DIY Onion-Mini-Dock
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 Hey guys, so I just got my Onion2+ but of course I forgot to buy the dock... 
 Because I am living in Germany, I think it will be faster and cooler if I develop my own open-hardware onion-dock.Looking on the schematics of the dock from https://github.com/OnionIoT/Onion-Hardware/blob/master/Schematics/Omega-Mini-Dock.pdf I wonder how important is the component Q1 as I am thinking in having it always on while the micro-usb is connected. Second questions, could anyone suggest a component for items D12, D13 and D14? I will use this thread to show the progress. Cheers  
 
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 Looks like those diodes are "transient-voltage-suppression diodes", and are used to clamp down on electrostatic discharge from frying the rest of the circuit. As for the transistor, you could probably do without it (though I don't claim to be any sort of expert) and just have the regulator connected directly to the power bus through a switch. I'm going to be doing something similar, but I just got a cheap CP2102 breakout board on amazon (they generally come with 3V3 output, so no need even to connect through the regulator) to save myself the hassle. 
 
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 Thanks, but I believe that the AO3401 is also not really necessary, right? I am almost done with the project, then I will share it here for you to take a look. 
 
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 @Daniel-Andrade I would agree that I don't think the A03401 is really needed. You might also like to consider the use of a TSR 1-2433in place of theBL1117-3.3
 TheTSR 1-2433will give you a regualated 3.3v from any input supply in the range 4.75 ā 36 VDC
 But I would highly recommend that you still use suitable capacitors across the input and output. See sample circuits in the datasheet for theTSR-1series which can be found at https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/tsr1.pdf
 
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 Hey, right now the project looks like this: Schematics and extra docs here: 
 http://www.danielandrade.net/onion/onion_dock_v0.1.pdfFor 3v3 regulator, I am using a TLV1117LV33DCYR from Texas. 
 Don't really need so much power from the Traco.Any extra tips and ideas? Thanks!!! 
 
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 @Daniel-Andrade It's an excellent idea to have the Omega pins available for customized use, and on standard headers to boot.  
 
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 @fossette Yes, I want it to be Breadboard friendly! 
 
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 @Daniel-Andrade Cool. So basically a form of Mini dock with all the pins exposed for breadboarding/external connections. Great  
 
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 This is great! I thought of doing something like this myself, but yours is much more capable. I want one! 
 
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 Just sent the first board to production. 
 Going to CES and taking some holidays. I will be back in mid-january.If everything works I will post here and I can send them to anyone with production + shipping cost  
 
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 @Daniel-Andrade Please do. I'd be interested! 
 
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 Also see https://community.onion.io/topic/1338/new-omega2-basic-shield-power-ftdi-i2c-and-spi for something very similar 
 
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 @Daniel-Andrade any news on your boards? 
 
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 @Costas-Costas @Daniel-Andrade I too would be most interested in any updates on availability of this. Thanks 
 
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 @Daniel-Andrade hope it will be available in Brazil too ... 
 
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 Ist the micro usb acts as USB host or client? I think you should add USB host connector... 
 
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 @Victor-Tagayun The schematics show the microUSB-port is simply connected to a CP2102 USB-TTL-adapter. It's not connected to the Omega2 itself. 
 
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 I've never made a single PCB before, let alone used Kicad, but after tussling with it for a day I managed to do my own take on a mini-dock. I skipped on the USB-TTL, because I am going to be using an external one anyways, if needed, nor do I need those reset-buttons, but I did decide to include ESD-protection on the USB-port's data-lines. I also added a header with a couple of extra power-pins, either for powering the device from, or to power any external modules I may want to connect to it.  
 
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 @WereCatf Nice to have another dock option! So, the Omega mounts over the header socket? 
 
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 @Ken-Conrad No, I figured it'd just about fit under the Omega2, when I solder the female 2.0mm headers, but then I just simply forgot to actually measure it. 
 
 
			
		 
			
		 
			
		 
			
		