Posted: 11/30/2015 4:22:42 AM EDT
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I ordered a Raspberry Pi starter kit (with a Raspberry Pi Zero) and an 7" touchscreen display this week. Finding out the Zero doesn't have the same video connector as the Pi B+, I ordered a B+ from Amazon. The screen and it's driver board should connect and mount to the B+ directly.
My intention is to build an interface for my Home Automation system. I'm going to mount the screen in portrait mode, and whip up an interface that will show me the status of various things - like whether nor not my garage door is open, what lights are on, what the outside temperature is.... with inputs/buttons for turning on/off lights, etc. I've also ordered some IR sensors, so I'm going to rig up a sensor to turn on the display when motion is detected, and then have it turn off after a timeout. I'm a Linux systems administrator, so I'm very comfortable at the command line (Raspbian won't be a problem, although I'm more familiar with RedHat based systems), and can do shell scripting, but my Python knowledge is weak. I know a bit, and want to get better at it. I'd like to get good at Python. I already did some learning on my own well before I thought about picking up a Raspberry Pi. Does anyone have any good resources for learning? I learn best by example... I've found a few projects that I may play around with.. since I've got the B+, I'll have the Zero to play around with. The kit has the 40 pin cable, a breakout board and a breadboard. Since I have a degree in EE, using the board will be like going back to school. Does anyone have any favorite sites for learning, or any good project ideas? With the Zero boards being so cheap ($5, yes FIVE dollars!), I can see getting a few more to do various projects with the Zero boards. |
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Can't you get a mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter? Unfortunately the Zero sold out everywhere before I could snag on.
I just got this robot kit in the mail. I planned to use it with a Pi 2 before I learned of the Zero. I also work with Linux every day (though I'm not a sys admin) and while I'm a programmer by trade I've never touched Python. I ordered this to familiarize myself with it and using the GPIO header. |
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Can't you get a mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter? Unfortunately the Zero sold out everywhere before I could snag on. I just got this robot kit in the mail. I planned to use it with a Pi 2 before I learned of the Zero. I also work with Linux every day (though I'm not a sys admin) and while I'm a programmer by trade I've never touched Python. I ordered this to familiarize myself with it and using the GPIO header. HDMI is fine, yes, you can get an adapter to run the 7 inch touchscreen as an output off of, but HDMI doesn't have any inputs. I believe the B model has a connector that's supposed to work with an input/output type display. I'm still going to use the Zero for something. I'd like to get a few more Zeros for a few simple projects. ETA: ordered the book. I had also ordered Learn Python The Hard Way, as I had gone through about half of the lessons on the website before, but I just haven't used any of it since. I'll use it to brush up. I've already found a couple simple examples of using the GPIO stuff, so that should be fairly simple. I'll just need to learn how to do more complex stuff, like setting up an interface for the touchscreen. I want to learn Python anyway, so getting a Raspberry Pi, and having some projects to do will be great! |
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I've got more goodies on the way...
I found some temperature sensors that weren't all that expensive on Amazon, and a kit of a buttload of different resistors, some caps, some pots and a few buttons and shit. Thing is, back in the 90's, I went to ITT Tech, and had a bigass tool box full of electronic components, and a nice breadboard for building circuits... but I think I tossed it a few years ago. Just didn't need that shit anymore. Now it would be cool to have! LOL. I even found plans to make a 'fart sensor'. I want to integrate the bathroom exhaust fan into my HA setup.. having a fart sensor would be a cool way to turn on the fan automatically! I'm coming up with more and more ideas... I'm definitely going to be getting probably half a dozen more Pi Zeros when I can. I wish I'd gotten into this shit earlier. |
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OP, IM inbound. Thanks man, I may find some use for the BT code. I'm finding all kinds of stuff that is useful. There's a huge community and lots of support. I got the 7" screen last week. Now I've got to start my dive back into Python to learn how to set it all up. I think it will be rather exciting. I'm also hoping they get more Pi Zeros in stock soon. I want to get another 4 or 5 for other projects. |
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Resistance is futile! 
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I keep talking myself out of buying a Pi of any sort, but I think I'm beginning to give in. I figure I can learn just as much on an old pc, but the size and generous amount of I/O ports makes it hard to resist. Resistance is futile!
No it's not. It's simply voltage over current. I'm actually wanting to setup the Zero with an add-on NIC, I2S audio input and setup as a remote receiver capable of even decoding digital to analog for remote receiver projects. Also some other stuff in there that the Zero is just stupid cheap not to use. |
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That sounds pretty cool Zap!
I'm going to use a few Zeros for some pretty basic stuff mostly... temperature sensors in various places... maybe motion sensors to interact with my HA setup. I'm thinking about picking up a Pi 2 to use with my touchscreen... I want ot use it as a bit of a central Linux server to do quite a few things. I use the weatherunderground API on my Cloud server to get my local temperatures. I'll move that to the Pi... eventually I want to rig up a temperature sensor outside the house to report directly to my system. I'll keep the Pi B+ I have and probably use that for the controller unit I want to build in the bedroom. Also need to fire up the 3D printer and make some mounts/cases. |
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Humble Bundle is currently having a Raspberry book bundle for pretty cheap. You might want to check it out. https://www.humblebundle.com/books Nice! Thanks for the link. I need to go through the Learning Python the Hard Way and the other programming book previously mentioned. I now have a THIRD pi on the way, and backed the PineA64 on Kickstarter. I've got two major projects I'm planning on. I'm going to use the Pi 2 B with the 7" screen I got and use that as a 'server' for various things. The B+ I have will be used as a controller for the ceiling fan and light in my bedroom. I may pick up a 2.8" screen for that one. That one will be a fun project - I'm going to have a temperature sensor, PIR sensor, screen and several buttons for inputs. I'll use it to control the light and fan in my bedroom via my home automation system. I want the display to show the current temperature in the room, and show a setpoint for the fan to turn on. (Above XX temperature, fan on low, above XX+3, fan on med, above XX+6, fan on hi) That will only be active when I'm sleeping. When I'm awake, the fan will mostly be off because I'm almost never in the room. The light will be controlled by the PIR sensor when I'm not sleeping. I'm kicking around the idea of making a portable robot that runs on tracks and has a camera. I could bring it to the office, get it on the WiFi network here and drive it all around the office... So many cool projects and things you can do with Raspberry Pi... I wish I'd gotten into this sooner! |