4 ms·

I think we need something in between PLCs and Arduinos, but anything like that is very rare. Like, just put some 220 ohm resistors, PCB spark gaps, and ESD dio

I think we need something in between PLCs and Arduinos, but anything like that is very rare. Like, just put some 220 ohm resistors, PCB spark gaps, and ESD diodes on every pin, and you've covered a lot already. I'm planning on ordering some PCBs for something similar in a few days, and I'm still confused about why this doesn't exist already. So many simple cheap things could be done to make Arduino better. Like, connecting individual pins is fun very briefly as a beginner, after that I want nice clean professional r/cableporn. Give us 3 pin servo plugs or STEMMA connectors for everything. Put a diode on the USB-C line so I can power it externally without back feeding and breaking the spec. Maybe figure out your inrush current so I can have some peace of mind that it won't break itself with inductive current spikes. Maybe stop using crappy blue relays. 99% of DIY projects do not switch 120vac. Why can't we have protected MOSFETs that don't wear out? Can we quit using a different pinout for ever everything? Just make your module copy something similar. Every little I2C display thingy has a different pinout for no reason, seemingly evenly distributed across all the possible combinations. Give us a 5v IO pin for addressable LEDs. Why am I still using discreet 5mm LEDs with dead bug soldered on resistors for space-constrained stuff? Hobby type MCU boards are too deep in the "Hacker" mindset, where the tech is the focus, as opposed to being part of something else. Adafruit does great stuff, but so many boards are just... Meh. Anything you build without getting a custom PCB almost always winds up as cable spaghetti even for trivial things, and it doesn't need to be like that.

petsfed 2y ago
I think its because the difference between "hacked together on top of an Arduino" and "hacked together on top of an Arduino with ESD protection and connectors" is basically nill. The market for that in-between species has got to be an order of magnitude smaller than either, because the problem becomes the one-size-fits-all approach. I hate how many screw terminals appear in the average PLC wiring scheme, but there's really no other way to get things as customizable as the customer wants without servicing a million and a half SKUs. It sucks, but that's the business.
- eternityforest 2y ago
  There's a lot that can be done if you don't need voltages above 5v or more than a few amps though, as long as you don't need the full flexibility of the MCU. If you make all the IO pins accessible, you'll never protect them all fully or have any room for dedicated special purpose connectors, but if you choose the most common features and only support those you can do a lot. For the board I'm doing I only have 3x servo plugs or STEMMA connectors, plus an LED strip output, switched 5v output, and Qwiic/Stemma QT plug, plus headers for the most common class D amp and RS485 modules. That covers about half of all Arduino stuff I've ever done, and leaves a ton of room for onboard features even on a 35x70mm board.
relaxing 2y ago
Have you looked at Ruggeduino? They’ve done the ESD protection thing.
- eternityforest 2y ago
  They are really cool, but they're still stuck on Atmega and the Uno form factor
  - relaxing 2y ago
    Well yeah, it’s an Arduino.
airbreather 2y ago
Buy decent relays then, of which there is really only one option - Omron. Standard relay is good for 50 million OPs, if you use them within manufacturers ratings. Just one example, did you know that most relays have a minimum switching current, and if you don't meet it they will fail pretty quickly. I bet you never even considered that.
- eternityforest 2y ago
  If I have enough control over the design that I can choose a relay brand, why wouldn't I just use an integrated protected switch IC? Unless I know going to want to switch AC or something, or it's a special safety relay. People who make cheap off the shelf gadgets don't use Omron. That's actually really interesting to know about the minimum switching current though!

petsfed 2y ago

I think its because the difference between "hacked together on top of an Arduino" and "hacked together on top of an Arduino with ESD protection and connectors" is basically nill. The market for that in-between species has got to be an order of magnitude smaller than either, because the problem becomes the one-size-fits-all approach. I hate how many screw terminals appear in the average PLC wiring scheme, but there's really no other way to get things as customizable as the customer wants without servicing a million and a half SKUs. It sucks, but that's the business.

eternityforest 2y ago
There's a lot that can be done if you don't need voltages above 5v or more than a few amps though, as long as you don't need the full flexibility of the MCU. If you make all the IO pins accessible, you'll never protect them all fully or have any room for dedicated special purpose connectors, but if you choose the most common features and only support those you can do a lot. For the board I'm doing I only have 3x servo plugs or STEMMA connectors, plus an LED strip output, switched 5v output, and Qwiic/Stemma QT plug, plus headers for the most common class D amp and RS485 modules. That covers about half of all Arduino stuff I've ever done, and leaves a ton of room for onboard features even on a 35x70mm board.

relaxing 2y ago

Have you looked at Ruggeduino? They’ve done the ESD protection thing.

eternityforest 2y ago
They are really cool, but they're still stuck on Atmega and the Uno form factor
- relaxing 2y ago
  Well yeah, it’s an Arduino.

airbreather 2y ago

Buy decent relays then, of which there is really only one option - Omron. Standard relay is good for 50 million OPs, if you use them within manufacturers ratings. Just one example, did you know that most relays have a minimum switching current, and if you don't meet it they will fail pretty quickly. I bet you never even considered that.

eternityforest 2y ago
If I have enough control over the design that I can choose a relay brand, why wouldn't I just use an integrated protected switch IC? Unless I know going to want to switch AC or something, or it's a special safety relay. People who make cheap off the shelf gadgets don't use Omron. That's actually really interesting to know about the minimum switching current though!