Current Events

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Inspiration

Honestly, I just searched on Google for hackathon ideas related to power, and automatic load switching seemed manageable for a first hackathon.

What it does

Current Events manages electrical loads by automatically switching off lower priority devices to ensure current (and thus power) thresholds are met when running off a backup power supply.

How we built it

I first simulated the design in Tinkercad, from the circuit to control logic. Then I wired the resistors, LEDS, rotary encoder, and OLED with the breadboard and microcontroller (a modified Arduino Uno). The code was finally transferred to Arduino IDE and uploaded to the microcontroller.

Challenges we ran into

Breadboarding was initially a challenge because I kept getting confused with the connections. Then, the OLED refused to display anything. I worked through the breadboarding challenge by simulating before physically wiring the circuit. As for the OLED, I used small test cases to isolate the issue.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I finished my first hackathon :) !!! I also got to improve my C++ and Arduino skills while making a cool project!

What we learned

Always, always, always simulate and plan before committing to a design! Also, never work on an empty stomach and unrealistic mindset!

What's next for Current Events

The goal is to reduce passive current draw to create a more energy efficient system. Once the design is more efficient, the next step is to compress Current Events into a portable PCB that can attach to any backup power supply.

Built With

• arduino
• c++