Building a Node Assassin v1.1.4
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Node Assassin :: Building a Node Assassin v1.1.4 |
Overview
Building your own Node Assassin is relatively simple, but it will require a little patience and precision as there are a lot of joints that will need to be soldered. Some things to keep in mind:
- Before soldering each joint, be sure that you've accountant for all wires that are to go into that joint. Trying to solder in an additional wire after the joint is already made is tricky and increases the change of damaging components and wires already soldered into the joint.
- Think about what order you want to solder in joints. Generally speaking, it is easier to start in the center of the board and then work outward. Add large components, like the extended length 2.54mm pitch pins, only when you need to so that they won't be in your way.
- Clean your solder tip after each joint.
- Use the minimal amount of solder needed to get a complete joint and apply the heat for the shortest time possible.
- Use a Helping Hand and a good light.
- Use a fan to suck the solder fumes away from you while working.
- Have a good pair of small needle nose pliers, edge cutters and wire strippers available. If you don't have a wire stripper small enough for wire-wrap wire, practice using your edge cutters to strip the wire.
- BE PATIENT! If this is your first project, you will make mistakes. That's ok, it's the best way to learn! Be sure to have some spare parts around in case you break something. Common parts to break when you are a beginner are resistors, LEDs (specially melting them), diodes and similar fine components. Getting frustrated will just cause you to ruin your project. Believe me, I speak from experience!
Parts List
The Node Assassin itself is built to piggy-back on an Arduino and a network shield. If you already have these, you only need the parts for the Node Assassin itself. If not, then you will need to full kit. Any company that sells Arduino's will most likely carry all the other parts you will need. If you are having trouble sourcing the parts, we sell Node Assassin kits.
Below is a verbatim copy of the PARTS file included in the na_build_v1.1.4.tar.gz file.
This is a complete parts list needed to build the 4-port Node Assassin
described in the files in this directory. Many parts can be substituted if you
are unable to find the exact part mentioned. If you replace a part, please
ensure that it is electrically and mechanically compatible.
1x Easy-Labs PADS4 (or equiv)
1x 74HC32 (High Current Quad OR gate)
1x 74HC540 (High Current Hex Inverter)
1x 74HC541 (High Current Hex Buffer)
3x LTV-846 (Quad Optical Isolators)
8x 10mA (or lower) Green LEDs
4x 10mA (or lower) Red LEDs
4x 10mA (or lower) Yellow or Orange LEDs
20x 330 ohm 0.25w resistors
3x 0.1uF Polarized Capacitors
8x 5V+ Zener Diodes
40x 2.54mm Pitch Standard Hight Inline Connectors (4x4, 12x2)
20x 2.54mm Pitch Extra Length Inline Connectors (3x6, 1x2)
1x Micro Momentary Contact Switch
4x 4-Position female 2.54mm pitch connectors
12x 2-Position female 2.54mm pitch connectors
Wire lengths are suggested. In many cases you can use less, but the lengths
recommended below provide healthy overhead. Colours are likewise adjustable.
The colours mentioned are chosen to match with the diagrams provided.
Board Wiring:
6' Black wire-wrap wire
6' Red wire-wrap wire
6' Green wire-wrap wire
6' Orange wire-wrap wire
6' Yellow wire-wrap wire
Node Cables:
20' Black 24awg Stranded Cable
20' Red 24awg Stranded Cable
20' Yellow 24awg Stranded Cable
20' Green 24awg Stranded Cable
When creating the node cables, you may want to get a longer length of black
wire as you will use extra to "fan out" from the node-end of the cable when
connecting the two extra connectors.
Here is a block diagram of the wires you will need to make for each node:
[Node Assassin Side] [Node Side]
- ====||--------------\
_____________ + ====||------------\ | _____________
| |1 | | | |
|====== + |--[Red - Power Button]-----~[4']~------------+-|-| + ======|
|====== + |--[Yellow - Reset Button]--~[4']~----\ /-+-+-+-| - ======|
|====== + |--[Green - Power Feed]-----~[4']~--\ | | | | |_____________|
|====== - |--[Black - Ground]---------~[4']~--|-|---/ | | Power Button
|_____________|4 | | | |
- ====||--|-|-----|-+
+ ====||--|-+ | | _____________
| | | | | |
| \-----|-|---| + ======|
| | \---| - ======|
| | |_____________|
| | Reset Button
| |
- ====||--|-------+
+ ====||--+ | _____________
| | | |
\-------|-----| + ======|
\-----| - ======|
|_____________|
Power LED
If your node's power LED header is a 3-Position connector, simply swap the
connector sleeve from your chassis with the Power LED 2-position sleeve from
the Node Assassin.
If you do not care about connecting the node's chassis' front panel connectors,
you can forgo adding the somewhat tricky male pass-through pins.
| Input, advice, complaints and meanderings all welcome! | ||||
| Digimer | digimer@alteeve.ca | https://alteeve.ca/w | legal stuff: | |
| All info is provided "As-Is". Do not use anything here unless you are willing and able to take resposibility for your own actions. © 1997-2013 | ||||
| Naming credits go to Christopher Olah! | ||||
| In memory of Kettle, Tonia, Josh, Leah and Harvey. In special memory of Hannah, Jack and Riley. | ||||