Received supplies I didn't have on-hand. RG-400 for connection from coupler to rear panel and connectors for same: rear panel bulkhead SO-239 and N female. Ordered more than I need to have stock on-hand.
As I mentioned before, the previous two power meters I made used the Arduino UNO board. The second one was a little laggy, due to the graphics I implemented and the the Arduino UNO's clock of 16 MHz. It is also limited to 32 kB of flash which I was close to maxing out.
I considered obtaining the new Arduino R4 Mimima which has 256 kB of flash, 32 kB of SRAM, and a clock of 48 MHz. It appeared that the Arduino store had them for $20, but I didn't have an account there and I don't want to make yet another account on another online store just for one item.
I did check Mouser which I have an account with, and they say they are getting the R4 Minima in early Aug:
487
Expected 02-Aug-23
700
Expected 04-Aug-23
and the price is also $20. Matter of fact, I think I'll go ahead and purchase two of them right now so I'll be in line for shipping. Mouser is good for me because I actually live close to them and I can get orders the next day. When I get the Minima, I plan on upgrading the second power meter I made to that board, which I will post about in this thread. This may require an updated CAD drawing for the rear case panel due to different USB port on the Minima. There is also the possibility of a UPS strike which is the carrier they use (see note below).
Anyway, I ordered and received an Arduino Due from Mouser for now which has an 84 MHz clock, 512 Flash, and 96 kB SRAM. It actually comes with a clear mounting plate. The shield I'm using with the Mega board right now will simply plug right on the Due and, after re-compiling, will run with no other changes, but faster. So I can keep working with the software and I won't run out of flash nor be irritated by laggy response caused by any graphics bling I want to put on the screen.
I'm still narrowing down the case I want from Amazon's selections. After that I'll have to get on to the task of mounting the components, which will include 3D printing replacement front and back panels for the case, and all custom mounting plates etc. for the inside. That's one thing I can do CAD work on, but I really don't want to fire up the 3D printer now due to the hours of electrical usage & heat it generates, which around here right now, isn't something I need more of.
Potential UPS strike and how it may impact your orders
A potential strike by UPS workers starting on August 1 may cause disruption to the shipping of your orders. The Teamsters union voted to strike if no agreement is reached with UPS by the time the current contract expires on July 31.
What could this mean for you?
Any strike could cause a delay in shipping of your orders from August 1.
Other carriers may also be affected, as they are likely to be busier than usual during this time.
What can be done to mitigate issues?
We will do everything in our power to continue providing you with the best possible service during this time.
We will continue to process same-day orders, but the strike may still impact how long it takes for them to reach you.
We advise that you plan ahead for any needs you may have and order early where possible.
We continue to monitor the situation and look for ways to minimize its impact on you.