Thurs Sept 14, 2023 - We are waiting on delivery of ESP32-C3-MINI-1-H4 modules due to a shortage in our assembly partner's inventory. They are expected by end of September, but could show up early as have other parts. This has pushed back our original schedule to early to mid October. Only a couple weeks behind.
The FLIP_C3 is the first mainboard in the FLIP family from VDBX. At its core is an ESP32-C3 with a 5v2A buck converter capable of up to 60v input. The easy to use spring connecter allows for common stranded and solid core wires to be used to deploy it on any off-grid or otherwise battery powered system.
It was designed to be used with ESPHome for direct and seamless integration with Home Assistant, but other popular firmware such as TASMOTA and WLED are easy to flash via USB-C or over-the-air. Of course you can always write your own Arduino or ESP-IDF code.
The FLIP platform is a set of standards between circuit designs with the intention of easy install within 12-48v lithium battery systems. It designed as a modular system to create IOT hardware for modern open-source automation systems. The platform will consist of mainboards which have processing and network capabilities and the modules which will provide or interface with switches, lighting, sensors, relays, dimmers, etc.
The mainboards should be able to power themselves and basic modules from the on-board switching buck converter. More complex or power hungry modules may have their own switching regulator ran in paralel.
I2C should be considered a high-priority interconnect due to its capability for easy expansion and daisy-chaining. In as many situations as possible, modules should be able to function as either tethered I2C device or with a FLIP mainboard installed. A standalone device (mainboard with module) should be able to connect to it's mainboardless version of itself via the Qwiic & Stemma QT compatible connector. In some cases, smaller boards could stack infinitely, limited only by the available I2C addresses. We've currently coined these smaller boards as backpacks.
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