Playing with breadboards again.

[rrowan]

Hi Folks,

Its been a long time since I use a breadboard to build something with it.
I have a couple of goals to create (hopefully) two items that sadly are not DLA related.

First I just remade a circuit I saw online to get me started.
Its just a pic controlling a LCD showing what voltage its seeing on one ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) input pin.
Nothing exciting. I am not sure which is correct my "cheap" dvm or the pic.

My goal projects:
1 - Power supply with 5 & 12 volts and variable (with LCD display) voltage. Maybe an amp meter also.
2 - Lighthouse Light with simulated rotating light. Using Wildwood NJ Hereford Inlet as the prototype with a 10 second light rotation.

Rick R.

[KeithTarpley]

Greetings,,,

A few green wires, a few red wires.  Seems appropriate.

Forward...

Keith

[tbone321]

That looks good Rick.  I would say that they are both correct.  A .1V loss can occure from the small load fom the meter and slight corrosion or poor contact on the leads.  It has been well over 20 years since I even looked at a breadboard but that does look like fun.  Is the lighthouse for your train setup?

[rrowan]

That looks good Rick.  I would say that they are both correct.  A .1V loss can occure from the small load fom the meter and slight corrosion or poor contact on the leads.  It has been well over 20 years since I even looked at a breadboard but that does look like fun.  Is the lighthouse for your train setup?

Thanks Tom,

yeah the Lighthouse Light is for the Train layout. I see you point about the voltage difference. Funny thing back when I was in electronics school I had too very good meters. A german one and a Fluke. I gave the Fluke to my dad since they both were very good and I didn't see a difference between the two. Sadly I don't know what happen to either one.

The LM317 board has to be about 15 + years old. I just happen to come across it in my parts drawer.

Question for the power supply I am on the fence between using a ATX ps or a linear transformer. Which way would you go?

Brother Keith, I didn't even think of the red and green wires 

Rick R.

[mac50]

I agree both are correct. Best i can recall, plus or minus 1 on a dvm in the least significant digit would not be unusual. i was taught you should always set a dvm to give the most digits available without going over range to get the most accurate reading.

[tbone321]

I would go with the ATX supply.  For not a whole lot more money, they give you a strictly regulated, highly filtered DC output in 12, 5, and 3.3 volts.  This alone should cover about 90% of your needs and if you still need or want to build a variable output with the digital display, you already have a solid foundation to build it on.

[vairmoose]

Simulated light rotation?     Using multiple leds to generate rotational pattern?     

[rrowan]

Simulated light rotation?     Using multiple leds to generate rotational pattern?   

Yes Sir Moose 

Rick R.

[chrisatpsu]

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[dmaccole]

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The whole article is pretty good too ...

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This was written by Dave Bodnar, who got me into this whole mishigash ... I decided I wanted a real lighthouse on my outdoor train layout and Dave had posted some stuff about how he'd done it himself and sold PC boards and BOMs. I then got into Picaxen, building a crossing signal for the gate you have to open to get into my layout using the technology.

After I'd built the lighthouse and the crossing signal, when the wife saw the TV show "Crazy Christmas Lights" and a computerized show, she said, "I expect you to do this next year." I said "Sure." She was joking; I was not.

\dmc