Desktop Weather Module | Devlog #4

Desktop weather (and room temperature) module that plugs into your computer!

PCB!👨‍💻

What I’ve done this update:

• FINALLY bought a display, a 2.8” TFT Module (coming soon)
• Sketched up some designs for the enclosure
• Made a very rough outline on what the module would look like (still very tentative)
• Spent many hours learning basic PCB design
• Made ESP32 PCB which will serve as the base for the weather module (This was my first go at it so don’t mind the actual PCB lol, the weather module’s will be better)

Learning PCB design has been extremely interesting. There’s a lot of nuance in laying the components and traces. Honestly, I thought the hardest part would be the schematic, but that was by far the easiest (to make and to learn). However, the components and traces were really the most difficult part of design, as traces must have enough space to avoid crosstalk, and for that to happen, you should have an efficient layout of components.

In addition, with the display, I’ve spent some time learning the different types of serial communication like UART, I2C, and SPI (which is what the TFT display uses). Overall, probably spent over 20 hours the last couple of days just learning.

Future Plans:

• TFT module arrives and update code for the new display (I’m starting to work on it now)
• Update the wifi interface
• Better scrolling or alternative with buttons (maybe a rotary encoder if i can get one)
• Make prototype on breadboard then PCB
• Make enclosure and 3D print

Still a lot to be done, but I feel like we’re getting closer!

Components:

• ESP32 Devkit (DOIT v1 from ELEGOO)
• 2.8” SPI TFT LCD Display ILI9341
• DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor
• 2kΩ Resistor
• 2x 330Ω Resistors
• 2x Buttons
• 9V Battery