Updated parts list
One year ago I wrote a blog post about the required DiveIno parts and its expected cost. Now I think it is the time to revisit this topic and update the list.
What will you need?
The virtual DiveIno construction kit includes these parts:
- Dry Case
- 3D printed sensor and on/off switch
- Microcontroller board
- TFT LCD screen
- SD card
- Fabricated PCB board
- Other electronic parts soldered onto the PCB
- LiPo battery
- Infrared remote control
Detailed list
Dry Case
The OtterBox Pursuit 40 dry box is required to build DiveIno. Please make sure that you buy the clear version! Don’t buy the smaller OtterBox Pursuit 20 case, because it leaks.
3D printed parts
The on/off switch and the pressure sensor cases have to be 3D printed. The STL files can be downloaded from the Models folder on GitHub.
If you don’t have a 3D printer, I recommend to use 3DHubs website to find a 3D print service close to your location. The print cost will be around $10-20.
Microcontroller board
Right now Arduino Mega and Arduino Due microcontroller boards are supported.
You can order the original boards or its Chinese clones. I used both and all of them works well.
TFT LCD screen
Only the following TFT LCD Display Module is supported by DiveIno right now.
SD card
Any kind of SD card can be used. The size doesn’t matter, because the required images and JSON files are really small.
PCB board
As it was described in the DiveIno PCB version blog post one PCB board has to be fabricated for the additional electronic parts. According to Fritzing FAB, it will cost about 50$.
Electronic parts
The following parts are required:
- Mini Remote Control
- Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 1200mAh
- PowerBoost 500 Charger
- LiPo Fuel Gauge
- MS5803-14BA Pressure Sensor Breakout
- Bluefruit LE UART Friend - this is optional, but highly recommended
- DS3231 Precision RTC Breakout
- SPDT Slide Switch
- TSOP38238 IR Receiver Sensor
- BC548C NPN transistor
- Blue LED - 3mm
- Piezo Buzzer
- Through-Hole Resistors - 470 ohm
- Through-Hole Resistors - 10K ohm
- Through-Hole Resistors - 22K ohm
- Through-Hole Resistors - 220K ohm
- 36-pin Female header
- 36-pin Break-away Male Header
- JST XH connectors for DiveIno PCB version
Optionally the DS3231 Precision RTC Breakout can be replaced with an inexpensive Chinese DS3231 Real Time Clock module.
Other tools
Besides the electronic parts, you will need some hand tools, a soldering iron, a drill etc. Maybe you can consider to buy Ladyada’s Electronics Toolkit or Sparkfun Beginner Toolkit.
You will also need a 2 component epoxy glue like the Pattex Power Epoxy Instant Mix Glue, which can be bought in a local hardware store.
Cost
As I said before you have many options to order parts. You can go for original parts or try to replace some of them with Chinese clones. Hand tools, soldering stuff, resistors, headers, piezo buzzer, transistor etc. can be bought in the local electronic store.
If you would like to order original parts, you have to order them from two online stores:
I tried to narrow it down to one provider, but for instance the LiPo Fuel Gauge and the MS5803-14BA Pressure Sensor Breakout can only be bought at Sparkfun.
It would be really good to know the expected cost of your DiveIno parts, so I made the following table, which lists original parts in USD:
| Supplier | Part | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | OtterBox Pursuit 40 Clear case | $69.95 |
| Amazon | Pattex Power Epoxy Instant Mix Glue | $12 |
| Sparkfun | Arduino Due | $49.94 |
| Sparkfun | LiPo Fuel Gauge | $9.95 |
| Sparkfun | MS5803-14BA Pressure Sensor Breakout | $59.95 |
| Sparkfun | BC548C NPN transistor | $0.5 |
| Adafruit | Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 1200mAh | $9.95 |
| Adafruit | PowerBoost 500 Charger | $14.95 |
| Adafruit | Bluefruit LE UART Friend | $17.5 |
| Adafruit | DS3231 Precision RTC Breakout | $13.95 |
| Adafruit | SPDT Slide Switch | $0.95 |
| Adafruit | TSOP38238 IR Receiver Sensor | $1.95 |
| Adafruit | Mini Remote Control | $4.95 |
| Adafruit | Blue LED - 3mm | $5.95 |
| Adafruit | Piezo Buzzer | $0.95 |
| Adafruit | Through-Hole Resistors - 470 ohm | $0.75 |
| Adafruit | Through-Hole Resistors - 10K ohm | $0.75 |
| Adafruit | Through-Hole Resistors - 22K ohm | $0.75 |
| Adafruit | Through-Hole Resistors - 220K ohm | $0.75 |
| Adafruit | 36-pin Female header | $2.95 |
| Adafruit | 36-pin Break-away Male Header | $4.95 |
| Banggood | TFT LCD Display Module | $9.89 |
If you sum up everything, the price will be around $294.18. If you add $50 for PCB fabrication, $20 for 3D printing and some hand tools,an SD card etc. You can easily end up in the price range of $400. It seems to be a bit too much for a DIY dive computer. The next question is how can you save some money?
Save
First of all let’s assume that you have the required hand tools. You can also save on PCB fabrication, if you plan ahead, look around and can wait some time. The same goes for 3D printing. Let’s plan a $40 budget for 3D print and PCB fabrication.
The next saving point is to use after market parts instead of original ones. For instance you can order an Arduino Mega microcontroller board clone from Banggood instead of Sparkfun.
You can also buy resistors, piezo buzzer, headers, transistor, LED in your local electronic shop. I think you can buy these around $5. You can also buy the Pattex glue in a hardware store about $5.
From some parts, you have to use the original version, but you can buy it from other sources. For instance I bought my OtterBox Pursuit 40 Clear case on eBay in half of the original price. You can also buy the pressure sensor breakout on eBay around $35.
Considering these savings options, let’s create another cost breakdown:
| Supplier | Part | Price |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | OtterBox Pursuit 40 Clear case | $30 |
| eBay | MS5803-14BA Pressure Sensor Breakout | $35 |
| Sparkfun | LiPo Fuel Gauge | $9.95 |
| Adafruit | Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 1200mAh | $9.95 |
| Adafruit | PowerBoost 500 Charger | $14.95 |
| Adafruit | Bluefruit LE UART Friend | $17.5 |
| Adafruit | SPDT Slide Switch | $0.95 |
| Banggood | Arduino Mega 2560 R3 Development Board with 3.2 Inch TFT LCD Display Module | $17.69 |
| Banggood | DS3231 Real Time Clock module | $2.19 |
| Banggood | Infrared Remote Control | $3.19 |
| Local | Resistors, Piezo Buzzer, LED, Headers, Transistor | $5 |
| Local | PCB fabrication and 3D print | $40 |
| Local | Pattex Power Epoxy Instant Mix Glue | $5 |
If you sum up again everything, the price will be around $191. I think $200 for such a DIY dive computer is quite a nice price. It is less then an entry level Suunto Zoop Novo dive computer.
