XBee Module - My 1st electronics project!

So, I have to admit I was a little surprised that the kit I ordered wasn't already put together, however I guess it gave my a chance to learn hot to solder!  So, I broke out my soldering iron and got to work! 

The first thing I learned was that I had two problems.  the gauge of solder I was using was too thick.  I needed about a 23 gauge solder, but what I had was about 16 gauge solder.  The second thing I learned was that the point on my soldering iron was too big, however a little work with a file, and I was able to take the size of the soldering tip down to what I needed.

As you can see in this picture, because the gauge of sodder I had was too thick, I ended up with these big ugly clumps of sodder at the top of the unit, and because the iron wasn't sharp enough, I was melting the silicon on the board when I soddered each point. 


When I got to the 14 pins in the middle, and the 7 pins on each side, I had sharpened my soldering iron and gotten a smaller gauge solder.  So there I didn't have the huge clumps of useless metal.  I have a strange feeling that once I get around to testing this thing, the extra solder will need to be removed, but my friend didn't come over with his multimeter, so I haven't done that yet.

However, at the very least, I must have done something right, because when all was done, the XBee chip slid right into place, and the USB adapter worked fine.

Now, I guess the next step will be to get some form of software to work with the module.  Then I will be able to flash the firmware, and start transmitting some data.

My next step is to get my second module in the mail (I know, I was stupid and only ordered one module so it doesn't really do anything yet.) 

However, I do have my Kill-A-Watt, so that means I am one step closer to my goal of having a way to log my power usage into a database!  The original project was called a Twit-A-Watt (post power usage to twitter, but I really didn't care about the twitter part.  Just a way for me to see how much power I am using.

The cool part is that right now, I know that my DSL bridge and wireless router have used .02 Watts in the past 2 hours (.01 Watts/Hour.)  I guess it's not as cool as sa hooking it up to my TV, but it is something. 

Actually, I should probably just hook it to my TV and see what happens.  OK, that's what I'm going to do now.

Oh, BTW, I have a few web pages that I want to note here so other people can do what I have done:

   The web page for the original Tweet-A-Watt project

The general steps I have taken so far are:

• Buy a P3 4400 Kill-A-Watt I chosse newegg.com because they had the right price.
• Buy 2 Xbee modules, and 2 Xbee Adapters and a FTDI (USB) cable. 
• Assemble the XBee adapter kit 

And that's what I've done so far.  Now, the actual Tweet-A-Watt project has some more to it than just what I've done, and on the original project's page they have a detailed list of all the small parts you need (diodes, capasitors, heat shrink, regulators, etc,) and that page is a good resource to figure out how to do everything except assemble the XBee adapter kit (however it does link to the site that contains the instructions.)

So, yea, that's what I've done so far, and now I have to work on the software aspect of getting the Xbee to do something (anything!) 

So, that's all for now, and I'll keep updating as things move along.

Later,
     SteveO