[mdlug] Cheap Toy

[Joe Doehler]

On 5/22/2011 5:17 PM, Garry Stahl wrote:
> Joe Doehler wrote:
>> I don't know if anybody on this list is interested in this sort of
>> thing, but it can be a lot of fun for the money: the "LaunchPad". $4.30,
>> including shipping. They work as advertised:
>>
>> http://e2e.ti.com/group/msp430launchpad/w/default.aspx
>>
>> A complete Linux tool chain for software development is available.
>>
>
> OK, it looks neat.  What do you DO with it?
>
Here's one example. Power failures in my neighborhood are a problem. The 
problem in not when the power goes off, but when it comes back on: it 
often comes back on in spurts that last for just a few seconds before 
going off again. I hate seeing my PC's and my home servers losing power 
during reboots. One box I have built around microcontrollers like this 
one prevents power from being restored to the UPS's unless the line 
voltage has been steady-on for 5 minutes or so. I am building more such 
boxes.

Joe.