How To Build A Waterproof Pressure Sensor Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

How to Build a Waterproof Pressure Sensor
8 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Getting to know your sensor

This is the pressure sensor that we will be using. It is a STEVAL-MKI183V1 board with a LPS33HW sensor. This board can use either SPI or I2C communications. The data sheets can be accessed here.

This is the pressure sensor that we will be using. It is a STEVAL-MKI183V1 board with a LPS33HW sensor. This board can use either SPI or I2C communications. The data sheets can be accessed here.

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Step 2

              Cut Pins

The factory pins must be removed and replaced with wire.
To do so, first cut along the red line in the photo using wire clipper to separate the pin from the board.
Next, clip vertically along the blue line to disconnect the pin from the one next to it.
Be very careful while cutting to not damage the board! Rough handling can rip out the copper pad of the through hole, ruining the board.

The factory pins must be removed and replaced with wire.

To do so, first cut along the red line in the photo using wire clipper to separate the pin from the board.

Next, clip vertically along the blue line to disconnect the pin from the one next to it.

Be very careful while cutting to not damage the board! Rough handling can rip out the copper pad of the through hole, ruining the board.

Step 3

              Remove the Lead

The through holes must be cleared of any leftover solder.
Place the hot iron on the side of the through hole with the most solder, and the desoldering pump on the other. Once the solder liquefies, press the trigger of the pump to clear the through hole.
If you’re having trouble with removing solder, it is helpful to use flux dispensing and flux removing pens. Additionally, switching which side the hot iron and the desoldering pump is on helps.

The through holes must be cleared of any leftover solder.

Place the hot iron on the side of the through hole with the most solder, and the desoldering pump on the other. Once the solder liquefies, press the trigger of the pump to clear the through hole.

If you’re having trouble with removing solder, it is helpful to use flux dispensing and flux removing pens. Additionally, switching which side the hot iron and the desoldering pump is on helps.

Step 4

              Repeat

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all of the pins on the board.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all of the pins on the board.

Step 5

              Strip wires

Use wire strippers to strip the coating of the 4-core shielded wire.
Place the wire in the wire stripper. To obtain desired length, align with second jaw or with the blue line in the image.
Clamp down to remove the wire coating, leaving the 4 wires remaining
Pull out the individual wires and repeat the process for each one, exposing the copper

Use wire strippers to strip the coating of the 4-core shielded wire.

Place the wire in the wire stripper. To obtain desired length, align with second jaw or with the blue line in the image.

Clamp down to remove the wire coating, leaving the 4 wires remaining

Pull out the individual wires and repeat the process for each one, exposing the copper

Step 6

              Attach Wires

A wire is necessary on the ground, SDA, SDO, SCK, CS, Vd and VdIO pins. These can be identified from the top of the board.
Insert the stripped section of the wire into the through hole, and solder into place.
Repeat for all seven wires. Electrical tape can cover any exposed shielding if needed.
Tip: consider which way you want your wires to run. You can solder them on either side of the board.

A wire is necessary on the ground, SDA, SDO, SCK, CS, Vd and VdIO pins. These can be identified from the top of the board.

Insert the stripped section of the wire into the through hole, and solder into place.

Repeat for all seven wires. Electrical tape can cover any exposed shielding if needed.

Tip: consider which way you want your wires to run. You can solder them on either side of the board.

Step 7

              Apply Liquid Electrical Tape

Apply a layer of liquid electrical tape to the board (a coffee stir stick is a good applicator).
After every layer, wait at least ten minutes before applying another one. Very carefully visually inspect to ensure total coverage.
Ensure that you do not cover the sensor itself, as it needs to be exposed in order to measure pressure. A small piece of tape can cover and protect the sensor during application.

Apply a layer of liquid electrical tape to the board (a coffee stir stick is a good applicator).

After every layer, wait at least ten minutes before applying another one. Very carefully visually inspect to ensure total coverage.

Ensure that you do not cover the sensor itself, as it needs to be exposed in order to measure pressure. A small piece of tape can cover and protect the sensor during application.

Step 8

              Testing Sensor In Water

Wire a breadboard as shown in the picture to connect the particle photon to the sensor
Important connections: GND is connected to negative rail and GND for sensor. The 3V3 is connected to the positive rail and the Vd, VdIO pins on sensor. A5 is connected to SDA, A4 is connected to SDO, A3 is connected to SCK and A2 is connected to CS.
Place in a cup of water and monitor outputs to ensure that a water tight seal was achieved!

Wire a breadboard as shown in the picture to connect the particle photon to the sensor

Important connections: GND is connected to negative rail and GND for sensor. The 3V3 is connected to the positive rail and the Vd, VdIO pins on sensor. A5 is connected to SDA, A4 is connected to SDO, A3 is connected to SCK and A2 is connected to CS.

Place in a cup of water and monitor outputs to ensure that a water tight seal was achieved!

If you would like to undo your work, simply peel off the liquid electrical tape (this may be easier with a knife or other sharp edge). Then you are free to alter any of the connections.

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                    Anne George

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