August 2021 – owenduffy.net

Review of inexpensive Chinese thermostat – DST1020

The DST1020 targets the market for inexpensive digital thermostats, the most popular being the STC1000. There are two novel features to the DST1020:

uses DS1820B digital temperature sensor (well probably a Chinese clone);
two line display shows PV and SV simultaneously.

The DS1820B should be considerably more accurate and overcome the significant error in the conversion of NTC resistance to temperature in the other thermostats (experience is that the approximation used for the NTC characteristic is simple and inaccurate).

It is sold with brief and inadequate / incorrect user instructions.

Above, the front of the DST1020. Continue reading Review of inexpensive Chinese thermostat – DST1020

Last update: 1st September, 2021, 7:20 AM

Small 2-stroke engines and popoff pressure

This article explores the physics of fuel metering in a typical small diaphragm carburettor (carburetor to some) as used on small 2-stroke chainsaws, leaf blowers, brushcutters etc.

The discussion following is in terms of absolute pressure, and it is assumed that atmospheric pressure is 100kPa. ALL pressures are absolute unless stated otherwise, to find gauge pressure, subtract 100kPa.

Above from Zama is a cross section view of the metering chamber of a typical butterfly carburettor. The metering lever pivots on an axle (1), the distance from the axle to the needle (2) is 3.5mm, to the spring (3) is 3.5mm, and to the contact to the metering diaphragm (4) is 8mm. The needle seat is 0.55mm diameter. Continue reading Small 2-stroke engines and popoff pressure

Last update: 30th August, 2021, 9:56 AM

Small engines and green fraud

Recent weeks have seen some catch up work on maintenance of small engine yard equipment. There are 22 engines in all, 6 4-stroke and 16 2-stroke.

For some years, ‘green’ measures implemented by government meant that ordinary unleaded petrol (ULP) was not available retail, one had to use E10 (ULP with 10% Ethanol).

Greens claimed that at such low Ethanol, that the fuel was compatible with all existing and new engine equipment.

Diaphragm carburettors

Most of my 2-stroke small engines use so called diaphragm carburettors. These ‘all position’ carburettors are common on yard equipment like brushcutters, leaf blowers, chainsaws etc.

Above is a Chinese after market clone of a Zama ‘butterfly’ type (note the throttle butterfly) diaphragm carburettor that suits a Stihl BG85 and similar leaf blower. (This cost $15 inc shipping on Aliexpress.) Continue reading Small engines and green fraud

Last update: 27th August, 2021, 6:48 AM

JDY-31 Bluetooth SPP module

A friend referred me to a ‘replacement’ for the HC-05 Bluetooth module, a JDY-31.

Above is a JDY-31 bluetooth module with header pins fitted. The physical design is poor, the header pins can be fitted from only one side (not plated through holes, no pads on the other side, probably to suit the base board below), and the black plastic part obscures the board labelling of the pins. Continue reading JDY-31 Bluetooth SPP module

Last update: 12th September, 2021, 4:34 PM

IoT water tank telemetry project – 4-20mA / 1MPa pressure transducer trial

This is a new project derived from IoT water tank telemetry project – part 1 , but using an inexpensive 1MPa 4-20mA pressure transducer.

Above is the electronics and 4MPa pressure transducer fitted with a Nitto male connector for a trial. Continue reading IoT water tank telemetry project – 4-20mA / 1MPa pressure transducer trial

Last update: 14th August, 2021, 5:03 PM

Measuring a 1/4 wave balanced line – nanoVNA

A question was asked recently online:

I am about to measure a 1/4 wave of 450 ohm windowed twinlead for the 2m band using my NanoVNA. My question is, since I will be making an unbalanced to balanced connection, should I use a common mode choke, balun or add ferrites to the coax side to make the connection, or does it really matter at 2m frequencies? The coax lead from my VNA to the twinlead will be about 6″ to 12″ long. I will probably terminate the coax in two short wires to connect to the twinlead.

It is a common enough question and includes some related issues that are worthy of discussion. Continue reading Measuring a 1/4 wave balanced line – nanoVNA

Last update: 22nd March, 2022, 6:53 AM

Measure transmission line Zo – nanoVNA – PVC speaker twin – loss models comparison #3

Measure transmission line Zo – nanoVNA – PVC speaker twin demonstrated measurement of transmission line parameters of a sample of line based on measurement of the input impedances of a section of line with both a short circuit and open circuit termination. From Zsc and Zoc we can calculate the Zo, and the complex propagation constant $\gamma=\alpha + \jmath \beta$, and from that, MLL.