courtesy of www.bitsbox.co.uk ) but no Arduino yet (tomorrow, hopefully!). Tonight is "build some basic circuits on breadboard", Tomorrow night is "program the Arduino". Thursday is "breadboad the Tank circuit, re-write Arduino code" Friday is "shout and scream...
  9. Crystal Wizard

    Digital Walking Cane

    OK, this one is on the back boiler for the moment. My first bag of stuffs has arrived, and I shall first be putting some VERY basic circuits together on breadboard, and then moving on to this project: https://www.electronicspoint.com/threads/assorted-gubbins-on-toy-tank.277654/ Once I've got...
  10. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    My bits are scheduled to arrive Wednesday, so in the meantime, I've written some example code. I've not done any audio, and scaled a few bits down, to fit on 15 total pins. I've also changed some buttons to switches. There is a lot of expansion for the "final" code. Using 5kb, it defines...
  11. Crystal Wizard

    How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino

    Cool. I think I know where I am going with the code needed then. Will test basic code when my Arduino arrives, and then send off for some 74HCxxx chips.
  12. Crystal Wizard

    How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino

    So, I can either connect 8 of my buttons to the 74HC165, and the other 4 direct to pins, or use 2x 74HC165 and work on them all together. Sounds more coherent to do the latter. Only one button will be being pushed at once. For LEDs, I do similar. 2x 74HC595. I will need multiple LEDs lit at...
  13. Crystal Wizard

    How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino

    Thanks. They certainly do look handy! And probably easier to cram into my limited space than my (inexpertly-built) matrix! :)
  14. Crystal Wizard

    How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino

    I am looking at building a Project (https://www.electronicspoint.com/threads/assorted-gubbins-on-toy-tank.277654/ ) and need to control about 13 LEDs, using maybe 12 Buttons. I do not have that many I/O pins on the Arduino Micro that I am planning on using (especially once the other parts I...
  15. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    OK, I think I need to sort out Multiplexing. I'll take that to another thread. Look for "How do I multiplex lots of switches/LEDs with my Arduino" Audio - looks like I need to do Direct Audio. The sounds I want are not long-lasting, and generally nothing else will be happening while they play...
  16. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Follow-up: Been looking at prices. I can pick up an Arduino clone for about £4. Wires, LEDs, switches, another few £££. Might need a few other components. No problem. Audio Shield: £20+ ?!? Is there a cheaper way of getting an Audio Shield? Or other solution?
  17. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    OK, a little more research, and I think this is what I need: I/O Guns - 3, each with "Fire" button and flashing LED Hull Points - 4 LED (green to red). 2 buttons (+/- 1 HP) Speed - 3 LED (Stop, slow, fast). 1 Selector Switch Status - 3 LED (Stunned, Shaken, Immobilised). 1 button EACH. Movement...
  18. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    Thanks for the input. Much appreciated. As always: TIMTOWTDI :) Actual implementation is a little way off yet, but it seems viable, so I'll be working on bits as I go along. I've found a guy who did similar, but just with LEDs as headlights for the tank, no programming. Some very useful info...
  19. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    :) I've just written something very similar! (In my own special flavour of pseudo-code!) I hadn't got variables for all status (just relying on LEDs on/off), but can see how they would help. (Notes: HP = Hull Points (Strength of Hull. When all are gone, Tank is wrecked). There may be more than...
  20. Crystal Wizard

    Assorted Gubbins on toy tank

    I've had a quick look at multi-tasking Arduino. Not sure I've got my head round it yet. A lot of it will be setting Status Lights (non-animated). Audio, yes, I can see how off-loading that to a shield will help. Most of the time I don't need it to be super-responsive. I'll see about scrawling...
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