TrailCurrent has a new partner. NextPCB makes printed circuit boards, the flat boards that hold a module's chips and connectors, and they are now backing the project. That opens a door we closed back in June.
Why custom boards went away
When we retired Torrent, the reason was the board itself. A custom circuit board means finding a factory, ordering a batch, buying every part and soldering it all together. Without a partner to make those boards, we could not keep custom modules going, so we moved to finished boards you can simply order and wire in.
What changes now
With NextPCB making boards for us, we can start revisiting custom modules, smaller ones designed around exactly the job they do. They will come out as DevKits. You can order the bare boards and solder the parts on yourself, or have NextPCB's assembly service put every part on for you.
If you just want a system that works, nothing changes. The off-the-shelf modules stay available, and they stay the path we recommend. You order them, flash them and wire them in.
DevKits are prototypes, not finished products. They are development boards for experienced builders who want to test and tinker, and only the brave should take that path. If that is not you, the off-the-shelf modules are the way to go.
First up: Torrent and Tapper
The first DevKits NextPCB will make for us are Torrent, the module that switches and dims your lights, and Tapper, the eight-button control panel. Both started life as custom boards, so they are the natural place to begin. We are looking forward to testing them, and you will see the boards arrive in an upcoming video on the open source channel.
Thank you, NextPCB
We are grateful NextPCB is willing to support a small open source project like TrailCurrent. Everything we make is given away, from the board designs to the firmware, and a partner who backs that is not something we take for granted. They have been a great team to work with, and we are looking forward to what comes next.
The board files stay free and MIT licensed on GitHub, like everything else. You are never tied to one factory.