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SBC inside a CM15A

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Tuicemen:
Several of these low priced Pi clone boards will work.
I used a Pi Zero W which has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on board.
This mod works with any build version of the CM15A, although the newer boards allow for more space giving more possible mount locations or a bigger board.
This mod means CM15 doesn't need batteries nor does it need to be connected to your PC ever again(although you could if you wished)
This mod requires no soldering skills, your only modifying the case.
The case mod takes about 1/2 to 1 hour.
The Pi Zero costs under $10, the 5 volt 2.5 amp power supply actually cost me a bit more. ::) :'
Since the Pi runs Linux any HA software which supports the CM15A will work. Add the HA-Bridge (software) to the mix and your CM15A also becomes a X10 hub capable of handling Alexa requests. :)%
A full write up with pictures can be found here:
http://forums.tuicemen.net/index.php?topic=1291.0
This setup is out performing the CM15 AHP combo for me so far.
Sure the WM100 has better  PLC strength but this does all 266 X10 addresses as well as X10 security codes.
I can access from anywhere and don't need a phone app though most of the available softwares has one available.
 >!

Tuicemen:
I installed Home Genie Ver 1.1 beta r525 on this although there are newer versions available.
It has been running well now for over a month at my city place.
AHP hasn't been in use since and I've yet to miss it as Home Genie is doing every thing it did plus a few more adds like integrating my IP cameras into my setup.
I disabled the desktop load to help speed things up as this board doesn't have loads of memory but then no Pi does.
 >!

Tuicemen:
There seems to be  a fair bit of interest in this mod from emails I've received.
Many stated they have an old Pi board on hand but these won't fit inside the current case even if you have a newer CM15 with no RF daughter boards.

Noam brought up an idea I'd not thought of. Since this mod is basically a upper half case modification a 3D printer could be used to create a new upper half of the case. this could include openings for all the ports. Sadly I don't have one. :(
 -:) Since the  pi3 3b, and 3b+  (and maybe the 2 boards) can all utilize the same case there may be a market for just a new upper case half.

The reason the larger boards will not fit in the current case is the placement of the CM15 transformer inside.
Adding to the depth of the upper half of the case would allow a larger Pi board.

Noam:

--- Quote from: Tuicemen on June 24, 2018, 02:31:23 AM ---
Noam brought up an idea I'd not thought of. Since this mod is basically a upper half case modification a 3D printer could be used to create a new upper half of the case. this could include openings for all the ports. Sadly I don't have one. :(
 -:) Since the  pi3 3b, and 3b+  (and maybe the 2 boards) can all utilize the same case there may be a market for just a new upper case half.

--- End quote ---

Thinking about it some more over the weekend, I suspect it would be easier to 3D print a spacer ring that would go between the existing front and back halves of the shell. It would easier / cheaper / faster to print, and could be (relatively) easily adapted to a thinner version for the Pi zero, or a thicker one for the Pi 2/3. It could even be printed in multiple colors (white to match, or something else to provide contrast). You would need longer screws to replace the originals, but they could go through the same holes.

I don't (yet) have a 3D printer of my own, so I haven't tried to design anything like this in CAD yet. But given the abundance of 3D printed designs already out there for the Pi Zero, and 2/3, it might be possible to adapt one of those (with the proper openings and screw locations already laid out correctly), and stretch it to become the shell spacer for this.

Tuicemen:
It would be cheaper to print just the ring but with out removing  the battery compartment of the cm15 the spacer ring would need to be much deeper then actually needed. The CM15 doesn't need batteries with a Pi inside so the battery compartment is wasted space.

I've ordered a cheep white case for a Pi 3 which I had planned on adding to a CM15 for a 3B+ mod. I might getaway with just adding half the case to the top of the upper case shell of the CM15. ::) :'



 

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