PtSolar
About the PtSolar PCB
PtSolar is an open source AVR/Arduino PCB design by custom-ds, published on GitHub under the GPL-3.0 license. It is a 4-layer board measuring 38.5 × 73.5 mm, with 70 components from 34 distinct parts.
Its main chip is the ATMEGA328P-AU, from the AVR/Arduino family. Other key parts include the LP3985IM5-3.3/NOPB, SA818S-V, ATGM336H-5N31 and APX803S-31SA-7DI. By type, the board carries 21 capacitors, 21 resistors, 6 diodes, 5 ICs, 5 transistors and 4 antennas.
It belongs with the power & battery designs in this gallery.
From the project
Under the hood, the ptSolar runs on the same Microchip ATMega328p microcontroller that the other trackers have been using for years, although this board runs at a lower 3.3 volt level, and a slower 8MHz clock speed.
Under the hood, the ptSolar runs on the same Microchip ATMega328p microcontroller that the other trackers have been using for years, although this board runs at a lower 3.3 volt level, and a slower 8MHz clock speed.
A 2m VHF transmitter is provided by the SA818S-V transmitter-on-a-chip system, which means it's frequency agile and can be used throughout the world.
Main components on the PtSolar
PtSolar bill of materials (BOM)
70 components, 34 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LP3985IM5-3.3/NOPB | SOT-23-5 | U1 |
| 1 | ATMEGA328P-AU ATMega 328p-AU | TQFP-32_7x7mm_P0.8mm | U2 |
| 1 | SA818S-V | DRA818 SA818 | U3 |
| 1 | ATGM336H-5N31 | ATGM336H-5N31 | U4 |
| 1 | APX803S-31SA-7DI APX803S (SOT23SA) | SOT-23 | U5 |
| 3 | BSS138 | SOT-23 | Q1, Q2, Q3 |
| 1 | MMBT3904 | SOT-23 | Q4 |
| 1 | DMP2004K-7 | SOT-23 | Q5 |
| 1 | 8MHZ 8MHz | Resonator_SMD_Murata_CSTxExxV-3Pin_3.0x1.1mm | Y1 |
| 1 | 732-5394 6 Pin Male Header | PinHeader_2x03_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | 732-5316 Programming | PinHeader_1x03_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | 553-ANT8010LL05R1575A GPS Antenna | Pulse ANT8010LL05R1575A Antenna | ANT1 |
| 1 | CON-SMA-EDGE-S-ND SMA Edge Mount (Optional) | SMA_Samtec_SMA-J-P-H-ST-EM1_EdgeMount | ANT2 |
| 2 | VHF Test Point | Small Test Point Pin | ANT2a1, ANT2b1 |
| 2 | 1996-1020 5.5V 180mW Solar | PowerFilm MPT3.6-75 | PV1, PV2 |
| 3 | 641-1258-1 CDBA340L-G Schottky | D_SMA | D1, D2, D4 |
| 1 | MMSZ5231B-FDI 5.1V Zenor | D_SOD-123 | D3 |
| 1 | LTST-C171KRKT Red | D_0805_2012Metric | D5 |
| 1 | LTST-C171GKT Green | D_0805_2012Metric | D6 |
| 2 | 56NH 56nH | L_0805_2012Metric | L1, L3 |
Show 14 more
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68NH 68nH | L_0805_2012Metric | L2 |
| 1 | 4688-CSP-6R0L105R-TW 6V 1F | CDS CSP Super Cap 8mm dia | C1 |
| 12 | 10NF 10nF | C_0805_2012Metric | C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C9, C10 +4 |
| 1 | 2.2UF 2.2uF | C_0805_2012Metric | C8 |
| 2 | 47UF 47uF | C_0805_2012Metric | C12, C21 |
| 1 | 1UF 1uF | C_0805_2012Metric | C14 |
| 2 | 20PF 20pF | C_0805_2012Metric | C16, C19 |
| 2 | 36PF 36pF | C_0805_2012Metric | C17, C18 |
| 1 | 47 | R_2512_6332Metric | R1 |
| 1 | 150K 150k | R_0805_2012Metric | R2 |
| 13 | 10K 10k | R_0805_2012Metric | R3, R7, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15 +5 |
| 4 | 1k | R_0805_2012Metric | R4, R5, R17, R22 |
| 1 | 1M | R_0805_2012Metric | R6 |
| 1 | 4.7K 4.7k | R_0805_2012Metric | R16 |
PtSolar design files
The KiCad project lives in the custom-ds/ptSolar repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.
PtSolar: common questions
What microcontroller does the PtSolar use?
The PtSolar is built around the ATMEGA328P-AU, from the AVR/Arduino family.
How big is the PtSolar PCB?
The PtSolar measures 38.5 × 73.5 mm, has 4 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.
How many components are on the PtSolar?
70 components, from 34 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.
Where can I download the PtSolar design files?
From the custom-ds/ptSolar repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.
Can I use the PtSolar design in my own project?
Yes, under the terms of its GPL-3.0 license, which custom-ds chose for the repository.
Can I test firmware for the PtSolar without the hardware?
Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug AVR/Arduino firmware against it before you order a PCB.
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