Author Topic: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole PCB Kit. Prototype final!  (Read 7276 times)

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Offline mrninhvn

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
Impressed by the beauty of the Lumberjack keyboard, I wanted to make a wireless version for myself, it's called Phaethon.
289978-0

Specs:
* 5x12 (split Preonic) layout, full grid or 2x2u spacebars.
* Fit in 60% tray mount case.
* Wireless USB receiver and Bluetooth 5.2 from receiver.
* Built-in solar battery charger, works with artificial light
* Ultra low energy consumption: ~1 year without any light or doesn't need to plug in the charger in a bright room.
* Switch footprint: Cherry MX, Cherry low profile, TTC low profile (KS32).
* Supported stabilizer: Cherry PCB Screw-in, Costar Plate mount for low profile.
* Assembled MCU + Solar board and USB receiver.
* All through hole components for keyboard PCB.

Firmware:
* ZMK

Price:
* 149$

Production number: ≤100.


IC Form: https://forms.gle/ZUm72Ac8P2t9jBvB8

[07/08/2022] Due to the PCB seeming too complicated for mass production and global chip shortage, I regret it will stop at prototype for now.

Design photos:
274838-1

Layout:
274850-2

Receiver:
276008-3

Solar and MCU PCB compatible with arduino pro micro and atmega32a pinout.
275563-4
« Last Edit: Sun, 07 August 2022, 06:20:34 by mrninhvn »

Offline thuc

  • Posts: 3
  • Location: Vietnam
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 07:52:08 »
let's go

Offline d3adc3II

  • Posts: 4
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 09:36:44 »
Awesome idea, hope it comes into life.

Offline missylo

  • Posts: 57
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 10:14:55 »
So neat!!!

Offline Darth_munkee

  • Posts: 57
  • Location: USA
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 11:20:03 »
I love this. 2 questions about it.

1. Will there be a way to store the wireless receiver on the board?

2. What is that component that sits just north of the resistors?
Impressed by the beauty of the Lumberjack keyboard, I wanted to make a wireless version for myself, it's called Phaethon.
(Attachment Link)

Specs:
* 5x12 (split Preonic) layout, full grid or 2x2u spacebars.
* Fit in 60% tray mount case.
* Wireless USB receiver and Bluetooth 5.2 from receiver.
* Built-in solar battery charger, works with artificial light
* Ultra low energy consumption: ~1 year without any light or doesn't need to plug in the charger in a bright room.
* Switch footprint: Cherry MX, Cherry low profile, TTC low profile (KS32).
* Supported stabilizer: Cherry PCB Screw-in, Costar Plate mount for low profile.
* Assembled MCU + Solar board and USB receiver.
* All through hole components for keyboard PCB.

Firmware:
* ZMK

Price:
* 149$

Production number: ≤100.

IC Form: https://forms.gle/ZUm72Ac8P2t9jBvB8

Design photos:
(Attachment Link)

Layout:
(Attachment Link)

Receiver:
(Attachment Link)

Solar PCB test, solar charger works as expected:
(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)


Offline mrninhvn

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 11:25:47 »
I love this. 2 questions about it.

1. Will there be a way to store the wireless receiver on the board?

2. What is that component that sits just north of the resistors?
Impressed by the beauty of the Lumberjack keyboard, I wanted to make a wireless version for myself, it's called Phaethon.
(Attachment Link)

Specs:
* 5x12 (split Preonic) layout, full grid or 2x2u spacebars.
* Fit in 60% tray mount case.
* Wireless USB receiver and Bluetooth 5.2 from receiver.
* Built-in solar battery charger, works with artificial light
* Ultra low energy consumption: ~1 year without any light or doesn't need to plug in the charger in a bright room.
* Switch footprint: Cherry MX, Cherry low profile, TTC low profile (KS32).
* Supported stabilizer: Cherry PCB Screw-in, Costar Plate mount for low profile.
* Assembled MCU + Solar board and USB receiver.
* All through hole components for keyboard PCB.

Firmware:
* ZMK

Price:
* 149$

Production number: ≤100.

IC Form: https://forms.gle/ZUm72Ac8P2t9jBvB8

Design photos:
(Attachment Link)

Layout:
(Attachment Link)

Receiver:
(Attachment Link)

Solar PCB test, solar charger works as expected:
(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

Thank you for your praise.

1. I haven't thought of it at the moment because it will fit 60% normal cases, i will also open source receiver so people can design cases for it. Also, I'm also planning for a smaller usb-c receiver.

2. That is toggle switch for on off power.
« Last Edit: Wed, 25 August 2021, 11:27:53 by mrninhvn »

Offline mrninhvn

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 14:24:54 »
Updated answer some questions.

1. What’s the case going to be like?
* Any 60% tray mount case, aluminum case is ok because of antenna is placed above PCB.

2. 2.4ghz instead of bluetooth?
* Both, 2.4ghz from keyboard to receiver, and bluetooth from receiver to other device.

3. Will you have an UK vendor?
* I'm afraid not, direct shipping from Vietnam.

Offline Arch4Life

  • Posts: 40
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 22:52:38 »
nice design, glwic!!!

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk


Offline lingoc

  • Posts: 1
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 25 August 2021, 22:59:58 »
Nice

Offline kaznai

  • Posts: 8
  • Location: USA
  • Choc v1 are valid
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole 5x12 ortholinear PCB Kit
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 26 August 2021, 01:44:31 »
Well this is freakin rad. Is that a supercap? Those scare me...
2 Corne, a Preonic, a Trailmix, and an older Rosewill
One big pile of MBK colored blanks; if I had red I'd recreate:


Offline mrninhvn

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole PCB Kit. Update Solar PCB!
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 31 August 2021, 12:05:21 »
Solar PCB has arrived, pinout compatible with pro micro and atmega32a  :cool:
275566-0

Offline mrninhvn

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole PCB Kit. Update PCB prototype!
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 13 September 2021, 09:35:26 »
PCB Prototype:
276006-0

Offline learntoletgo

  • Posts: 3
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole PCB Kit. Update PCB prototype!
« Reply #12 on: Sat, 23 October 2021, 06:23:27 »
looks good so far

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk


Offline mrninhvn

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole PCB Kit. Prototype final!
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 07 August 2022, 06:29:21 »
Assembled in the sun.
289980-0

Offline AllieMaxwell

  • Posts: 1
Re: [IC] Phaethon - Solar powered through-hole PCB Kit. Prototype final!
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 24 March 2023, 07:49:46 »
Hey there! Just stumbled upon this old thread, and I'm already impressed by the cool projects people are working on. I'm new here, so please forgive me if I make any rookie mistakes. Anyway, I just saw the post about the Phaethon keyboard kit and I have to say, I'm really bummed that it won't be going into mass production. I was really looking forward to getting my hands on one, especially since it has a solar battery charger! That's so dope, I wish more tech had that feature. Speaking of solar power, I've been doing some research on solar power for rv air conditioner lately. It's a tricky subject, but I'm determined to figure it out. Has anyone here had any experience with that? Any tips or advice would be much appreciated! Anyways, hope everyone's having a great day and keep on typing!
« Last Edit: Sun, 26 March 2023, 15:23:15 by AllieMaxwell »