Matthew DockreyJun 28
I upgraded to a Pi 2W and a high speed SD card, and I'm happy to report the cyberdeck is MUCH more responsive now. Still not *fast*, exactly, but definitely acceptable. And I think I've figured out a way to cram a rechargable battery into the case as well, but that will have to wait until I'm at the shop tomorrow and can make some precision cuts on the mill. It will mean making a modification visible from the outside, something I've been pleased to avoid so far, but a nice clean USB C charging port will be worth it.
Show threadMatthew DockreyJun 29

Yessss! That grey cylinder is a rechargable cell, just barely fitting into that slot I just milled. It fills the original 2x2 AA battery compartment below, and is held in place with just enough force by the original battery lid. On the inside it clears the axle of the pivoting screen by maybe 3mm -- but clear it does! I had originally written off the idea of onboard power as impractical, so I'm super stoked it looks like it will actually work!

Tomorrow I need to cut the slot for the charging port to mount in, then I can wire all this up and seal up this part of the case for (hopefully!) the last time.

Show threadMatthew Dockrey

Today I cut the slot for the charging socket, which I think came out pretty slick. This will be the only modification in this project actually visible from the outside, other than the display of course if the lid is open.

Holding the case shell in the mill was proving difficult until I realized that it has 7 perfectly good mounting holes in it already, I just needed some scrap plywood to screw it down to. The rigidity wasn't the best when held vertically like this, but more than good enough for cutting plastic.

Now I just need to wire up the power system inside, and then I can screw it back together for (hopefully!) the last time.

Jun 30 at 4:07amWeb
Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 2

It's running from onboard battery now! I'm not going to button it all the way back up until after some testing, but it works. I'm letting it run a Mastodon mode which will auto-update every ten minutes, with a GoPro on time lapse to see just how long it lasts. This project is getting *very* close to done.

...unless I decide to add a power switch.

...and I still need to make the video.

Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 2
Huh, it lasted almost 6 hours! Not exactly under a strenuous load, but still, that's a lot more than I was expecting.
Show thread1000millimeterJul 2
@attoparsec If you don't have a switch, how do you think to handle switching it on and off / prevent deep discharge of the battery?
Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 2
@1000millimeter Yeah, that's something I'm trying to figure out.
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6

@attoparsec @1000millimeter magswitch detecting the lid being closed

do it

you know you wanna

doooooooooooooo iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 6
@moira @1000millimeter Oh, I thought about it! But the detent isn't that strong, and I don't want it constantly rebooting when people wiggle the screen when inserting cards. I was definitely going to do it if I needed to be able to push the button on the charge controller to make it work, but it seems to not actually need it.
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6
@attoparsec @1000millimeter ...? Oh! Not up there, down here. No wiggle worries!
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6
@attoparsec @1000millimeter But if you don't need it you don't need it, that's fair
Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 6
@moira Oh yeah, that makes sense. But I am *extremely* reluctant to open up the lid again at this point. Family legend has it that when an aunt wanted to pick up my sleeping, newborn brother I told her "when he fine, leave he fine". 43 years later, I still think there is wisdom there.
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6
@attoparsec yeah, really is xD
Show thread1000millimeterJul 7
@moira @attoparsec I just realise it has an On an Off Button....
Those would have been cool to use with a hardware flipflop and MOSFET for power.
The Reed Contact would be a good solution to power off the LCD backlight to save energy (make the battery last longer).
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6
@attoparsec Actually respectable?! jfc mate what xD
Show threadknezek.art Jul 2
@attoparsec @loren Amazing.  I love this so much. 😂
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6

@attoparsec It's'a me! Reblobbing something! :D

What client are you running that doesn't parse custom emojis tho'?

Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 6
@moira Custom thing I wrote using the pygame engine. It's *very* basic.
Show threadSolarbird Jul 6

@attoparsec oh dang not off the shelf

good job then!

Show threadMatthew DockreyJul 6
@moira (Which only shows public posts, to be clear.)
Show threadInternet RandoJul 6
@attoparsec @hackaday c'mon guys, notice senpai!