Make it done

[ariffinastute]

Hi all,

I wanted to make a project that using Sparkfun Load Sensor - 50kg. While I reading the comment on the bottom of the product, I found this project  and its bring me to the code on code.google Smart Scale. When I read the wiki, I think that this project is what am i going to do, Thank You Very Much  to the founder. I'm so sorry I'm not an electronics expertise, sincerely I never learn about other microcontroller board than Arduino : Open-Source Electronic Prototyping Platform. I'm planning to use the Sparkfun Load Sensor with Arduino. I'm sorry for asking this question. I have downloaded your firmware, but I really don't know how to convert it to Arduino program. Can anyone help me, to use the Sparkfun Load Sensor with Arduino? I already purchased the Sparkfun today, usually I will get it a week after.

The founder said,working this project for open source, I think I want to participate in this project. I can do experiment on the hardware wise. What is your all opinion for me, use the Sparkfun Load Sensor or buy new an electronic weighscale and hackes it.

Thank You,
Regards. 

[Casainho]

2012/8/4 ariffinastute <ariffi...@gmail.com>
>
> Hi all,

Hello Mohamad.


> I wanted to make a project that using Sparkfun Load Sensor - 50kg. While I reading the comment on the bottom of the product, I found this project and its bring me to the code on code.google Smart Scale. When I read the wiki, I think that this project is what am i going to do, Thank You Very Much to the founder. I'm so sorry I'm not an electronics expertise, sincerely I never learn about other microcontroller board than Arduino : Open-Source Electronic Prototyping Platform. I'm planning to use the Sparkfun Load Sensor with Arduino. I'm sorry for asking this question. I have downloaded your firmware, but I really don't know how to convert it to Arduino program. Can anyone help me, to use the Sparkfun Load Sensor with Arduino? I already purchased the Sparkfun today, usually I will get it a week after.

I believe Sparkfun sensors are ones used on these scales. They are
probably chineses ones, from the same factory that produce the ones
for bathroom scales.

> The founder said,working this project for open source, I think I want to participate in this project. I can do experiment on the hardware wise. What is your all opinion for me, use the Sparkfun Load Sensor or buy new an electronic weighscale and hackes it.

Here in Portugal a bathroom scale is very cheap (20€) and costs
probably less than the 4 sensors on Sparkfun. If you buy the scale,
you may use the sensors as if they are the Sparkfun ones plus you can
reuse the scale structure.
I would buy both since they are relatively cheap.

Would be great if some shop of Arduino shields could invest for
developing, producing and selling a shield for connecting this 4
sensors of this scales.

--
Cumprimentos,
Jorge Pinto
E-mail: casa...@gmail.com
Telemóvel: 927145983

Incubadora da Universidade de Aveiro
Edifício I, Sala 82
Campus Universitário de Santiago
3810-193 Aveiro
+351 234 380 314
www.bitbox.pt

[ariffinastute]

Hi,

Today I get my load sensor from Sparkfun. Thank You, what you said are right. In some cases, I will find digital bathroom scale, as I can reuse the platform.

Would be great if some shop of Arduino shields could invest for 
developing, producing and selling a shield for connecting this 4 
sensors of this scales. 

Yes, you were right. Arduino is popular open source prototyping electronics nowadays, they should develop this one, or I suggest you to develop it to worldwide ^_^. Have you use Arduino to get the reading from the sensor?

[Casainho]

>> Would be great if some shop of Arduino shields could invest for
>> developing, producing and selling a shield for connecting this 4
>> sensors of this scales.
>

> Yes, you were right. Arduino is popular open source prototyping electronics
> nowadays, they should develop this one, or I suggest you to develop it to
> worldwide ^_^.

Yes, this would be for worldwide. I don't have time, but someone (as
you?) could suggest this idea for sellers and developers as: Sparkfun;
Lady Ada/Adafruits; Coolcomponents, etc.

Have you use Arduino to get the reading from the sensor?

No.


There is another (more complex) board using Linux were we get Wifi and
possible Bluetooth. The board costs 25€ and should be the next
Arduino. It runs Linux and I were able to connect to my wifi and then
to Internet. Although I didn't tested bluetooth, it may also work, see
here: https://plus.google.com/116288848506537001171/posts/RTuFcuYNf56

[ariffinastute]

Yes, this would be for worldwide. I don't have time, but someone (as
you?) could suggest this idea for sellers and developers as: Sparkfun;
Lady Ada/Adafruits; Coolcomponents, etc.

I have ask my friends, which one of distributor of Sparkfun, he said that, it would be expensive if they could make the shield, maybe we can try to find developers from China as DFRobot or Iteadstudio. Right now, I tried the experiment based on this link http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/18669/how-to-wire-up-a-3-wire-load-cell-strain-gauge-and-an-amplifier . We need to configure all way of this load sensor to Arduino. After that I will figure out how to make its Arduino Shield.

There is another (more complex) board using Linux were we get Wifi and
possible Bluetooth. The board costs 25€ and should be the next
Arduino. It runs Linux and I were able to connect to my wifi and then
to Internet. Although I didn't tested bluetooth, it may also work, see
here: https://plus.google.com/116288848506537001171/posts/RTuFcuYNf56

Is this board same like Raspberry Pi, more powerful I guess.

Thank You.

 

 

[Casainho]

2012/8/7 ariffinastute <ariffi...@gmail.com>:

>
>> Yes, this would be for worldwide. I don't have time, but someone (as
>> you?) could suggest this idea for sellers and developers as: Sparkfun;
>> Lady Ada/Adafruits; Coolcomponents, etc.
>
>
> I have ask my friends, which one of distributor of Sparkfun, he said that,
> it would be expensive if they could make the shield, maybe we can try to
> find developers from China as DFRobot or Iteadstudio. Right now, I tried the
> experiment based on this link
> http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/18669/how-to-wire-up-a-3-wire-load-cell-strain-gauge-and-an-amplifier
> . We need to configure all way of this load sensor to Arduino. After that I
> will figure out how to make its Arduino Shield.

So, everyone want the development done. No one wants to invest ;-)

Yes, go with that schematic! since it is simple, I may also build it
at some time and test it!! I always wanted to build the complete
scale.

>> There is another (more complex) board using Linux were we get Wifi and
>> possible Bluetooth. The board costs 25€ and should be the next
>> Arduino. It runs Linux and I were able to connect to my wifi and then
>> to Internet. Although I didn't tested bluetooth, it may also work, see
>> here: https://plus.google.com/116288848506537001171/posts/RTuFcuYNf56
>
>
> Is this board same like Raspberry Pi, more powerful I guess.

Is less powerful but cheaper and simple.

We could try to get something modular -- a board with +5V input for
power supply, inputs for the sensor cables and analog outputs ready to
connect to some microcontroller.

We can then use some board with microcontroller to read the analog
values and send it by Bluetooth or Wifi, to Smartphone or to web to
some service.

[ariffinastute]

We can then use some board with microcontroller to read the analog
values and send it by Bluetooth or Wifi, to Smartphone or to web to
some service.

That's why I wanted to use Arduino. Its quite easy to read sensor reading from Arduino and interface it to Android via Bluetooth. By this time I needed to find digital bathroom scale first instead of using Sparkfun's load sensor. I'm sorry I cant write Java for Android. Can you help me to make android apps to get reading from Arduino. I have read your SdCardBathroomScale project, that was great app there with data logging. I'm sorry, I'm quite busy right now to find and buy bathroom scale. I will update here, if I have bought the bathroom scale.

Thanks & Regards.

[Casainho]

2012/8/8 ariffinastute <ariffi...@gmail.com>:

>
>> We can then use some board with microcontroller to read the analog
>> values and send it by Bluetooth or Wifi, to Smartphone or to web to
>> some service.
>
> That's why I wanted to use Arduino. Its quite easy to read sensor reading
> from Arduino and interface it to Android via Bluetooth. By this time I
> needed to find digital bathroom scale first instead of using Sparkfun's load
> sensor.

Correct. Please use the same cheap module I used, so I can help you in
case you need.

I'm sorry I cant write Java for Android. Can you help me to make
> android apps to get reading from Arduino. I have read your
> SdCardBathroomScale project, that was great app there with data logging. I'm
> sorry, I'm quite busy right now to find and buy bathroom scale. I will
> update here, if I have bought the bathroom scale.

You can use the same Android aplication if you use the same cheap
bluetooth module and the same strings with weight value I am sending
to Android:

-- printf("a %d\n", weight); ---> for current weight value;
-- printf("b %d\n", weight); ---> for final weight value;

[Casainho]

Can you help me to make
> android apps to get reading from Arduino.

I am sorry but I can't help. Current Android software have a bug (show
data/time in a wrong way) and I can't simple resolve it :-( -- I am
really busy on this months (and next months).

[ariffinastute]

I am sorry but I can't help. Current Android software have a bug (show
data/time in a wrong way) and I can't simple resolve it :-( -- I am
really busy on this months (and next months).

Hi Casainho,
I'm sorry for long time no update on this group ... I was very busy .
Nevermind on the software, the good news is today I just bought one digital bathroom scale.
CAMRY, Model: EB9320 .. It has 4 sensor. the sensor same as Sparkfun load sensor, has 3 wire not 4 wire as yours ...
but, the good thing is I can see s+, s-, v+ and v- on the circuit. I think I can use OP AMP to show reading on Arduino.
can you give me any suggestion what type of OP AMP is correct to use ..

[ariffinastute]

Casainho,
some picture after I open the cover and find the right connection of the sensor: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ariffinastute/sets/72157631379931648/

Thank You,,,

[Casainho]

LM256/LM356.

[ariffinastute]

LM256/LM356.

 I think LM358 is better, because LM358 has dual input for inverting and non-inverting suitable for my scale which has s+, s-, v+ and v- . But there is two output, this is my calculation: I will add the value of the two output on Arduino, and devide it by two. Example (OutputA+OutputB)/2 = exact weight, can you help to make it right, if my calculation wrong.

Thank You,