u/tomasmcguinness

I am attempting to design a M-Bus master PCB that has an on-board ESP32-C6. The goal is to build some Matter firmware that reads from M-Bus.

I've used the schematics from https://taaralabs.eu/m-bus-uart-converter/ and https://github.com/rscada/libmbus/blob/master/hardware/MBus_USB.pdf to give me the power amplifier and level shifters.

The ESP32-C6 and its associated parts are from a previous PCB I've designed (with a correction for the missing power to GPIO8!)

As this is the most complicated PCB I've attempted to-date, My main worries are the L2 inductor being beside the C6 module. I also understand the R13 and R20 will drop the receive voltage to ~3V, which should be okay to feed into UART1 on the C6.

All feedback is welcome - I really want to improve my design skills!

Schematic

PCB

I'm playing around with an ESP32, Matter and its group support. I'm trying to test groups using a Nanoleaf Essentials A19-A60 bulb.

Can anyone confirm if they work with Matter groups?

I need some advice on making a soak away for my soon to be installed Kronoterm heat pump.

I was planning on using a 110mm pipe, with lots of 5mm holes drilled it in. I was going to put this into a 500mm deep hole, line it with that weed fabric and then and backfill with pea gravel.

I would then use a rubber collar to connect a 50mm pipe to it, which will be contained in the concrete base (about 300mm thick).

Will something like that work? I guess the idea is that the 110mm pipe fills with water, which either soaks down into the ground or out through the holes.

How much back fill should I have e.g. what diameter should the whole be that contains the 110mm pipe.

I'm quite excited to share this video as this project has been a long time in the making!

Using the Matter protocol, I'm building a Home Energy Manager. I've shared a few posts about this on the sub, but this is the first end-to-end video. It's still a work in progress and I'm not ready to share the code just yet, but I plan to full open source this.

The initial goal is to help me maximize the amount of self generated solar power. The energy manager does this by using machine learning and forecasting. It learns energy usage patterns in the home and from individual appliances. It can then generate a schedule of appliance use to make the most of this surplus solar.

I don't know if the idea has any merit yet, but it's something I've wanted to try for a long time.

I've written up a lot of blog posts on the technical side of things, and you'll find them on my blog: https://tomasmcguinness.com/building-a-matter-home-energy-manager/

When I do publish the code, it will be on my github: https://github.com/tomasmcguinness You can find a few of my other Matter projects up there too.

Im getting my heat pump installed shortly and want to think about getting a fan coil unit installed in the loft.

I want to have one or more intakes (maybe one from my landing) and then 6 or 7 outlets. All rooms upstairs and two longer ducts to the living and sitting rooms downstairs.

Anyone got any recommendations?

Has anyone got an SPI e-paper display working with the nRF54L15??

I’ve been trying to control a Waveshare 1.54” e-paper display with the nRF54L15-DK and I’m making zero progress.

I’ve switched the DK over to 3.3V, so I’ve ruled that out.

I just haven’t found any solid examples.