obsidianspider's mintyPi

[obsidianspider]

Yeah, I have three half-started builds and a few more in mind that I haven't started yet that I want to make. Sometimes I think "Why the heck do I need so many different handheld Raspberry Pis?" Then I remember that I don't really need a reason. They're fun to make.

[abrugsch]

I am wondering when I'm actually going to play any of these once they're built... my DSL certainly doesn't get much playtime right now. no reason to think a minty pi will be any different...

[obsidianspider]

Sometimes I think like that too. Then I go on eBay and buy more parts.

[abrugsch]

the trouble is any actual time that I have to play things, is filled with Game of Thrones...

[Eccho]

I am wondering when I'm actually going to play any of these once they're built... my DSL certainly doesn't get much playtime right now. no reason to think a minty pi will be any different...

Nobody has ever started a thread saying like "After hours playing game G, I realized button B or screen S wasn't fit for long term usage"

[obsidianspider]

Speaking of long term usage, when you close the lid on one of these the ribbon cable gets a pretty hard kink in it. I wonder how long it will hold up or where to get another one when it breaks. I also see that it tends to rub the screen a bit when closed. Most of the time I have a feeling this will sit in my display case, but it's something to consider.

[abrugsch]

they're pretty easy to come by. 8-pin, 1.0mm pitch, FFC with same side connections. on farnell, wurth make them. also molex. probably even cheaper from china.

[dryja123]

I am so glad I didn't go through the first round of MintyPis. Looks complicated and delicate. But good work so far!

Didn't run into any issues until I tried closing it. Here's how it went down:

Closed it up and noticed the lid wouldn't close and it wasn't level. opened it up.

Opened up, moved cables, closed, still no good.

Opened up, remove micro lipo and replace 22awg power and ground with 26awg cable. Power on ok, close, no power....

Opened up, inspect cables, fix solder joint on power switch, power on ok, close, no power.

Opened up and discovered that solder joint broke on the 5v wire on the Micro Lipo. I tried shipping the solder closer to the board. Remove micro lipo [it was secured with a lot of hot glue] fix solder joint, power on ok, close, board not sitting level but powers on.

Opened up, move sound card and crystal, test power, close, IT SITS LEVEL AND POWERS, play game and L button no longer works.

Opened up, fix solder on L button, power on and test buttons, close and thankfully sits level.

Believe it or not that was the condensed version of trying to close the unit. All of the troubleshooting took about 6 hours. It was all worth it watching my wife and work colleagues react to how cool this project is.

[Holydohnut]

I'm looking forward to that reaction!

Hey, want a mint?
Sure.

[obsidianspider]

All of the troubleshooting took about 6 hours.

That's pretty close to my experience as well. The lid on mine doesn't close *perfectly* but as my dad says,"If you don't look at it, you won't see it."