Circuit Panel Assembly - BrendonWatsonLab/Digital-Homecage GitHub Wiki

From I.Cerda Thesis:

The Circuit Panel Assembly shown takes in 12 V of power from the AC/DC converter and distributes it to key components of the Digital Homecage, including the Light Relay Station, the Arduino, and the Motor Shield. The Circuit Panel Assembly consists of a 12 V Arduino Barrel Jack Wire Assembly, a Buck Converter Power Assembly, a 12 V Visible Light Relay Power Wire Assembly, and a Power Distribution Board Assembly. It also houses the Water Solenoid Valve Driving Circuit.

Setting up the Power Relay Assembly

There are four main components to this relay: the 12V Arduino Barrel Jack Assembly, the 12V Buck Converter Power Wire Assembly, the 12V Visible Light Relay Power Wire Assembly, and the Buck Converter to 9V Motor Shield Power Wire Assembly.

Power Distribution Wire

  • These wires will be the main way that the light and solenoids receive power. This system is made of two ~24" conductor wires, one red, and one black that are lightly twisted and inserted into the female barrel jack.

12V Arduino Barrel Jack Assembly

  • For the 12V Arduino Assembly, take a White Barrel Jack 2 Conductor Cable and cut it to ~21 inches long. The male end of this cable will connect to the Arduino Mega/Motor Shield Construct. The exposed wires should be soldered to the power and GND sections of the red breadboard, as denoted by the location of the Power Distribution Wire.

12V Buck Converter Power Wire Assembly

  • The Buck Converter will allow the motor shield to be powered from the power source. To connect, you will need to solder one shorter (~4" long) 2-conductor cable that runs between the Power Distribution Wire's 12V and GND rails to the Buck Converter's input pins. Then solder another connector of the same length to both of the output pins. These will connect to the Motor Shield and power it.

Light Dimmer

  • This Light Dimmer will be the main way that the box's lights can be controlled, allowing for testing of different environmental conditions on animal behavior. To connect this to every other piece in the assembly, take 20" of 2 Conductor Cable, and connect one end into the "V- in" input on the device. The other end should be connected to the "COM" section of the Visible Light relay. Then take the other end and solder the "COM" wire to the section of the breadboard being powered by the red power distribution wire. Take the "V- in" wire and solder it to section of the breadboard being grounded by the black GND wire.

12V Visible Light Relay Power Wire Assembly

  • Next, we must connect the visible light relay assembly to our dimmer so that we can control the brightness of our lights. To do so, take a 4" long conductor cable and connect the "V+ in" side of the dimmer to the "NO" side of the visible relay. The other cable will be from a 20" White 2 Conductor Cable. Then solder the "COM" wire to the section of the breadboard being powered by the red power distribution wire.

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