Slave Unit for Digital Cameras

Notes for Upgrade Kit

These notes apply to the "Upgrade Kit" that converts one of my standard slave units (SLV 021) into a digital slave unit, similar to SLV 051. I am no longer supplying parts for this kit, but you can buy a programmed microprocessor off me and obtain the rest of the components yourself.

Documentation

The newsletter page lists the documents that are available. The document you need is Upgrade Kit: Slave Unit for Digital Camera. The software is now at version 4v3. This means that the information in the above document is out of date. The correct operating instructions can be found in Digital Slave Unit: Operating Notes for Version 4.

The third page of that document can be trimmed and placed inside an A6 laminating pouch. Alternatively, if you print it twice - using both sides of the paper, you will end up with a double-sided A6 sheet, which is better suited to laminating, because a folded sheet relies solely on the glue around the margin to hold the pouch together. When printing the second side, make sure that the bottom of the sheet - marked BOTTOM - feeds through the printer first. It might take several attempts to get the paper to line up exactly right.

Printed Circuit Board

A PCB is not essential for this project but, if you want to make your own you can download the design files, here: slv031-4.pcb Easy-PC version 8 (22K) | slv031-4.zip zipped Gerber and Excellon files (5K).

Software

Version 4 software is intended for a supply voltage of 4.5V. If you are using my upgrade kit as intended, you will be using a lower supply voltage than this. The only effect you will notice is that the low- battery warning might occur at the wrong voltage. In practice I do not think there will be a problem. Some notes on this are included in the document Digital Slave Unit: Operating Notes for Version 4 mentioned above.

Component List

For the benefit of UK constructors, the Farnell stock codes of the components are shown. If you obtain components from elsewhere, you should inspect the PCB layout in the document Upgrade Kit: Slave Unit for Digital Camera to make sure you have the lead pitch correct. In particular, please note that the resistors are sub-miniature parts on a 5mm pitch, and that your choice of keyswitches is probably limited.

UK constructors will find that suitable equivalents to these parts are available from Maplin Electronics. Maplin will ship internationally. The possible disadvantage of ordering from Farnell is that some of the components are subject to a minimum order quantity.

The list shows the components I used. Clearly, most of them are non-criticial and there is no reason why you need to use the same IC socket, or even that you use 1% metal film resistors.

These part numbers may be out of date! since the RoHS (recycling of hazardous substances) Act came in, Farnell have revised a lot of their stock and the new RoHS-compliant parts have different numbers.