1/26/04 Alpha version of controller is finished!
Ok, the day I have been waiting for...all the code (except the internet controller of course) is finished! The signup sheet is going very well, we have enough people signed up that when the board is layed out we will IMMEDIATELY get it out to a fab house. Prior to sending it out I will have an exact cost on the board and will confirm with the people who have signed up about the total package costs. After I get the boards in and get one built I will put together a step by step of assembly with pictures, as well as a kit of parts.
Now before everyone gets TOO excited, please realize that laying out the board is not going to happen overnight. Mbelding is an engineer, and is going to lay the board out properly with attention to all the EMI and RF issues that are over my head, so don't expect this tomorrow or even next week please. I promise I will update you with progress.
Another bit of good news is that someone out there has taken alot of the work out of the LCD controller board I made to drive the LCD. A company called Elabs sells a CHIP (and its a DIP) that does everything the controller does with only 2 extra components. It will add about $8 to the cost of the project, but you can subtract the cost of building/buying the LCD control board, so it comes out about the same. I think this will help alot of people out by not having to build another complete board to use with the aquarium controller pcb. Now that I have your hopes up, I haven't gotten the chip in yet, but it should be here by this weekend. I will update everyone if this works like I think it will.
For everyone that has expressed interest and signed up for the controller and any of my other projects, thanks! This project has come a long way, and it is in large part due to the support and encouragement from the community...we aren't done yet...but it is looking good!
SWN