STC1000 Hacking

[Grumpydev]

Yeah, the "By" stuff on Amazon is often wrong when there are similar items, not sure if its the sellers or Amazon grouping things automatically to make things easier to find / get more sales.

[JamesF]

I now also have a v1.1 unit with the five programming pads. I'm just trying to read what's on the top of the MCU package.

James

[JamesF]

Right, after some wiggling about with a magnifying glass and a torch I can confirm that the MCU on this one is a 16F1828 so should be flashable. Which makes it looks like referring to v1.0 as flashable and v1.1 as not flashable may well be completely wrong.

I notice also that the PCB with the transformer and relays on has a version number and the PCB with the MCU and display on has another. These don't necessarily match. A couple of barneey's images in the first post of this thread show a v1.0 transformer/relay PCB with a v1.1 MCU/display PCB. The one open on my desk at the moment has v1.1 on both.

I'll see if I can get some reasonable pictures of both of mine. Unfortunately my compact camera is fairly rubbish in macro mode.

James

[Grumpydev]

Wired one of mine up to a brew belt today, works fine other than me having no idea how to program it yet - suppose I should read the docs

I can take macro shots of mine with the SLR tomorrow if anyone is interested.

[TempTest]

Can anybody give me a link to a shop that has one that's 'definitely' hack-able? I don't mind if it means paying a bit more but I definitely want to be able to reprogram the MCU.

Thanks!

[JamesF]

I've not done it yet (have to find my Arduino first), but the one I bought from here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STC-1000-Digi ... 1396569456 has a v1.0 board and a 16F1828 MCU so should definitely be flashable.

James

[JamesF]

I should also point out that people have said that having been told a given supplier had sent a v1.0 version to someone, the one they'd ordered from the same place within a few days of that first order turned out to be "v1.1". Of course it may now be the case that "v1.1" doesn't mean it's not flashable. I have no idea why the ones that are not flashable are described as "v1.1" because the one I have labelled "v1.1" looks like it will be flashable and looks nothing like the pictures of the board from the non-flashable one posted earlier in this thread.

James

[TempTest]

The flashable MCU aside, are there any advantages or disadvantages of V1 vs V1.1? Is one more stable or better hardware than other? Thanks.

[JamesF]

My two look like there's just been a change in the PCB layout. Perhaps they found a way to make the design more optimal in terms of the number of components or simplicity of the manufacturing process. I don't know about the one that's definitely non-flashable. With the exception of the MCU it does look like pretty much the same components.

James

[TempTest]

Ordered two of the Lerway from Amazon mentioned on the previous page because I had an Amazon gift voucher to use. I've opened one and it does not have the pins. I don't think I'll open the other and I'll return it. I cannot really return the one I've opened so I'm down £12 as we speak.

Is there *any* supplier who we *know* has flashable versions? Clearly shops are selling a mixture of versions and with one paperweight already (no use to me without the STC-1000p firmware) I don't want to throw more money away...

[Grumpydev]

Ordered two of the Lerway from Amazon mentioned on the previous page because I had an Amazon gift voucher to use. I've opened one and it does not have the pins. I don't think I'll open the other and I'll return it. I cannot really return the one I've opened so I'm down £12 as we speak.

Is there *any* supplier who we *know* has flashable versions? Clearly shops are selling a mixture of versions and with one paperweight already (no use to me without the STC-1000p firmware) I don't want to throw more money away...

Unfortunately I don't think there's any way to know, other than getting them pre-flashed. The supplier I linked to only had one left when I gave the link, so you probably ended up ordering from someone else, or from different stock

[TempTest]

Same seller but no limited quantity showing so I assume new batch.

I guess the day of the STC-1000 is on it's way out (as far as use for STC-1000p goes) if stocks are dwindling as much as they are... Mine has a HT66F40 MCU. I'm assuming it's been changed for BOM reasons. Gutted!

[JamesF]

The HT66F40 does at least have some documentation in English, so if the programming interface is exposed it may be possible to reverse-engineer. Finding someone with the time and resources to do the job might be more tricky

James

[TempTest]

I could probably give it a bash myself, and that's probably what I'll keep this version for (and return the second unopened unit). For now though I'd like to get a V1 so I can be using it in the meantime. I've found a US store that sells V1 units but I don't think they ship to the UK. I'll drop them a line. I don't mind paying (within reason) a premium for a V1 unit (preflashed or not) but I simply don't know where to find them. Do you know of anybody that's seller V1 (preflashed?). I'll be putting the flashing electronics within the casing so I'll no doubt flash again myself anyway but it's at least a way to test it's the correct version...

[JamesF]

I don't know of anyone selling pre-flashed models I'm afraid. My 16F1828 version came from the link I posted earlier, but it wasn't flashed and there's no guarantee that they'll supply the same type again. They were at least in the UK. Sadly it wouldn't surprise me if even the suppliers couldn't tell you what you were going to get without opening them up before they send them, which seems unlikely somehow.

James