Frustration, Anxiety, trying to fit it all in

[David Bartolo]

Came close to leaving the course last night. Trying to fit in work, family, study sometimes gets too much. But talking to friends helps, and I am now paring down my ideas and working from most to least essential.

A) Most essential
Most essential for me is an inside bin display that leaves a trackable pattern on the bin lid based upon daily data, and allows 2 weeks to be compared.

This will be acheived with a rotating turntable with salt water solution, valve solenoid and eyedropper bottle. The turntable moves each day, and the eyedropper drops salt solution depending on the amount of "rubbish". At the very least, this will be digital inputs. At the most, a wireless connection to the outside bin.


B) Next essential
I have already got a model outside bin with 3 sensors. I want to hook up display LEDS on the outside to represent amount of rubbish, and then connect this to inside bin. At this stage, a full scale smelly bin is unlikely.

C) Next essential
The wireless interconnection between the inside and outside bin. I am leaving this until the remainder is working fine. Have worked out a protocol for the sender & receiver so the fullness of the bin is transmitted effectively.


Problems I've had
1) Trying to drive a bipolar (4 wire) stepper motor with transistors on a desk covered with junk and student assignments - have now changed to a unipolar (5 wire) which is easier to control
2) Waiting for sparkfun to deliver a board
3) Lack of available time and headspace
4) Trying to do too much

Will upload some sketches soon... and photos...

[David Bartolo]

Thanks Stephie,
:)

[Stephie]

Hey David,

Just read your blog post then. Really sorry to hear that you're having a tough time. End of sem is always really hectic. I'm still and undergrad and so am lucky enough not to have to juggle all the stresses that you must be going through at the moment. I find uni pretty hectic for me, even with all the other problems that I have outside of uni. But I think that you should be proud of what you've achieved so far. I mean, what I've read in your blog posts is a reflection of your diligence and perseverence. Keep it up! ^-^

[Justin]

Really glad to hear that!

[David Bartolo]

Hey guys, thanks.
Driving my loads with ULN2803 now.
Better frame of mind...

[Dan Bourke]

I'm totally with you on the trials and tribulations! It's a tough time of year and I hope we all survive it!

[Justin]

Hi David- sorry to hear that you came close to leaving- but pleased that you didn't! I'll try to help as best I can.

As for the problems, I'd say that 1) is all I can do anything about- how far have you got with driving it? I managed to do it with 4 reed relays, as easy to use substitutes for Daringtons, etc. It's a matter then of energising the coils in the correct sequence. Let me know of any more specific issues with it that you have.