Postbag #17: TouchMe USB LED, Pulse Oximeter, MAX17043 LiPo Gauge

[@mbaker335]

That heart rate was terrible for so little exercise. A visit to the doc would be a good idea.

[@rstevewarmorycom]

Julian, I bought one of those "CMS50D+" same brand and color OLED with memory and USB dump to software for $40 from China, They work a treat! Used it to self-diagnose for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. My sats went down into the 80's several times while I slept. Let's you print out your graphs and everything. Bought an illegal CPAP machine from a friend who didn't like it and now I sleep great and my sleeping sats are normal, saved $4000 for a sleep lab and unit!! By the by, your high resting pulse and slightly low oxy-sat can be a symptom of that. -Steve in California

[@mnelson10000]

"Honey, you know the neighbor with all the stuff in his yard? Yeah, he's running around in circles with his camera and blue thing stuck on the end of his finger...." hahahahaha

[@JulianIlett]

mnelson10000 LOL

[@FirstWizardZorander]

Life is boring if you're sane.

[@iamdarkyoshi]

I would have been "what are you doing and where can i get it?"

[@mammutit]

nice find that oled. whats even nicer is that the electronics are carefully labeled and the chip numbers not shaved off

[@deangreenhough3479]

Actually laid up in hospital with a DVT (3rd one) I run a design & build company with my partner. The work is long and hard and much like the projects you see on Grand Designs. I stumbled across you sometime back. I work with LEDs on a lot of the work I do and share your interest in solar too You have managed to demystify a lot of things for me. I now open everything that breaks down, I take them home and reverse engineer where possible. I'm aware of the limitation of electronic devices generally made for the public at large. I would like to be able to adapt and make bespoke electronics to meet my customers needs. I love design and smart devices. There is no one bridging the building industry and the incorporation of electronics. I believe there is a gap. Due to the. DVT I will just be managing, instead of doing. I thank God our paths have crossed along with Arduino, I know I can get good at this. I also like things that are invented for the real world, by people that install the things they make. I come across too any things that just have not been engineered correctly I absolutely have PostBagitious, my partner blames you, but we are both happy and she will be involved as she is a damn good designer

[@JulianIlett]

Yes, you can get good at this. Good luck. Get well soon.

[@stonent]

A few years back I was in the hospital for a week with pneumonia and they would use these pulse oximeter leads that taped to your finger. It said something like "disposable, do not reuse" on it. When I realized they were about send someone in to take it off so I removed it myself and hid it under my sheets. I googled it when I was released and saw they have a standard 9 pin D-sub connector most use and found the pinout. I read they use a phototransistor to measure the amount of visible light and IR light that reflects off your skin, and the measurement of that allows it to calculate heart rate and oxygen levels. I believe the LED is bi-color that does Red and InfraRed. Nellcor was the company that made the lead. I never got around to doing anything with it, but had ideas about using the ADC on the arduino to take readings while alternating R/IR on the Led.

[@BillySugger1965]

Your pulse-ox has a segmented OLED, rather than a full colour OLED. I have a similar device. It measures SpO2 of peripheral oxygen saturation. That's the oxygen content in the capillary bed of your finger nail. Physicians also measure Sats in other blood such as arterial blood. It has two LEDs, the one you saw was the red LED light, but the one you didn't was the IR LED light. It will fire them alternately and measure the intensity of each which passes through your finger. This way it can calculate the O2 saturation which depends on the colour of haemoglobin in your red blood cells - oxygenated blood is more red than de-oxygenated blood. Nice review of these items :-)

[@5084204]

92% SpO2 is a very good reason to see your GP... Repeat the test, but try to hide the device from the sunlight. BTW, your pulse was also quite high while you were sitting...

[@beehive808]

Around 15 Years ago my mother bought one when they first can out, for $500.00. Boy you can see how electronic item gets cheaper and cheaper. I still have it.

[@superdau]

Check the USB touch LED with a device that's grounded. The switch doesn't look capacitive (you wouldn't need to touch a metal contact for capacitive switches) so it may work "using" a human as an antenna for the ubiquitous 50Hz.

[@andytipping70]

that's a very fast heart rate buddy i'd be checking it at rest - 60bps is more normal - if its accurate i'd be popping off to the quacks for a check up!

[@morpher44]

digilent sells PmodOLEDrgb. Its about $20USD. SPI interface. 4 GPIO signals. Works great. 64x96 16-bit color.

[@deangreenhough3479]

Great post bag :) enjoyed the action sequence, although your resting heart rate appears high , or could be call the PostBagitious brought on by the oLed Keep up the great work. Because of your channel I am giving up work to pursue electronics. You have been a wonderful and inspiring person. I believe I have PostBagitious because I stopped immediately what I am doing and just have to watch what you have come up with next. ;)

[@JulianIlett]

Dean Greenhough Thanks Dean. Shooting these videos can be anything but restful. Are you retiring, or pursuing electronics as a change in career? Either way, good luck - I'm delighted to have inspired this change in direction.

[@Bob_Burton]

Are those arrow shaped pads on the Touch Me contacts of some kind or just decoration ? Their shape and layout looked to me like an invitation to swipe along them, perhaps to adjust the brightness of the LED.

[@andymouse]

I am from the future …………….in my time line (2018) Oled screens are everywhere and cheap also you are still alive and well

[@EspenLodden]

First time I've seen a first person shoo... eh, pulse measurement video. Great concept for a future game! Nice find of OLED too!

[@1974Alfa5Spd]

Wow, being only $12.50 I have to wonder how accurate that pulse/ox meter could be, considering care facilities can pay thousands for the same equipment. Also seeing that lipo fuel gauge being knocked off is nice, since before the only place I could find them was sparkfun which wanted $15 for one. I just decided to pick back up my arduino and play with it some, and seeing the prices on some of the more fun things I wanted to have a go with was frankly kind of discouraging.

[@PilotPlater]

I just ordered an oximeter a few weeks ago to take in the airplane and experiment with oxygen level going to the maximum allowed altitude and looking for o2 levels. Will record a video when I get it in the airplane.

[@PilotPlater]

it looks to be the exact same model as in the video as well, but it hasn't come in the mail yet.

[@JulianIlett]

Andy Plater That's a neat idea. What's the flight ceiling in an unpressurised cabin?

[@PilotPlater]

Julian Ilett It may be different in other countries, but in Canada (and I think the states) you can't go above 13,000 feet (3960m), and you can only be above 10,000 feet (3040m) for 30 minutes. I'm expecting numbers of about 90% blood oxygen at 10,000, but you should see a noticeable drop anywhere above 5,000 feet. (you're not supposed to go above 5,000 at night because it will affect night-vision even though reasoning shouldn't be affected)

[@JulianIlett]

Andy Plater Quite strict rules for pilots. I'd love to fly again - I did some gliding when I was younger. The PPL course at my local flying school is £7,200 - about the same as a brand new small car!

[@PilotPlater]

Julian Ilett indeed, it's not cheap. I was very lucky to get into a cadet program which got me the glider licence (and just recently glider-instructor rating) and the PPL. I'm just starting training for the commercial pilot's licence and hopefully class 4 instructor rating (for teaching ppl), as I'm getting close to finishing the hour requirements. if it wasn't a career I could never justify the expense.

[@MoesKeckeEcke]

I love postbag best Segment ever

[@B0M0A0K]

Hi Julian, just wanted to let you know that Lidl are doing those pulse blood pressure finger monitors today. A tad under 20 UKP. Looks like the same display and everything.

[@JulianIlett]

Thanks. I'm near a Lidl today - I'll pop in and have a look.

[@jpopelish]

This switch may make use of hum your body picks up from the mains wiring around you. That only works if the power source for the USB port is grounded. Try plugging them into a port powered through a three prong plug.

[@miniwarrior7]

looking at the lipo fuel gauge datasheet I see the words "protection ic" do they mean that is external or does that fuel gauge have its own protection ?

[@stephanc7192]

Dear Julian Did you do anything with the oLed display from the heart monitor? KInd regards

[@mewintle]

Hi Julien. I’ve been experimenting with sensors and Arduino for about three months-obsessively. :) your videos are the best. Whenever I open my pile of Chinese packets (every day) I think of you. Do you think it’s possible to use that OLED? Or is it too hard to connect to it and get it to work? Do all of them require different drivers?

[@danwwal]

Hi Julian Ilett did you work out how best to wire your Lipo Gauge to your TP4056? Thanks

[@ipodmaurits]

your garden looks like my familys garden who happens to live in the uk too

[@nor4277]

You usually give us the web site,for your post stuff

[@jparky1972]

Hi Julian. Are we going to see a project that uses the colour oled ripped from the oximeter? *hint* I'd love to see one of these repurposed with an arduino. :)

[@tobortine]

Great video. I doubt poor Alice does much pre delivery power on testing for the stuff that she sells.

[@AnsyCrofts]

She? Expect Alice Cooper banging on your door!

[@tobortine]

Andy Crofts If you heard hooves behind you would you expect it to be a horse or a zebra ?

[@thevivekmathema]

Thats a huge sized oxymeter. Smaller ones using Aaa battery are great

[@TheOldmankk]

Beware that this "Touch Me" USB LED PCB mod don't have double sided contact. Sensor is only on/off. There are also other model with LDR (Cds) night on/ day off light.

[@AnsyCrofts]

Julian - did You write up Your battery stack? Looks useful.. BR -Andy

[@JulianIlett]

Andy Crofts It's probably detailed in videos for the TP4056 board (new type with battery protection) and the MAX17043 LiPo Fuel Gauge.

[@AnsyCrofts]

Thanks, Julian, got the drift of it. -Andy

[@JulianIlett]

I've made some changes to it - flipped the 17043 board over to make a thinner sandwich. I'll post a video with the details soon.

[@fingers0287]

I have the CMS50E and it has full colour oled and a much bigger screen. have a look for one of those

[@JulianIlett]

Ashley Pratt Maybe I won't start collecting these things - the CMS50E has a stunning display, but it's a lot more expensive.

[@marssheep1264]

Forget about those Touch Me lights, google tis> "mini review of MINI budgetlightforum" and get some of those, they are excelent. P.S. Nice videos, love the postbag :P

[@MovingThePicture]

Can you see that the oxygen level drops if you hold your breath for ~1 minute?

[@TradieTrev]

"I'm ALIVE!" hahaha

[@steve64464]

I asked this in another video but didn't get a responce, That single cell usb 18650 battery box your using , does your battery get warm or hot while chargeing devices? mine does and i dont know if i should trust it or not.

[@JulianIlett]

steve64464 Is it the battery getting warm or the electronics?

[@steve64464]

Its the battery cell thats getting hot , I tryed another one from another manufacturer with the same effect.

[@JulianIlett]

steve64464 I don't remember the cell getting hot - that would concern me too.

[@steve64464]

well the complete outer metal caseing was getting hot too so i raced with a screw driver to open it as fast as i could before it went off like a firework, The other battery banks i obtained dont have the issue , Note that im using unprotected cells if that means anything

[@Mandrag0ras]

When I used cells extracted from a dead laptop baterry, the cells got more than warm when being charged or discharged inside the power bank. I didn't trust them so I never used them again. I didn't notice the temperature when I used new branded cells and I stopped using this power bank when I realized it overcharges batteries to 4.25 volts.

[@danieldusel2980]

Thx , for your postbag

[@voltare2amstereo]

touchme may want your pc, might need as ground to reference

[@Anvilshock]

0:24 Thanks Julian for that Sam Fox earworm, it's gonna haunt me for the next day or so ... Edit: Make that a week. Oh well. Good to know there are worse-looking earworms than Sam Fox.

[@medicman4444]

the heart monitor is at £11.99 free post now same seller

[@joachimh.9000]

do you have rabbits or something in the garden?

[@soonpaomeng]

Nice!

[@lazerusmfh]

Thumbs up for running video hahaha

[@jonathanwhite2303]

the oxygen level is a bir low julian, should be 98 ish. :(.

[@SpencerHHO]

That is a very worrying result on the Oximeter. Are you by any chance a smoker? Or do you just do no exercise? oxygen saturation should be at 95-99% and resting heart rate shouldn't be much higher than 70. I would advise consulting a physian about that. Would hate to see something happen to you in a few years time.

[@JulianIlett]

No, never smoked. Actually, I've just recharged the eneloops - I noticed the low battery symbol was flashing all the way through the video. SpO2 is 97-98 now, and the OLED has more saturated colours.

[@SpencerHHO]

Hopefully it was just a case of low batteries messing with it's results. But I would still watch your heart rate at rest though 70 is fine and 60 is ideal. I'm not trying to be a dick or be insulting and I hope I don't come across as such, just don't want you to get a nasty suprise from your heart a decade down the track or so.

[@JulianIlett]

Spencer Howard My resting heart rate could have something to do with the frustrations of shooting KZbin videos. You'd be surprised how many things go wrong while filming. For starters, the MovieStudio app on Android is maddeningly unreliable.

[@Nitrxgen]

As an EMT in training: I was going to raise the issue of the results from the oximeter. Glad someone else did before me. I have an oximeter around somewhere in the house, it's a lot smaller and takes CR batteries and has a finer OLED display. Interesting little things!

[@SpencerHHO]

There are a lot variants and who knows the accuracy but even people of a healthy weight can have cardiovascular fitness problems. I would assume that the readings when at true rest are normal but none the less you should watch out for it.

[@Superminaren]

Julian Ilett goo.gl/MvVWde There you can buy them, would love to see how they hook up.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Pull your finger out :) get down to the local hospital and calibrate it against a Hospital unit. What was the attraction of the touch me, seems like a solution to a non existant problem.

[@JulianIlett]

Rob B Exactly. I'm not sure I trust this thing to give super accurate results. Wasn't the laser the solution to a non-existent problem, when it was first invented? If I had a problem for everything I buy on eBay...I'd have a lot of problems! ;)

[@iamdarkyoshi]

Julian Ilett so explain to me the popcorn vacuum

[@EngineeringNS]

British people... haha

[@ikkepic]

Yes. They are great people. 👍

[@webo5665]

The largest of these modules www.banggood.com/Mini-Mobile-Power-USB-Camping-Lamp-LED-Lamp-Computer-Nightlight-p-923742.html can be dimmed by touch.

[@CalderJon]

Your sats really are dangerously low on this - see a cardiologist - seriously. Maybe the machine is rubbish but anything below 97 is cause for REAL concern and can be indicative of a heart condition you may not know you have.,