Week #13: April 3rd - April 9th

Individual Log - Zach

I began this week focused on continuing work toward completing the thermostat power module and finalizing how it would be assembled in its respective enclosure. A decision to switch from an LM317 voltage regulator to a L7805 proved to be beneficial. The LM317 was limited in its capabilities to provide a voltage that was stable and noise free. This may have been remedied if different resistors and capacitors had been paired with the voltage regulation circuit apart from those recommended in LM317 datasheets. The L7805 displayed far better regulation with the recommended pairing of a 0.33uF and 0.1uF capacitor, where voltage oscillation was only ~100mV. With voltage regulation and distribution completed, the power module and other components will now be soldered onto a PCB breadboard to prepare for assembly in the thermostat enclosure.

A foundation for the slideshow presentation was created, all slides were given their respective titles and tables input. Some work remains to finalize the slideshow, but this is primarily all data entry.

The rest of the week was spent finalizing some more of the report by adding component photos, preliminary work, datasheets, and editing some formatting issues encountered during the writing process.

Mock-up breadboard circuit for the Thermostat

Noise and voltage fluctuations experienced with the LM317

Stable 5VDC voltage output while using an L7805.