enclosures / mounting

keturnketurn
edited December 2014 in Headware
Maybe this will be all addressed when we get the V3 Spiderclaw, but I'm a little concerned about leaving my OpenBCI quite so naked. I'd hate to smudge Ten20 paste on the pins of the IC, or deliver a static shock to one of the exposed contacts.

That, and I'm finding the simple mechanics of trying to get the board, together with the weight of 4xAA batteries, within 18 inches of my scalp with enough room to not tug too much on the leads is an awkward challenge.

How are folks handling this now?

I'm assuming it'd be a bad idea to enclose the board in something metal (e.g. Altoids-tin-as-project-box) if I want to keep radio signal strength.

Do any of the chips draw enough power that we have to worry about heat dissipation?

If I do put this in a box, how am I going to reach the On/Off switch?

Comments

  • DavyDDavyD
    I made a 3D print of an octagonal box and drilled holes in it.for switches and leads.
  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA
    edited December 2014
    Kevin, hi.

    At the moment I'm just clipping the OpenBCI board to a place near my shirt collar. Then using regular touchproof electrode wires that are about 40" in length. This gives me plenty of wire to reach up to my velcro based saline headset. Photos on the post and page linked therein below.

    http://openbci.com/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/247/velcro-saline-sensor-headset

    I clamp extra wire out of the way with a plastic clamp / clip. My Lithium battery and booster is in my pocket and the 5v DC supply pair just runs up to the OpenBCI on my shirt. I agree that the 4x AA cell holder is quite heavy. But you can also extend that, see next links.

    As far as extending your existing 18" sensor wires, one or more of the male/female extenders below can work. I'd suggest taping the intermediate connector pairs together so they don't accidentally pull apart,

    http://www.adafruit.com/products/824   male / female extenders

    Similarly for your power cable,

    http://www.adafruit.com/products/1131   mates with JST-PH connectors used on battery pack

    Lithium thread

    http://openbci.com/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/175/run-openbci-on-lipo-battery

    William
  • George MartinGeorge Martin
    edited January 2015
    My 32bit board did not arrive with the battery holder.  I have a couple around the office I can use, but the wires have no terminator.  Can I use the this plug 


    George
  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA
    George, yes that is the same JST-PH as I mention on the link above, which is a half meter long and can act as an extension cord so you can put it in your pocket. (Well if you have two of them.)


    William
  • Conor RussomannoConor Russomanno
    edited January 2015
    Regarding enclosures / mounting:

    1) Check out Frederic Foiry's belt mount for OpenBCI: https://github.com/OpenBCI/MemoWave

    image

    2) Spiderclaw V3:

    Spiderclaw V3 is on the not-too-distant horizon. As soon as we finish with fulfillment, it's Spiderclaw time! 

    Regarding the weight of the battery, I'll likely move to a design that implements a lighter, lithium rechargeable battery pack. The x4 AA battery pack will be too heavy when placed on the back of the head, unless a counterweight is added to the front of the head.. yikes! 

    I was thinking of adding a system similar to the mechanics of a human hand for V3. Something with ligaments that run down the 5 arms, and apply a uniform tension down the entire arm. Similar to the mechanics of the 3d-printable prosthetic arm on thingiverse: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13117

    The design will implement the best aspects of V1 and V2, with the additional uniform tension on each arm (probably with rubber bands and fish wire).

    Conor
  • Dreaming_GeekDreaming_Geek Atlanta
    edited June 2015
    Housing boards and batteries - fan possible?

    Because I live in proximity with small children, I would really like to get my gear in some sort of housing.
    I had thought of converting a little box that is about 5x5x2 inches.
    I've often been wondering why I have found no reference to housing.
    Would there be heat issues?
    Then, I considered using a pocket fan.
    Would there be interference issues?

    This a fan that I was considering.

  • wjcroftwjcroft Mount Shasta, CA
    @Dreaming_Geek , I merged your question into this existing thread. Checkout some of the earlier posts, especially the belt mount 3D printed enclosure. Gives good side access for switches and headers.

    You will likely not need a fan as board runs very cool.

  • Dreaming_GeekDreaming_Geek Atlanta
    Thanks for letting me know where the thread went.
    Guess I just wasn't using the right search terms to find those threads.
    Awesome to know that it already exists.
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