Hi all! First post here, please excuse the lengthy read and thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
For background, I'm a hobby-level tech nerd, mostly with audio equipment though... tends to be a bit modular, haven't designed many circuits. Super handy with a soldering iron, quick learner, I can build something from schematic with the components supplied, but figuring out the correct components requires an understanding that's beyond me so far... I like building guitars, the circuits are pretty simple.
Thing: TronicalTune Plus, which is a device mounted to the head of the guitar that automatically tunes the strings by way of tiny motors in the tuners connected to a piezo transducer and a little electric brain [mainboard]
Brief: the mainboard is normally powered by a small lipo (1s, 4.2v) battery in a proprietary plastic casing that prevents reverse polarity connection because of its shape. These batteries are no longer manufactured and the company appears to be selling off their old stock, which are likely too old to be useful. They are also selling old mainboards PCBs, so... snatching those up while I can!
In any case, the batteries barely last, and the only thing that makes sense as a replacement is...
Idea: 18650s. I've mounted a holder for one on the front of my guitar's headstock and it looks siiiiick. They hold plenty of power and the 18650 works perfectly when connected straight to the mainboard, the discharge curve seems to suit the thing.
Problem: I didn't polarity protect the mainboard, so it fried when the battery was inserted backwards (not by me)
as outlined above, parts from this manufacturer are becoming scarce.
Finally received a replacement mainboard after nearly a year and don't want to fry this one too...
Proposed solution: reverse polarity protection circuit something like this one... https://circuitdigest.com/electronic-circuits/reverse-polarity-protection-circuit-diagram. I'd solder it up so nice, give it a little perspex viewing window in the guitar itself, maybe even set it in resin.
Ideally, the circuit would simply pass the battery's voltage correctly regardless of which polarity the battery is inserted in. If it just protects the circuit and stays off when inserted one way; cool. If it works both ways around, ideal use case!
Where you come in: the theory/maths etc concerned with choosing the handful of components with the properties necessary to build the circuit. And perhaps sketching the circuit
Goes right the way over my head! I don't know if what I'm asking is 60secs thought for someone with the right understanding, or if I'm actually asking for something that would be a fair investment of time/effort - happy to compensate you for your time if you can help me find the right components.
•Relevant resources•
Jaycar Electronics - https://www.jaycar.com.au - these are the larger chain electronics stores available to me locally (Australia).
Mouser and Element14 are totally viable for me as well, I've been trying to sort this out for a couple years so a little shipping time won't hurt.
Thanks for any help you can offer and have a great day!
Jack Shepherd
For background, I'm a hobby-level tech nerd, mostly with audio equipment though... tends to be a bit modular, haven't designed many circuits. Super handy with a soldering iron, quick learner, I can build something from schematic with the components supplied, but figuring out the correct components requires an understanding that's beyond me so far... I like building guitars, the circuits are pretty simple.
Thing: TronicalTune Plus, which is a device mounted to the head of the guitar that automatically tunes the strings by way of tiny motors in the tuners connected to a piezo transducer and a little electric brain [mainboard]
Brief: the mainboard is normally powered by a small lipo (1s, 4.2v) battery in a proprietary plastic casing that prevents reverse polarity connection because of its shape. These batteries are no longer manufactured and the company appears to be selling off their old stock, which are likely too old to be useful. They are also selling old mainboards PCBs, so... snatching those up while I can!
In any case, the batteries barely last, and the only thing that makes sense as a replacement is...
Idea: 18650s. I've mounted a holder for one on the front of my guitar's headstock and it looks siiiiick. They hold plenty of power and the 18650 works perfectly when connected straight to the mainboard, the discharge curve seems to suit the thing.
Problem: I didn't polarity protect the mainboard, so it fried when the battery was inserted backwards (not by me)
as outlined above, parts from this manufacturer are becoming scarce.
Finally received a replacement mainboard after nearly a year and don't want to fry this one too...
Proposed solution: reverse polarity protection circuit something like this one... https://circuitdigest.com/electronic-circuits/reverse-polarity-protection-circuit-diagram. I'd solder it up so nice, give it a little perspex viewing window in the guitar itself, maybe even set it in resin.
Ideally, the circuit would simply pass the battery's voltage correctly regardless of which polarity the battery is inserted in. If it just protects the circuit and stays off when inserted one way; cool. If it works both ways around, ideal use case!
Where you come in: the theory/maths etc concerned with choosing the handful of components with the properties necessary to build the circuit. And perhaps sketching the circuit
Goes right the way over my head! I don't know if what I'm asking is 60secs thought for someone with the right understanding, or if I'm actually asking for something that would be a fair investment of time/effort - happy to compensate you for your time if you can help me find the right components.
•Relevant resources•
Jaycar Electronics - https://www.jaycar.com.au - these are the larger chain electronics stores available to me locally (Australia).
Mouser and Element14 are totally viable for me as well, I've been trying to sort this out for a couple years so a little shipping time won't hurt.
Thanks for any help you can offer and have a great day!
Jack Shepherd